Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-03

'ion, just as he was-saying The Lor
make peace, a ray of sunshine suddenl
came through the window and rested upo
bis young face.
Hasn't mistaken his calling, that son c
yours. deacon" whispered the old farme
III the back pew. Promising youn
preacher" said a city gentleman so rea
Mrs. Graves second best bonnet that tn
words penetrated through it, Eyerybod,
VINO knew him in his young days crowded
around the pulpit stairs TO give him wei
come. Everybody congratulated the dea
con and his wife, and Miss Catlin will
them
When the family arrived home the proud
loiiQ ihother put her arms around her sons
neck and kissing him over and over again
said: Ny dear John. this is the Harmless
moment Of my life. Make Yourself worthy
OF the Master who has called YOU :" and
John replied, . Dear mother, that shall be
the aim of my life
Alter Mr.. and Mrs. Graves had been left
alone III the evening, Johns mother said:
Deacon, don't you think Miss Catlin
Will make good wife for our John?'
don't know; | never thought of it,
WE You can't always arrange such mat
tiers according TO your own ideas. Proba-
bly, John'll want To select his own wife"
john won't have much time to hunt M
wife, and it, such Il hindrance to-a min
lister to get a poor wife, You know il would
De such AN easy thing for him Ia get i'm
poseu upon. \ on remember Or. bentley S
wife, and how she Kindred him in his work
by her worldly mindness and her feathers
ana flowers, and all the puilS and rufiies on
hef children clothes. And there was Mr..
Mason, as good man as there is in the
World-one OF the Lords own chosen; but
his wife couldn't adapt herself to the situa-
ton. She was always in hot water with
some OF the members She would speak
out her mind. Ministers wives can't speak
out their minds when It's going against the
gram OF their husbands pensioners. You
know Tie church felt Sorry enough to dis
miss Mr. Mason. He was powerful preach
er, bat his wife was the s,umbing-bigck in
his way. John might get caught Just that
way, and ms usefulness Kindred. Miss Cat
lin knows how To take all sorts Of folks.
and she one that won be run over either,
by those women in every church who want
to be captains ana have their own way. like
Mrs. Deacon Jones and Abner Whitnev's
second wife. I'm going to invite Miss Cat
lin with the Pillsburys to tea 10 morrow
night"
The deacon was nodding in his chair
when his vile finished speaking, and she
was left to itef own thoughts.
When John was informed the next morn
ing by his mother that she had invited n
young lady TO take tea with him, and told
hlm she was Just the one for Il ministers
wife, John smiled. bat only said that he
would be pleased to see his mothers idea
OF prospective ministers wife. IL was ey-
ident when the visit was over that John
was not very enthusiastic over his mothers
guest The deacon told his wife that it was
his opinion that John want over and
above pleased with Miss Catlin. 1t is in
VAN you spread net in sight of any bird. ="
But John was only going to be at home O
few days, and if his mother could only
bring about meetings enough with Miss
Catlin TO guarantee Johns asking TO CORE
spond with her, she was sure the matter
would be adjusted to her satisfaction.
There was evidently something on Johns
something that weighed heavy.'
his mother said. Ii it was because he feared
he could not get a church, she was certain
he was worrying for nothing Of course,
with his talents, he wouldn't have 10 preach
ground as a candidate long. But that was
not what was ON Johns mind at all. He
was bordering how to tell his mother that
his wife had already been selected and that
he had had the pleasure of making his own
selection. 1t was not after his mother s
pattern, however, as the petite Annie Wood
ruff was exactly the opposite of Miss Cat
lin physically, and, he was sure, mentally.
as well. He was so sorry his choice had
not come up to his mothers standard. for
her sake. All he knew about it was that
Annie just suited him. Whether she would
suit his mother and his Pensioners was
quite another question. But why should
ministers have prescribed type of wives
different from other men? \ good wife
was good wife anywhere.
Mother, dear" said John, one morning,
VIXEN his mother was rolling out the crust
of his fayorite pies. - ! hope l shall find a
wife who can make as good pie as YOU
cam
Miss Catlin will make splendid house
keeper, and just the wife for you, John, in
every particular. She can lead the mission
airy meetings and the women's prayer.
meetin Is, and can cut out anything at the
sewing society without any pat ems, and
she's the most discreet person ever knew
"A high recommendation. surely. But
W hat will you think when tell you that !
have already engaged my WIFE mother
and that she is just the opposite of Miss
Catlin, as far as | can judge"
Why, John Gravesi' exclaimed the
astonished mother, laying down her roll.
ing-pin, which fell upon the floor with q
tremendous noise, when did you have
time, with all your theological studies, &c
hunt up suitable wife,"
Il didn't spend much time hunting for
her; the Lord placed her, in His good
in my way. | hope YOU will
love her for my sake mother"
| IN ,f oVprtC bpl p,a1 T,bD anI
you must excuse me il don't say enough
in favor OF it just now, and She stopped
down and picked up her rolling-pin.
That rainy Sunday was sort of shadow
of coming events all around, deacon" she
said, as John passed out of the door and
the deacon came in. Johns got his wife
all picked out and secured, and she is Just
the opposite OF Miss Catlin."
Didn't tell you, Philury, that mothers
cant pick out wives for their boys? IfTd
married Marthy Stone, as lay mother
wanted me TO, | wouldn't have been hall
rs well off as ! am now."
Well, deacon, | suppose you arc right
John " she called, its all right Who
ever you bring nome for Il daughter III
receive and do the best by her | can
- guess Johns got judgment enough tc
pick out suitable companion said hi,
father. You are wise, my son. to make
your bargain in that direction before you
get Il call and settle down in your field OF
labor. An unmarried minister isn't the
one "a church wants to settle. We never
wanted one of 'em. There will be more
or less talk among the women folks, you
know
Six months later, when Rev. John Graves
received a call to settle at Burbanksville
he and Annie Woodruff were married, and
when he brought her home 70 make visit
with his father and mother the deacon
said
Well, Philury, let John alone for pick
ing out wife. He didn't need any help
such a pretty, bright little creature as she
is. To be sure she doesn't look stout
enough to hold her own against lot OF
unruy sheep, pushing and pulling against
her, but maybe John won't have MANY
such members. Sometimes such little
women get along better than the big ones
Folks handle EN- kind of softly. and don
josie against them, because they are SO
small there danger of stepping onto EN-. y
Years afterwards, when the old deacon
and his wife visited their son John. after
he had been installed over the largest
church at Crawford City, they heard SC
much of their sons wife's popularity
among her husbands parishioners, they
felt sure that he owed his success in a great
measure to his good wife
The truth is, Philury," said the deacon
" mini ter's wife needs to have plenty OF
good common sense what we say in New
England. good, sound horse sense and
Johns wife's got it. That's one of the