The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-05-10
\ TALE WITH A MORAL.
OUR MINISTER'S WIFE.
A Story Suggestive to the Sisters.

n oloi suggestive ~ lllS olSlCiS
/ Our minister is Il t:tvorite in The congrcga
ton, he is SO approachahle, so kind, ST. pleas
ant, so SynplthiZing. Everybody likes hin
the young and the old the rich and til
: poor. And he's such an eloquent preacher
| In all his private relations as we'll as hi
! public ministries, he seems as near pcrfec
/ tion as can he hoped for this earth. Nov
this is saying a good deal for our minister
But there is no unmiXed good in th
world. We are not permitted to enjoy on
minister without the accompaniment o
some unpleasant drawback. Mr. Elmor,
has a wife, and n minister's wife. it is wei
known, is not usually perfect in the eyes o
the congregation. There was no exception
to the rule in our ease Mrs Gilmore was II,
tavort". What the trouble was did not
know from personal observations: bur no one
seemed to have a friendly feeling toward
her.
When say no one | refer to the ladic,
of our congregation. When Mr.. Elmorc
was the subject of conversation you would
be almost certain to hear the remark, ''Ah,
if it was not for his wife
''br, What pity Mrs Elmorc isn't the
right kind Of Il woman
Or, Isn't it Il shame that he has Il wifi,
50 poorly fitted for her position.
So the charges rang. Mr.. Gilmore had
been oar minister for over 4 year, and dur
i'm +bo+ 81, Il 1,
wife in a social way. The ladies of the con-
gregation had called upon her, and she had
received them kindly and politely but with
Il certain tlitfidence i'll her manner that re-
PEELED rather than attracted. In every case
she returned these calls, but, when repeat
ed failed in that prompt reciprocation
which her visitors expected. There are, in
congregations, certain active, patroniZng
Ladies', who like to manage things, to be re-
terred to, and to make their influence felt
all around them.
The wife of our previous minister. a weak
AID flcile woman, had been entirely in their
hands, and WAS, of course, Il great f;lvorite.
But Mrs. Fillmore WAS Il different character
altogether.
You saw by the poise of head, by the
steadiness of her clear, dark blue eyes, and
by the tirmneSs of her delicate mouth, that
she was a woman of independent thought,
purpose. and self-reiance.
Polite and kind in her intercourse with
the congregation, there was withal Il cold
ness Of manner that held you at Il certain
distance as surely as if Il barrier had been
interpoSed.
1t was 4 serious trouble with certain ladies
of the congregation, this popularity in the
ministers wife. How he could ever have
married a woman of her temperament was
regarded as Il mystery He is so genial-she
81 cold he SO approachable by every one
she so constrained; he all alive to the Church
and she seemingly indifferent to everything
but her own family. If she had been the
lawyers wife or the doctors wife, or the
wife Of a merchant, she might have been as
distant and exclusive as she please: but for
the minister's wife.
oh, dear. it was terrible.
| had heard So much said about Mrs. FL
mere, that having met her tamiliarly, or
know ,rg anything about her from personal
observation; took for granted the general
impression as true.
Last week one of my lady friends, a MEM
her OF Mr.. Gilmore congregation, called in
to see me. | asked her to take off her bon
net and sit for the afternoon. But she said:
-,
To Mrs. Elmore'S.'
Il have not been in the habit of visiting
her was my answer.
"No, matter" was replied Shes our
call on her"
1T might not br agreeable" suggeSted
you know that she is peculiar
Not agreeable for the minister's wife TO
have a lady of the congregation call on her."
and my friend pat on an air of surprise.
''Shc'S only Il woman after all, remark
ed, and may have her likes and disikes, her
pecularitieS and preferences, as well as
other people. And I'm sure that l have no
desire to intrudc upon her"
"Intrusion,. How you talk! An intru-
sion to call on our minister's wife. Well,
that sounds beautifully, don't it? wouldn't
say that again. Come, put on your bonnet
| want your company, and am going to
have it."
| made no further objection and went
with my lady friend to call on Mrs. Gilmore
We sent up our names, and We're shown
into her neat little parlor, where we sat
she takes he: own time remarked my
companion. If the tone of voice in which
this was said had been translated into Il
sentence, it would have read thus:
shes mighty independent for Il minis
tcr'S wife.
did not like the manner nor the remark
of my friend and so kept quiet. Soon there
was a light step on the stairs, the rustic of
garments near the door, and then Mrs. Ell
more entered the room where we We're sit
ting She received us kindly but not with
wordy expressions. There was a mild, soft
light III her eyes. and Il pleasant smile on
her dclicately -arching lips. We entered
into conversation, which was Il little con-
strained on her part: but whether this was
from col,lncSS or ditfdence, | could not de-
eide think she did not, from some cause,
feel entirely at her ease. y remark in the
conversation gave my companion the oppor-
tunity to say what think she had come to
say.
That leads me to suggest, Mrs. Gilmore,
that as our minister wife, You hold YOUR
self rather too far at Il distance. You will
pardon me for saving this, but as it is right
that YOU should know how we feel on this
subject | have taken the liberty of being
frank with you. OF course ! mean nc
offence, and am sure you will not be hurt
AT an intimation given in all kindness"
looked for il flash from Mrs Elmore'
clear. bright eyes. tor red spots on hcl
lips: but none of these signs OF feeling were
apparent. Calmly She looked into the face
of her monitor. and when the above sen.
tence was completed, answered in Il quiet
tone of voice:
Il thank You for having spoken plain
w. OF course | am not offended. Bnt
regret to learn that any one has found cauS.
Of complaint against mr.. have not meant
to be cold nr distant; but my home dutie.
are many and various. and TAX" most of m,
time and thoughts
but. my dear ma am" was answered I,
this with some warmth ''you forget that
for Il woman in your position, there are du
ties beyond the home circle which may moi