Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-04-12
Concerning the Parsons Wife.
by REV. UmAH xERxEs EUTTLEs.

Not long ago Mrs. Mullet, an old lady
who is shining light In one ofthe Griggs.
vile churches Qhsnk heavens It is not nv
church, said to me, "Afr. Buttles, why is
it that parsons wives are so good-for moth.
IMP Look at 'em here in Griggsville.
There isn't ono on 'em does what she ort
10 for tho cause of Zion. And they ali
hev the same excuse; no time nor
strength"
Iventured to reply that Mrs. Shoutin,
the Methodist parsons wife. had twins
six months old. that Mrs. Waters, the
Baptist parsons wife, had an invalid faith
er-in-law on her hands, and that Mrs.
Buttles washed, baked and sewed for a
family of eight; and that each one of the
ladies was slender and feeble, and the
care and service they gave their families
we're enough, and they ought TO be excus.
ed from some Of the church work and
forgiven if they are sometimes sick.
"Excusedm cried Mrs. Mulet. 81 think,
Mr. Buttles, parsons wiie ort to real
lze the responsibility of her position. II
was sot In candlestick on hilltop I'd
shine, and not give poor smoky light
neither. What's house work and sewing
TO the cause of Iion!"
BY this time felt pretty glumpy so
said did not see how Zion could get on
without the old,fashon professions. and
then walked home. 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
to the parish.
l think the parson, like other men,
considers only his own happiness in his
marriage. l know that when courted
Mary Jane Bobbs, now Mrs. Buttles,
never once thought whether she could
lead female prayer meeting, run sew
ing society or make a speech at a mis-.
sionary meeting. | did once ask Mother
Bobbs if Mary Jane was good cook.
A clergyman needs food for his brain, and
ii was therefore natural that should think
of such accomplishment but l did not
think 1t necessary to inqnire if Mary
Jane could do dozen things ~ time, a
feat she has often been called upon to do
and found fault with for not doing. mar
ried Mrs, Buttles Just after settled in n. Y
first parish at Betsey's Corners. thought
alas for the foolish Imagination of youth
now shall have my Mary Jane all to
myself; but soon found that about seven
eights of her was claimed by my church.
The evening after our arrival Mt the
Corners in stalked the widow Bates.
81 hope, Sister Buttes, you realize your
position" she began. at is very solemn
and responsible one. We expect that you
will be 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 OH
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. Oar minis
ter's wife is always present. 1t is her
duty to cut out tho 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"
IL can't cut out such work, ,and alway
did hato sewing" cried Mary Jane.
saw the widows eyes open wide and
her mouth shut tight as reserved clam,
so said soothingly, IL am delighted at
your proposal. Sister Bates. Ill fetch
Mary Jane to Mrs. Twogood's myself, and
you shall teach her to cut out breeches for
the Ni.gerderwiggers without delay"
The next caller was Mrs. Biddeceme,
wife of the Sunday school uperintendent
Sister Buttes," said she, in very grim
voce-she had bronchitis-"the minister's
wife always has charge of the infant class.
We expect you to take Mrs. Plumkett's
class next Sunday. She was our late pas.
tors wife, you know. We expect you to
enter into this work with all your heart
and soul. Sister Bates and myself will
always be at your hand to advise and cor
rect you"
Before Mrs. Biddecome left, Mrs.
Professor Bangs wife of Professor Philetus
Bangs, once missionary to the Pottiwoti-
mics, appeared. Now that our minister
has helpmeet," said she, "there is some
one to take the place of poor Mrs. Plum
kett in our circle. do hope you, Mrs.
| Buttles, will do bettcr than she did.
There's no reason why our circle should
not succeed If our minister's wife has any
energy"
Then came Mrs. Deacon Bullhcad, who
was always full of feeling.
~ hope, Sister Buttles, you are spiritu-
ally minded" said she in thick voice.
II feel there's great deal depending on
you. The old ladies have a prayer-meet.
ing. and we feel that we must have you
lead it,"
! Mrs. Belinda Slicer, secretary of the
grand United States waterworkcrs; Mrs.
Tulula Tittlepaw, president Of the society
for culture of the brain; Mrs. Bushwack,
president of the society for providing
canal men with Scripture notices, and
many other ladies', all officers of something
called, and invited Mrs. Buttles 10 Join.
Mary Jane was about eighteen when we
were married, and had been brought up
by indulgent and rather worldly parents.
OF sclfdenial, resignation and humility
she knew butlittle. and she met the demands
of the parish with so much spirit and in.
dependence she incurred the displeasure
of nearly every person of any consequence
in it; and though she yielded to my COM
mands and their demands, and attended
about half of the meetings at which the
minister's wife aLWdyS 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 l was installed in Griggsville,
Jonathan Edwards was about eighteen
months. and Isaac Watts, our second son,
was, think, month old. Nature and
theology give women back seat. The
work OF the world is performed by men
but there yet remains much that must be
done, and this labor which is Of an anxious
and obscure sort, distasteful to men, is
very naturally performed by women. So
in church work, the parsons wife supple.
ments the parson; but when Mary Jane
had poor health, and had to take care of
two babies and do all of tho housework
and sowing, I really did not see how she
could supplant me, and did not insist
upon it. The Griggsvillo church, however,
made the usual demands upon her, and
should, no doubt, have been compelled to
leave Griggsville long ere this if she had
not caught timely cold by going out in
furious snow storm to attend a meeting
to promote the spread of the gospel in
Abyssinia. The cold resulted in q three
months siege Of rheumatism which has
proved in its way blessing; for the par
ish no longer expects her to attend every
meeting, and the ladies content themselves
by petting me as much as possible and
saying spitefully, "What q power dear