The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-08-15
..OF SUCH Is THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN

friends and our enemies, wherever we are,
and take up our abode in Il strange place,
there to make new friends and-oh +, it
seems inevitabe-new enemies. did not
intend to marry minister-that was years
ago--but when the opportunity offered,
love had wrought such changes i'll my
hardened heart | would not for worlds have
become united to any other. So, as it was
to be- | married minister and "a minis
ter married me- No doubt you have all
read elaborate descriptions of what the
wife of such a parsonage has to endure,
and time was when might have contributed
my testimony in this direction, and have
given my experience outside of the class
room but | was young. and have under
gone a change since then, and besides my
lines have fallen in very pleasant places
So, as it is. have only to say that some of
these accounts are very, very true. while
others are entirely false; and that, i'll the
MAN, | believe these unhealthy recitals are
the brain products of persons far removed
from ministers and their respective fami-
lies.
We came to H a month ago. The
house in which we are living is new built
in the latest style of architecture fitted
with all The modern improvements, and
furnished throughout in the most complete
manner. In our itinerancy we have not
been accustomed to anything so grand,
and do not feel at all at home i'll all these fine
surroundings, though the people are social,
kind and consitlerate. | learned last night
little fact which am going to tell you.
The peoples choice of a minister lay be-
tween two individuals. Mr.. b and
my husband They We're not unanimous
in their vote until just before conference,
butwere about equally divided. Shall tell
you what united them in our favor? can
only do it with fearful eyes and an aching
heart 1t was the simple fact, that i'll our
household there was no little iiedglings to
litter up this grand place; no little fingers
to mar the paint and paper, to scatter tiny
crumbs over the handsome carpets no
little boys to slide down the polished ban
listers and to play cars with the heavy,
stuffed chairs; no little girls to dance on
the sofa springs and draw hieroglyphics on
the door steps. ''Only himself and wife, :
said the committee, III council, whereas
the other brother has four children, with
eight miscellaneous hands and forty unruly
fingers to make havoc in this building
eight noisy feet to shuttle through these
rooms all the day, and eight restless eyes
on the constant lookout for fresh employ
ment and new diversions This state
ment was sufficient. In body they de-
clared it would never do. never do. and
with one accord they voted for Frank. my
husband. and for me, his wife, his only
remembrance. This is why we two are
living in this great large house, while Mr..
b, with his wife, mother, sister, and
four children, is stationed at T., in Il
cottage not much larger than good-sizod
forts. | fancied shadow crcpt over
Frank face last evening, as impulsvely |
told him what | had heard, and all day
long he has been so silent and so subdued ;
and vet his Sunday sermon is all copied
there is no sick to visit he has money,
and the church is prospecting spiritually.
He must be thinking of what ! am. though
he avoids my inquiring chances and voach-
safes no communication on the subject.
And what have | done to-day? | have
gone about the house as one demented !;
have shivered at the dreary order of things:
| have shut my eyes to this glaling, I'M
poetical, white paint, that never knew the
soil of little sticky hands; and, as the
great hall echoed my footsteps, | have
glanced scornfully upon the high walls, Sc
ignorant of the music that little feet can
make. Going to the parlor this afternoon.
| disarranged the curtains; | placed the
chairs awry | tossed books upon the floor.
and lad broken cookie on the sill. This
DONE the door bell rang and, frightened.
| locked the door and rushed out. 1t was
one of the hard-hearted committee, and my
head grew dizzy and my heart rebellious
as extended my hand and drew him into
the dining room He didn't seem to no
tice anything, poor man, not even my cool
demeanor. His little girl was sick. per
haps dying was the minister in; and
would he come right away? Frank Is sc
od-hearted he Interpreted my some
what triumphant expression Immediately
and looked at me so reproachfully as he
drove away? 1t was wicked | know. but
lust for moment ! felt | should like t.
have that man experience how destitute Z
house may be that lacks little child. ano
to feel a little of the loneliness that steals
over one who sits for hours quite alone i'll &
stiffness unbrol<en oh in an nnendurdbt
quiet
Frank has not yet returned. am rest
less tonight and my heart is full of long
ings unsatislied. In the year that has
passed | never extended my arms that
could not feel the weight of little body
that used to creep therein but Tonight
| and in this hateful house---that dear re-
membrance has left me. and my arms
seem utterly empty. All. when Frank re-
turns III beg him to take me back tn that
parish by the sea. They loved little chill
/ IL. Il hAa