The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1886-12-18

1t rich when he got Inc VIE VINO went
to church.
What would he do? A year later he
told bosom friend that he must secure
a second mother for his children.
"You will marry one that goes to
church,"
"More resolved on that than ever"
''But you don't go yourselfF
| "No. The fact is, it's too slow for me.
| like to enjoy myself with things more
lively; and when I've got one at home
who pulls steady in the traces, as these
/ church. going women do. can feel safe
and comfortable"
He found the woman he thought would
suit A lady who had been somewhat
! intimate with his wife, member of the
same church, and altogether after the
same right-going pattern. In fact,
steady, clear-headed woman, who knew
when things were right, and was prompt
and decisive to have them so.
True" as Tom whispered to himself,
II expect she'll try to pull me short up
into straight strings, good deal tighter
than Emily did. She is not as soft and
yielding as Id like. But she'll be all
right for the children. / can trust her.
| When it comes to question of what's
best to be done, there amt bit of non
sense about her. So I'll take her,"
To his great surprise, however, he
found that the second church-going wo-
man was not prepared to accept his otter
with the pleased alacrity he he'd ex-
pected. Knowing that she was in rather
Strengthened circumstances, entirely de-
pendent on her own exertlons for livli-
hood, be had felt sure that his own we'll
appointed home would prove tempta-
ton the lady would not dream to refuse.
But, instead of the gratefully expressed
''yes" he had looked for, she replied:
"May | ask why you have given me
the preference, Mr.. Winter2'
because | want a mother for those
children who goes to church. married
Emily on that account, and she managed
so we'll that determined to choose one
of the same good SORT"
81 commend the wisdom OF your de-
cision. But you do not attend church
yourselfl'
go, it don't matter about me, you
know. So long as the mother is all right
to keep things straight at home it don't
make bit of difference whether a man
goes to church or not"
'In his own estimation, perhaps. But
have you thought, Mr.. Winter, that your
churo h going wife may be just as anxious
to have a husband whose integrity of
principle may be under the saving in
fluence of church attendance as you are
in regard to the lady of your choicel If
you desire to feel at rest touching your
wife's conduct at home is it not equally
desirable that your wifc's mind should
be at rest touching your honesty of con-
duct when out Of Eer sightl"
Here was a new aspect, and at first he
thought it was very foolish aspect, not
stand the idea of m n being amenable
to the same rules of moral conduct that
are required in a woman. And he said
so. But to all his arguments and plead
ings the lady turned a deaf ear. She
would not marry man who did not go
to church; that much of safeguard to the
clean life of the man she would accept
must be given in return for her own
wholesome purity and unblcmished 'prin-
ciples.
At first Tom vowed to himself that he
would not tie himself down to any such
unmanly giving way to woman's foolish
whim. As he more and more observed,
however, that the lady was possessed of
precisely the excellent qualities he espe-
cially desired in mother for his chill
dren, he finally gave the requisite pledge
that he would accompany his wife to
church at least once each Sabbath-day.
''Poor chap" said his old chums,
"now he is shorn of his liberty, tied to
the apron-strings of hard faced, church
going fanatic. He'll be in Il lunatic asy-
lum in less than six months"
They were mistaken. Certainly, a
great change came over him. That was
apparent to the least obscrvant. He was
no longer the registering, ree-and easy