The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-06-18
CONCERNING PARSONS WIVES.

Not long ago Mrs. Mullet, an old lady
who is a shining light in one of the
Griggsville churches (thank heaven it is
not my church) said to me, ''Mr. But
ties, why is it that parsons wives are so
good-for-nothin' Look at 'em here in
Griggsville. There isn't one on 'em
does what she ort to for the cause of
Zion. And they all hev the same excuse;
no time nor strenghth."
ventured to reply that Mrs. Shouttin,
the Methodist parsons wife, had twins
six months old, that Mrs. Waters, the
Baptist parsons wife, had an invalid
father-in-law on her hand, and that Mrs.
Buttles washed, baked and sewed for a
family of eight; and that as each one of
these ladies was slender and somewhat
feeble, the care and service they gave
their families were enough, and they
ought to be excused from some of the
church work and forgiven if they were
sometimes sick.
Excused" cried Mrs. Mullet. st
think, Mr.. Buttles, a parsons wife orto
realize the responsibility of her position.
If was sot in candle-stick on hill
top I'd shine, and not give poor smoky
light neither. What's housework and
sewing TO GQ0 cause OF zion!
By this time felt pretty glumpy, so I
said did not see how Zion could get on
without these old-fashioned professions,
and then I walked home. I had been in
a deep meditation on the plaques of
Egypt, but my thoughts were entirely
diverted from this interesting subject,
and concentrated on the parsons wife
and her relation to the parish.
II hfv,1y fho 1yn ~
considers only his own happiness in his
Mary Jane Bobbs, now Mrs. Buttles,
never once thought whether she could
lead female prayer-meeting run sew
ing society, or make speech at mis-
sionary meeting. did once ask Mother
Jones if Mary Jane was good cook. A
clergyman needs food for his brain, and
it was therefore natural that I should
think of such accomplishments; but I
did not think it necessary to inquire if
Mary Jane could do dozen things at
the same time, feat she has often been
called upon to perform and found fault
with for not doing. married Mrs.
Buttles just after I settled in my first
parish, at Betsey's Corners. I thought
alas for the foolish imagination of
youth!-now shall have my Mary Jane
all to myself; but I soon found that
about seven-eighths of her was claimed
by my church.
The evening after our arrival at the
Corners in stalked the Widow Bates.
ST hope, Sister Buttles, you realize
your position" she began. "It is very
solemn and responsible one. We expect
you will be a power in Zion, and not
block the wheels of the Lords chariot"
Mary Jane blushed and stammered,
and hoped she would not, and the old
lady went on
''The Sewing Society, for the relief of
the inhabitants of ggerderwigger, will
meet tomorrow at Sister Twogood's, and
we expect you to be present. Our min
ister's wife is always present. It is her
duty to cut out the work, and to take
home and finish the work left at each
meeting. There are ten pairs of pants
and six waistcoats waiting to be cut. j"
ST can't cut out such work, and I al
ways did hate sewing" cried Mary Jane.
I saw the widows eyes open wide and
her mouth shut up tight as reserved
clam, SO said soothingly, ST am de-
lighted at your proposal, Sister Bates.
I'll fetch Mary Jane to Mrs. Twogood's
myself, and you shall teach her to cut
out breeches for the Niggerderwigge
without delay.
The next caller was Mrs. Biddlecome,
wife of the Sunday school Superintend-
ent. "Sister Bates" said she, in very
grum voice-she had bronchitis the
minister's wife always has charge of the
infant class. We expect you to take Mrs.
Plunkett's class next Sunday. She was
our late pastors wife, you know. We
expect you to enter into this work with
ali your heart and soul. Sister Bates
and myself will always be at hand and
correct you"
Before Mrs. Biddlecome left, Mrs. Pro-
fessor Bangs, wife of Professor Philetus
Bangs, once a missionary to the Potta-
wotamies, appeared. CHOW that our
minister has helpmeet," said she,
s'there is some one to take the place of
poor Mrs. Plunkett in our circle. I do
hope you, Mrs. Buttles, will do better
than she did. There is no reason why
our circle should not succeed, if our
minister's wife has any energy"
Then came Mrs. Deacon Bullhead,
who was always full of feeling.
ST hope, Sister Buttles, you are spirit
ually minded, said she, in thick voice.
ST feel there's great deal depending on
you. The old ladies have q weekly
prayer-meeting, and we feel that we must
have you to lead it.
Mrs. Belinda Slicer, Secretary of the
Grand United Water-workers; Mrs.
Tulula Tittlepaw, President of the Soci-
ETY. for Culture of the Brain; Mrs. Bush
whack, President of the Society for Pro-
viding canal-men with Scripture mot
toes, and many other ladies, all officers
of something, called, and invited Sister
Buttles to join.
Mary Jane was about sixteen when we
were married, and had been brought up
by indulgent and rather worldly parents.
OF self-denial, resignation and humilia-
ton she knew very little, and she met
the demands of the parish with so much
spirit and independence she incurred the
displeasure of nearly every person of any
consequence in it; and, though she
yielded to my commands and their de-
mands, and attended about half the meet
ings at which the minister's wife always
presided, and spent three-fourths of her
time at church work, she could not
please the people of the Corners, and
had to find new charge.
When was installed in Griggsville,
Jonathan Edwards was about eighteen
months, and Isaac Watts, our second