Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-12-31
CALLING ON THE NEW MINISTER.

NY husband ana L tried to excuse
our conduct by saying it was the length
OF the drive and depth of the mud that
had prevented.our calling on Rev. Mr..
Mayberry before. At the end of three
town minister nvsV -lsesSseliS.fs..jlo. aud
length came TO my ears stories that
were being circulated in Haytown
about the worldliness and lack of
earnestness of the Young m minister in
Straw Center, and that Mr.. Mavberry
was feeling kcenly the refusal of his
brother laborer in the next parish TO
reach out welcoming hand. Just
why | insisted on driving over to Uav-
town on that especially hot day | con
cealed from my husband, foo | knew
that he would be most wretcAed were
to tell him of the shortcomings that
were imputed TO him. He complained
that the roads were rs much too dry
as they had been too wet, that the aft
ernoon sun was scorching, and that we
should lose our third meal. heard
none OF these excuses, but sent him TO
get theIrequircd conveyance while l
dressed myself for the drive.
We owned no team, as n horse and
carriage is called in Straw Center, but,
fortunately, in our parish was stable.
keeper, who, though absenting himself
regularly from all services, was most
Jealous In letting TO his minister any
form OF vehicle or quality of horse at
the shortest notice.
The thought of my husbands world
illness troubled me. l meant Haytown
should at once see its error. That nv
husband was young could not deny.
but that he failed in any other essential
than age l would never admit. I
wanted.to make myself look as sedate
and elderly las possible for tho visit.
but, the. heat of the day made NV
choice in my limited wardrobe very
small. The only thing at all available
was somewhat youthful pink Gown.
which had foolishly possessed myself
of before ever dreamed | should be n
minister's wife. If 1 was obliged TO
wear anything SO inappropriateiy gay,
l trusted everything to an elderly black
bonnet and a sober shawl my mother
in-law had recently sent me. NY APP
pearance was far more satisfactory as
regarded dignity and sedatencss. but
the vehicle which Charles at that mo-
ment drove up to our door was
atrocious. He must have neglected to
state the nature of our GRAND TO the
stable-keeper, for such horse and
such a vulgarly-painted buggy would
have been seemly only on race
course, or to peddle patent soaps. But
TO pay a ministerial call on a perfect
stranger!
Charles had told mo repeatedly that
all the stable horses were perfect COWS
as regarded docility and speed. So
did not venture making myself laughed
Mt by suggesting that there was an ex-
preston in the horses face that did not
inspire my entire confidence. and n
restivcness in the hind feet that did NOT
suggest the gentle COW. But / mount
ed into the high boy-llkc structure.
Had L dreamed what effect the height,
unmitigated by any kind of cover, and
the huge red wheels, would have had
on me, L mover would have set foot in
the thing. L felt that Haytown, seeing
Kew. Charles Mason and his wife seat
ed in such a vulgar, undgnified vehi-
Gle, would be justified in making al
most any remarks about worldliness.
No; better that we erred day longer
in not calling on the new minister than
that we appear before his and our own
parlshioners in such a guise.
My husband had Just confidcd to me
his intention of looking at the'thermom-
eter, and glancing again at the county
map to be sure Of the Haytown road.
"And changing that velveteen Jacket"
l added, seeing. the undignifcd garb he
had forgotten to put OFF before going to
the stable.
But the horse or COW, as might be,
objected to standing lou 49,.
! he Uaipterestinplfaca lnor looEinC An