The daily gazette., 1880-01-27
Concerning the Parso,1s Wne.

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 ex-
cuse no time nor strength"
/ ventured to reply that Mrs. Shout
tin, the Methodist parsons wife, had
twins six months old, that Mrs. Waters,
the Baptist parsons wife, had an inva-
lid father-in-law on her hands, and that
Mrs. Buttles washed, baked and sewed
for family OF eight, aud 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.
"Excusedr' cried Mrs. Mullet, 81
think, Mr.. Buttles, a parsons wife ort
to realize the responsibility Of her po-
sitition. If l was sot. in candle-stick
on hilltop I'd shine, and not give a
poor, smoky light neither. What's
housework and sewing to the cause OF
Zion!"
BY this time ] felt pretty gloomy, so
said l did not see how Zion could get on
without these old-fashioned professions
and then walked home. l had been
deep in 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.
think the parson, like other men,
considers only his own happiness in his
marriage. i know that when l courted
Mary Jane Bobbs, now Mrs. Buttles, /
never once thought whether she could
lead female prayer meeting, run sew
ing society, or make speech at a mis-
sionary meeting. did once ask Mother
Bobbs II Mary Jane was good cook. A
Clergyman needs food for his brain and
it was therefore natural that L should
think Of such accomplishments bat
did not think 1t necessary to inquire If
Mary Jane could do a dozen things at
the same time, feat she has often been
called upon to perform and found fault
with for not doing. married Mrs. But
ties just after settled in my first parish
at Betsey's Corners. thought-alas for
the foolish imagination Of youth l-now
shall have my Mary Jane all to my
self, but l soon found out that about
seven-eights of her was claimed by my
church.
The evening after our arrival at the
Corners In stalked the Widow Bates.
81 hope, Sister Buttles, you realize
your POSITION" she began. at is a very
solemn and responsible one. We expect
You will be power in Zion and not
block the wheels Of the Lords chariot" "
Mary Jane blushed and stammered,
and hoped she would would not and the
old lady went on
"The Sewing Society for the relief of
the Inhabitants of Niggerderwigger will
meet tomorrow at Sister Twogood's and
we expect you to be- present. Our min
isters wife is always present. 1t is her
duty to cut out the work and to take
home and finish the work left at each
meeting. There are ten pair of pants
and SIX waistcoats waiting to be cut"
81 can't cut out such work, and al
ways did hate sewingp cried Mary Jane
l saw the widows eyes open wide and
her mouth shut up tight as a reserved
claim, SO said soothingly, 81 am de.
lighted at your proposal, Sister Bates.
III fetch Mary Jane TO Mrs. Twogood's
myself, and you shall teach hor to cut out
breeches for the Niggerderwiggers with.
out delay.
The next call was Mrs. Biddlecome,
wife of the superintendent of the Sum
day school. "Sister Bates" said she in
very grum oice-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
knGw. We expect you to enter this
work with all your heart and soul. Sis
ter Bates and myself will always be on
hand to advise and correct you.h
Before Mrs. Biddlecome left, Mrs.
Professor Philetus Gangs, once mission
airy to the Potti wotimes, appeared.
"Now that our minister has a help
meet" said she, "there is sone one to
take the place of poor Mrs. Plunkett ia
our circle. | do hope you, Mrs Buttles,
will do better tha0 she did. There is no
reason why our circle should not sue
ceed If our ministers wife has any Gu
ergy.
Then came Mrs. Deacon Bullhead,
who was always full of feeling.
al hope, Sister Blu ties. you are spirl-
tually mindrd," said she, in thick
voice. al feel there is great deal de-
pending on you. The old ladies have a
prayer-meeting, AMI we feel we must
have you lead it,"
Mrs. Belinda Slicer, secretary of the
Grand United Water workers; Mrs. Tu-
lula Tittlepaw, president OF the society
for the Culture of the Brain; Mrs. Bush
wack, president of the society for Provi-
ding Canal men with Scripture Notices +,
and many other ladies', all officers of
oohoVuihBt OdiouJ anu Auflttu MIS-
Buttles to join.
Mary Jane was about eighteen when
we we're married, and had been brought
up by indulgent and rather worldly pa
rents. OF self-deuial, resignation and
humility she knew very little, and she
met the demands of the parish with so
much spirit and independence she in
Cured the dispIeasure of nearly every
person OF any consequence in 1t; and
though she yielded to my commands and
their demands and ..attended about halt
the meetings 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 Cor
ners, and i had to find new charge.
When 1 was installed in Griggsville
Jonathan Edwards was about eighteen
months, and Isaac Watts, our second
son, was, think, a month old. Nature
and theology give women a back seat.
| The great work of the world is perform"
| that must be done, and this labor which
is of an anxious and obscure sort, dis
| tasteful to men, is very naturally per-
formed by women, So in church work
| the parsons wife supplements the par
| son but when Mary Jane had poor
| health, and had to take care oftwo babies
and do all of our no lsework aud sewing
| [ really did not see how she could sup
plement me, and did not insist upon II.
The Griggsville church, however, made
the usual demands upon her ,and 1 should
no doubt have been compelled to leave
| Griggsyil.e long ere this If she had not
caught timely cold by going out in a
/ fnrious snoW-sIOrm to attend a meeti nc