The new North-west., 1880-05-28
THE MINISTER,S s WIFE.
A Truthful Sketch of Some of Her
Trials and Tribulations.

/ ~'1
In the bloom and beauty OF her pirlbood
she lett home OF refinement and indulg
ence for the varied, changeful life of 4
minister's wife. She loved the man sine
married with the true devotion of ,
wvman's heart, and was prepared to sacri.
ticc much Tor bis sake and the sake of the
holy cause no had espOused as his life work.
he entered on new past0rate q few
months previous to their union, and she
went AZ q bride among his people. Her
parrnts. having an abundance of means.
supplied her with a nice outfit TimdIy
conscious Of being target for all eyes, she
entered the church With her husband for
tbs hrst time. Her robe was silk.n; her
shawl elegant; her bonnet exquisite, from
underneath which soft brown curls fell IN
beautiful profusion. She passed through
the blushlng Introductory ordeal following
the service, and, glad to escape the criticism
OF her new acquaintances, was led away by
her ptcnd ami happy bridegroom. There
were people belonging to that church who
minded their own business. We have
some, thank heaven nowadays. There
were others who didn't, and their decend
ants are legion. Suffice it, the bride was
waited on BY mother in Israel IN a few
weeks and informed that her curls created
great deal of talk. InexprsssibIy shocked,
after consultation with her husband. she
smoothed the refractory waves into bands
and braids, and wore no curls thereafter.
A few weeks ago after = meddling sister
volunteered ths criticism that her bonnet
was q little too fanciiul. II those lilies
of the valley, with the dropping sprays,
were removed, 1t would be far moro be-
coming to one in her position" This
lime she ignored the criticism. A modest
but elegant brooch was worn by her to an
afternoon social. As she snwrapped, the
hostess laid an admonit Dry finger on the
offending bic Of mosaic and asked, "Is
that proper for minister's wifep" Tears
sprang to the young wife's eyes, and that
night the pin was laid away forever. In
less than years time she was formally
waited on by q committee Of ladies who
with her for wearing such
expensive silks, of which che had an ample |
variety. Her Indignation was fully aroused |
oy this last indignity. II wsar," she said. |
" clothing which my father gave me, and |
You know my husbands salary ia barely |
sufficient to purchase tho comforts of life
with the strIctsst economy. | shall con-
tinue to wear such clothing as have for
The present, but shall probably be plain
enough to suit when the time comes for me
20 refurnish my wardrobe from my hus-
bands slender purse"
hese experiences (Which are not over
frawn) saddened the poor wife, and she
srew by degrees as demure as a nun in her
.ttire. From $500 to $500, from that TO
!, 200, ~, sou and 81 800, the clergyman's
alary Increased as time went by, and he
emoved from place TO place. as those OF
be cloth are prone to do, and then is was:
How plain Mr.. BIS wife is; she never
years anything like other people," and
ich dress pattern was purchased and pre-
entsd her. Other gifts followed, and
'hen she demurred ar wearing the usual
merry so long ago discarded, it was hinted
bat the congregation. paying her husband
hne sum for his services, desired TO see .
or robed suitably. she had sacrificed her
wn tastes in her early married lite, aid
'as now required to remodel her habits
nd ideas.
Churches vary as greatly as individuals.
Is Impossible for one peor little woman 7
} please them all. Should she alter her
'stume according to every suggestion,
oseph's coat Of many oolors would be
owhere beside her kaleidoscope raimen,.
borrower, the minister's wife Is criticised
diverse other ways, quite as objection r
Die. Her carpets are mudded, chairs .
sArranged, her tides pulled away, her
,oks thumb-marked, and her albums =
lapldated by her usband's pa-ishioners; .
all her home must be scrupnlously neat, d
,r table presentable, and run Ia hotel n
smely, free to everybody, her pay usually
sing edifying (s) and earrulous gossip. .
or children must be models OF their sane. a
papa. It is their duty to be G.
,rn perfect. She il not a CHRISTIAN mother K
,less they are. They must labor Tor the q
'athen when their scholastic erudition is
o in!antile TO grasp the meaning of the
ord. They mustn't do this, that and the m
ber-not because il is wrong, but because d.
ey are minister's children, and are ex- a,
cted TO be luminous examples. The
mister himself, oftentimes over worked u
ID poorly paid, aud required to grind out U
certain amount of brilliancy weekly, is a q
essea mortal compared with his quiet h,
lpmate. With a scriptural text be can :.
y what he thinks, aud warn his people OF 'n
= wrath to come If they don't behave tt
emselves. He can indulge in clerical ri
Dlding, but she says nothing. His witty M
q bright sayings are mlringly repeated. =,
% Is generally too wear7 TO be witty and "
lght. She waits for her reward, and m
rily, say unto you, she will have it. p,
. wants to see all her husbands good a
ends in that better land, but it is relief =.
think she won't have to parade after sn
sm with . broom and dust-pau in that To-
'ssed state. 1t won't be, '.Sister. your sh
'wn glitters little TO brightly" or, eff az
nd alter your robe trifle it would srit :.
better" The ministers wife ia often ~
lly loved and warmly appreciated and is nj
rounded by the .kindest Of kind hearts lo
% make her pathway pleasant But Or
en- she falls into the hands of the Philis-
es, who under various titles and names
st in most all churches, it is impossible, 30
'pite her utmost efforts. TO maintain pur- th
{ serenity under the fire of com ments wi
IL is rare that one escapes
ring her heart thrust through and y
ough at some period of her life. II DC
re is one angel in heaven happier than ne
,ther, solemnly believe it will be the to
nister's wife