The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-03-29

There was once cure for st. OPP
perfume, who was very different from
the conventional idea of a priest, be-,
ing thin, aud delicate looking; man
with stoop, though he was still
young, and much given to study He
lived in are which has, long passed
away, yet he was behind it, for he held
most antiquated opinions upon the
obedience which is due from wives to-
their husbands, and seemed to con-
slider that what ST. Paul had said up
on the subject was TO. be taken in its
strictest sense; that no allowances
could be made Tor the changes which
had taken place in the manners and
customs of different nations, but all
infringement of the rules laid down
by the Apostle for the guidance OF
those in the holy state was very sin
full.
He found his exhortations treated
with unbecoming levity, and tbercup-
on became, of course, more and more
earnest upon the subject, till at last
he laid rather too much stress upon
this one offence, to the overlooking of
others. But he did not become I'M
popular upon this account--rathert the
reverse; for the men naturally felt
great respect for pastor who pleaded
their cause SO eloquently, and inn
pressed upon their wives that sub
mission to their will was their first
and most solemn duty; while the wo-
men of his congregation were glad TO
have slight attention paid to the con-
fession of other sins of which they
were ashamed, and the full Walls of
clerical wrath poured out upon one
which they had the consolation os
feeling assured was shared by their
entire sex.
Bnt that which vexed the good
cure was the bonhomSe with which
some of the husbands among his
parishioners submitted to the rule of
their wives, and the blind infatuation
which caused others who were equal
ly tame to fancy that their will was
law, and that the very women who
led them by their noses were their
devoted slaves.
Provoked at these facts especially,
he one day addressed his congregation,
after the sermon, thus: "My garden
has been remarkably fruitful this
year, especially in peas. Magnificent
peas they are--the best l have yet
seen; and 1 here offer prize of as
many peas as he can carry away with
him to any married man among you
who can make it clear to me that he
is not under subsection to his wife"
Peas were valu able, the parishion-
ers of st. Opportune were poor, and,
as rule, confident in their natural
supremacy, SO that there we're MANI
applicants for the prize. But the
cure trained by the duties of the con.
fessional, was keen hand at cross
examination, and under his home
thrusts and pertinent questions, claim
after claim was upset and the candi-
dates sent away abashed and discom-
fitted.
At last came porter, an obstinate,
sturdy fellow, who was confident that
he at least had the whip-hand of his
wife. The cure questioned him close
ly, but all his answers were straight
forward and satisfactory. Even upon
the rock which had upset the preten-
sions of many who had seemed in
fair way to land safely, the abafet,'
he did not split. No, he went to
wine shop or stopped at home, got
drunk or kept sober, just as he pleas
ed. His wife had not q word to aav
to it.
So the next day the porter came to
the cures house with small sack,
which he began to fill.
"You should have brought larger
one" said the cure Ib
"Well. now" replied the porter,
pausing in his task. II should have
done so only my wife would not let
me-"
"Ha!' cried the cure, let my peas
alone, my mani"