Maryland free press., 1866-07-19
DON'T LIKE HIS WIFE.
BY MARGARET LYON.

-- Al BY MARGARET LYON.
Our minister is favorite in the congre-
CATION; he's so approachable, SO kind, SO
pleasant and sympathizing Everybody
likes him+-the young and the old, the rich
and the poor. And he's such an eloquent
preacher! In all his private relations, as
we'll as in his public ministries, he seems
about as near perfection as can be hoped
for on this earth. Now, that is saying
great deal for our minister. r. i:a'...
But there is no utfnixed good in this
world We are not permitted to enjoy
DUR minister without the accompaniment of
some unpleasant drawback. Mr.. Elmore
has a wife, and minister's wife, it is well
known, is not usually perfect in the eyes of
the congregation. There was no excep-
ton to the rule in our case. Mrs. Elmore
was no favorite. What the real trouble
was did not know from personal observa-
tion. Butno one seemed to have friend
ly feeling toward her. When l say no one,
I refer to the ladies of our congregation.
When Mr. Elmore was the subject of con-
versation, you would be almost certain to
hear the remark-"Ah, if it wasn't for his
wife" .i.. .
Or-"What pity Mrs, Elmore isn't
the right kind Of a woman!' 49,.
Or-.'Isn't it q shame that he has wife
sos,poorly fitted for her position p --.
4 So the changes rang Mr.. Elmore had
been our minister for over year, and
during that time very little had been seen
Of his wife in social way. The ladies of
the congregation had called upon her, and
she had received them kindly and politely,
but with certain distance in her manner
that repelled, rather than attracted. In
eyery case she returned these calls, but
when repeated, failed in that prompt re-
ciprocation which her visitors expected
There are, in all congregations, certain
active, patronizing ladies, who like to
manage things. to be deferred to, and to
make their influence felt on all around
them. The wife of our previous minister,
a weak and facile woman, had been entire
" in their hands, and was, of course, a
great favorite. But Mrs. Elmore was a
different chararter altogether. You saw
by the poise of her head-by the steadiness
of her clear, dark blue eyes-and by the
firmness of her delicate mouth, that she
was o woman Of independent thought, pur-
pose, and self-reliance. Polite and kind
in her intercourse with the congregation,
there was, withal, coldness OF manner
that held you at a certain distance, as
surely as if barrier bad been interposed.
It was serious trouble with certain la
dies of the congregation, this popularity
in the minister's wife. How he could ev-
er have married woman of her tempera-
ment was regarded as mystery. lie so
genial-she so cold; he so approachable
by, every one-she so constrained; he all
alive for the church-and she seemingly
indifferent to everything but her ownfami-
ly. If she had been the lawyers wife, or
the wife of merchant, she might have
been as distant and exclusive as she pleas
ed; but for the minister's wife! o dear il
was terrible! ...
Ihad heard SO much said about Mrs
Elmore, that, without having met her fa'
mikarly, or knowing anything about hei
from personal observation, L took for grant
ed the general impression as true.
Last week one of my lady friends, Q
member of Mr.. Elmore's congregation
called IN 70 see lne. aSheu hCi w eoh'
off her bonnet and sit for the afternoon
But she said ''. .
''No; have called for you to go will
me to Mrs Elmore's.",. -.'t
81 have not been in the habit of visit
ing her." was my answer. ...-
''No matter" was replied, "she's oul
minister's wife, and it's your privilege t.
call on her."
1T might not be agreeable" l suggest
ed; "you know she is peculiar" ..,
t'Not agreeable to the minister's wife t
have o lady of the congregation call onher!
and my friend put on an air of surprise
..She's only woman, after all, +" l re
marked, land may have her likes and dis
likes, her peculiarities and preferences, a
we'll as other people. And I'm sure tha
/ have no desire to intrude upon her"
Intrusion to call on our minister
wiee!a! Well. that sounds beautiful, dom
It? I wouldn't say that again. Come
put on your bonnet. I want your compa
nv and am going to have it."
I made no further objection. and wen
withpmyh lady friend to call on Mrs. El
more.os We Gent up our names. and wer
.Lovn ;.to ber ueat,little parlor where W.