Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-30
rContinued from first page.I

Continued RON Urst pAse.I
husband. Her work was just that of an
ordinary country parsons wife; club,
schools. poor people who were i'll. little
babies lust entered on this life, old folks
inst going out of it, singing classes and
sewing classes, took up all the time she
could Spare from her home and her chill
dren. They had two of their own, lit
tie gray.eyed girl of six and fat pretty
boy of half his sisters age. Delicious
little things they were both, or at least sc
thought and frankly said their mother
and in this as in most other things she ant
her husband were both of the same mind
think their marriage was happier thar
nine out of ten, though that, | hope. i:
placing it on somewhat high scale
They shared each others work heartily
he taking as much interest as was possible
to his masculine mind (of course superior
to any woman's) in the details OF her par
ish work; she listening devoutly as he eX-
pounded his plans for benefting MANKIND
and sharing his labors when she cooiu'
even down to writing the ends OF his ser
mons for him-the FINALLY was such a nuI-
sance. He had trick OF saying ali he
had to say, and uncommoniy well he gen
orally said it but then he was apt 10 pun
up all in hurry, to the discomiorlure OF
the weak minded, i. e., the methodlstical
members of his congregation, who had
not the patience or wit to take the mater
of his sermons to themselves, but plned
for good long personal application"
and dose of denunciation of evil-doers
their neghbors, OF course-at the con-
clusion.
They did not get much of that, though.
out of Mrs. Maye. but she often contrived
to, her husband said, spoil most uncom-
promisingly sensible sermon by the addi-
ton of few remarks OF her own, which,
as it were. let them down easy, and
pleased the softer portion of her husbands
flock.
And so they worked and lived on to-
gether very happy. though long way OIL
from being rich, and shared with good
many of their neighbors means which
some in their station would have consider
ed insufficient for themselves.
One August evening of 1870. as they
left their church they stopped in the grave
yard looking at the quiet scene around.
They often stayed their steps just there,
and the picture, bright with morning sun
shine, hazy in the tender twilight, Or
spread out clear and cold under silvery
moonbeams, had grown familiar and very
dear to them.
'' l liked your sermon So said Mrs.
Maye, as they paced round by the path
where they could stand and look out
towards the sealine joining the horizon.
ut seemed TO me that if all those poor
people fighting yonder across the water
could have heard you they would have
hated their work, and clamored for peace
at any price"
"That shows how little you understand
anything of the feeling that keeps the war
going" replied Mr.. Maye, pleased, never
theless, with his wife's praise, for that
sermon had been all his own. but wo-
man is an unreasoning animal, and the
world would be queerly governed if mat
tiers were much directed by her will"
"A blow for a kiss" said his wife.
81 did not think when | praised Your
sermon it would lead to your making in
Obvious remarks on my sex. But, Philip,
what should we do if this warlever spread
across the Channel? Fancy any one in
yading us, and burning our house and
spelling the church And oh, Philip! il
they should hurt Nellie and Bob ~
Lets hope you will never have to do
more than fancy such horrors" said the
parson and then, planting one foot on the
stile. he went off into a long dissertation
on the cause of wars in general and this
war in particular. 1t sometimes happen
ed that his wife could not listen closely to
these long speeches of his, however we'll
worth hearing they might be- Occasion
ally her thoughts had a trick of going off
in the opposite direction, and this palticu-
lar evening she broke in upon his words
with the question
Have you asked Mr.. Roberts lately
about Mr.. Blanchard ?"
For an instant her husband looked put
out, but he bore the interruption with
good grace, and answered no; that he not
seen Roberts lately, and when he last saw
HIM he had been unable to give him
Blanchard address. nor could he tell them
whether their friend was taking his part
in the fighting.
II hope he is no.,' said Mrs. Maye
HE saved my life, and though we have
never seen him since our wedding day, he
always seems TO me like wel-known
friend, and can bear to think OF his be-
ing in the midst of such horrors
"Most likely he il, though" said Mr..
Maye.
There are not many Frenchmen of
his age who will escape them. It's strange
he never answered my last letter. but then
we had nothing to write about except our
unceasing gratitude to him, and prehaps
he grew tired of many words and no deeds,
for we never had an opportunity of serve
ing him."