Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-10-22
A DECEIVED MINISTER.


WAS much esteemed by his congrega-
then. Not a day passed without
numerous applications to him for as
sistance Of various kinds, and no ap
plicant was ever sent away without
word Of consolation, or more sub
stantial gift.
One day, as he was compelled by in
disposition to keep his room, woman
came and cfaved his interference. She
said that she had lately removed to st.
Petersburg with her husband, who had
succeeded in establishing himself 80
well that he earned an ample support
for both Of them; but he made her
wretched by his persistent and ost-
rageous i'll treatment, without the
slightest provocation or retort on her
part-all of which had until now been
patiently endured.
The pastor expressed his regret that
indisposition prevented him from leav
ing the house.
Bringing your husband to me-" he
said.
''That will be no easy natter re-
turned the woman, "tor if he suspected
that rebuke is waiting for him, he will
not come No, he must know nothing
of it beforehand. But if / tell him
that you want to buy something from
him, then he'll not tail to wait on your
reverence
''That is lucky thought said the
pastor, ''for am about to purchase a
complete service of silver
Sand be has just finished a very
beautiful one" said the woman. sit is
indeed very beautiful"
The next day the silversmith came
with his chest, accompanied by the
woman.
The pastor was secretly surprised to
see her with him, but advanced to
meet him, saying, "Ah the silver?'
ayes, your reverence" said the man
81 have brought the service As you de-
sired" ..-..
"Very well" said the pastor. s:Be
so good as to come with me into my
study"
When they were alone, the good
clergyman began to speak urgently
upon the duty Of husband, and dwelt
with impressive eloquence upon the
sacredness of the VOW which married
partners make before the alter to each
other
His listener seemed very much as
tonisbed, and several times attempted
to interrupt his discourse, but the
pastor begged him to hear him to the
end
"What excuse can you make for your
conduct ?" he asked, in conclusion
''What is the cause Of it? You look SO
mild aud good tempered, my friend
How comes it that you are such bad
husband 2"
"But let me say one werd, your
reverence. I am"
Il know what You mean to say. You
are usually as meek as a lamb, and
only impetuous al certain times; but to
60 so far as to beat your wife"
"You have mistaken the person,
reverend sir | have never beaten my
wife"
"How." said the pastor. ''Do you
deny it p ie!'
because" continued the man, Il
am not married"
"Why, your wife is at this moment
waiting in the next room
"Wbo? My wife! Your reverence is
mistaken I have no wife. That
woman is your housekeeper; she came
to me with communication from you
to bring service of silver for your
inspection.
The pastor began to look uneasy.
''She certainly is no housekeeper of
mine. She must be mad woman sad
he.
'Or thief" said the silversmith
They went hastily into the next
room-but it was empty! The woman
had disappeared with the chest of silver
and all the efforts Of the police 20 re
cover it were in vain.
The incident is calculated to give
rise to many weighty considerations
The trick was so well devised and
planned that it would have succeeded
with the most prudent and cir umsl eet.
'Fhe silversmith left the silver in the
outer room, in charge Of the supposed
housekeeper, at the express desire of
the pasto', while the latter coufde1 it
to the keeping Of the soi.0isant wife
Of the former. Had the matter been
brought into litigation, whose would
have been the loss? Fortunately the
good pastor had no thought for such
an alternative. He felt passion for
the poor man, who gained precarious
living by his labor; and as he on the
contrary, was rich enough to bear the
injury, he bore it alone.