The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-09-23
MISCELLANY.
:" OF SUCH Is THE KINGDOM or HE4y
EN-

90 OF SUCH Is THE KINGDOM OF HEIY-
EN-"
am the wife of Methodist minister.
Every three years we say goodbye to our
friends and our enemies, wherever we are, and
take up our abode in strange place, there to
make new fiiends-oh it seems inevitable
new enemies. | did not intend to marry a
minister-that was years ago--but when the
opportunity offered, love had wrought such
changes in my hardened heart would not for
worlds have become united to any other. So,
as it was to be, | married minister and-a
minister married me- No doubt you have all
read elaborate descriptions of what the wife
of such parsonage has to endure, and time
twas when might have contributed my test-
l,lony in this direction, and have given my
expelie outside of the classroom but |
was young, and have undergone change
since then, and besides my lines have fallen in
gerry pleasant places. So, as it is, have only
to say that some of these accounts are very,
very true, while others are entirely false and
that, ia the main, believe these unhealthy
recilals are the brain product Of persons far
removed from ministers and their respective
families.
We came to Ii a month ago. The
house in which we are living is new built i'll
the latest style of architecture fitted with all
the modern improvements, and furnished
throughout in the most complete manner. In
our itinerancy we have not been accustomed
to anything so grand, and do not feel at all at
home 10 all these fine surroundings though
tie people are social. kind and eonsiderala-
/ learned last night little fact which | am
going to tell you. The peoples choice of q
minister lay between two individuals, Mr.. B
-and my husband. They were not
unanimous in their vote until just before con-
ference, but were about equally divided.
Shall tell you what united them in our favor?
| can only do it with fearful eyes and an ach-
ing heart 1t was the simple fact that in
our household there were no little ficdglings
to litter up this grand place no little fingers
to mar the paint and the paper, to scatter tiny
crumbs over the handsome carpets no little
boys to slid down the polished bannisters and
to play cars with the heavy, stuffed chairs no
little girls to dance on the sofa springs and
draw hieroglyphics on the door steps, "Only
himself and wife," said the committee, in
council, "whereas the other brother has four
children, with eight mschievous hands and
forty unruly fingers to make havoc in this
building eight noisy feet TO shuttle through
these rooms all the day, and eight restless
eyes OH the constant lookout for fresh employ
ment and new diversions This statement
was sufficient. In a body they declared it
would never never do and with one accord
they voted for Frank, my husband and for
me, his wife, his only encumbrance." This
is why we two are living in this great, large
house, while Dir. B, with his wife,
mother, sister, and four children, is stationed
at F., in cottage not much larger than
good sized dry-goods box, and about as bare
of comforts. fancied shadow crept over
Franks face last evening, as impulsively |
told him what l had heard, and all day long
he has.been SO silent and so subdued and yet
his Sunday sermon is all copied /; there are no
sick to visit he has money, and the church is
prospecting spiritually. He must be thinking
of what am, though he avoids my inquiring
glances and vouchsafes no communication up
on the subject. And What have done to-
day2 / have gone about the house as one
demented l have shivercd at the dreary or
der of things have shut my eyes to this
glaring, unpoetical white paint, that never
knew the soil of little sticky hands, and, as
Ill 7 la,
glanced scornfully upon the high walls, so
ignorant of the music that little feet can
make. Going to the parlor this afternoon,
disarranged the curtains placed the chairs
away tossed books upon the floor, and laid
broken cookie on the sill. This done, the
door-bell rang and, frightened, locked the
dcor and rushed out. 1t was one Of the hard
hearted committee, and my head grew dizzy
aud my heart rebellious as | extended my
hand asked him into-the dining-room He
didn't seem to notice anything, poor man, moi
even my cool demeanor. His little girl was
sick, perhaps dying was the minister in ? and
would he come right away? Frank is so good
hearted be interpreted my somewhat trium
plant expression Immediately, and looked al
me SO reproachfully as he drove away. Itwai
wicked / know, but just for a moment | fell
I should like to have that mans experience how
destitute house may be that lacks LITTLE
child, and to feel little of the loneliness tha
steals over one who sits for hours quite alone
| in stiffness unbroken oh in an uasendura6t
quiet
Frank has not yet returned. am restless
tonight and my heart is full Of longings un