Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-08-26
7S0NS WIFE, THE CHIEF OF POLICE. !

1 SUCH an experience should marx your
first day in our place.
"Thus two more of our citizens had
been introduced to the parsons wife
the first day she arrived. A few days
nursing brought the injured man
around all right so he could be moved.
He was flush with money and offered
princely sum for the care he had re-
ceived. The little woman refused the
money with the air of queen. She
advised him to send his money to his
friends at home. She said as he was
about to go:
"'If you wish to repay me for my
triiling service, try 10 lead better life.
"She saved him, think. He never
tasted drop of liquor after his part
ing from her. As soon as he had fully
recovered he left town. We heard
that he had gone home and settled
down to decent life.
"Before the parsons wife had been
in town week another fight occurred
in front of the parsonage. A hundred
men were looking ON with delight as
two enraged men were beating, biting
and gouging each other like savage
beasts. A woman's voice clear and
strong, with ring of scorn and dis
gust. thrilling every word into fire,
startled the mob. Tho parsons wife
stood in her open door:
"And you call yourselves
men, shame on you! What a
manly thing, indeed, it is to stand
by and encourage these beasts to
abuse each other like that. Shame on
you! Sha,ue!'
"Before a word could be spoken
she walked deliberately into tho
crowd, and seizing tho man who had
the advantage of his antagonist and
was savagely pounding him, she
dashed him aside with vigor that
amazed tho mob. Standing between
the painting. bleeding combatants she
spoke with cutting sternness that
made them both finch and drop their
eyes abashcd. Her presence and
words had surprised them into sobri.
ETY.. One of the men who had been
very seriously injured began to sway
unsteadily, and then suddenly fell in
sensible at her feet. Looking the
other sternly in the face, she said:
"'Are you a man or o beast? Did
You have woman for a mother? Oh!
How could You SO far forget your man
hood as to shame even brute with
your cruelty?'
'"The man, startled and cowed,
skunk away into the crowd without
word. The parsons wife turned to
minister to the man at her feet. She
found him as helpless as a log and
very dangerously hurt. She spoke in
such tones OF command that none
though OF refusing tn obey:
"'Pick him up and carry him into
the parsonage!'
upon the same bed from which the
other injured man had just risen this
one was laid. He was carefully and
tenderly nursed back to life and
strength. The day he left he kissed
the little woman's hand and cried
like q child. She made him kneel
down with her while she prayed for
him. He went out of the house with
a new light in his eye. He went
straight to the saloon where he knew
he would find the man who had beaten
him. The crowd made ring for an
other fight as soon as they saw him
enter. He quickly said:
"'Boys, I have been nursed back to
life by on angel who prayed to God
five minutes ago to help inc live bet
ter life. She brought me back to my
innocent boyhood days when I knelt
at my mothers knee. My mother
died with her hand ON my head, pray
ing to Coo to keep me from sin and
help me meet her in heaven. When
the parsons wife put her hand on
my head and prayed for me,
she used almost the very
words my mother uttered with her
dying breath. My heart went all to
pieces. Boys, I have done with all
this wickedness.'
Turning to the man who had so
cruelty abused him, he said:
"Tom, old chum, I want to ask
your pardon before all the boys. I
was in the wrong. began the fight
without any cause. I deserved more
than I received. You know, old fell
low, my long life-friend, if I had not
been crazy drunk I would not have
struck you. I have always loved you
as a brother. Give mo your hand,
Tom, and say you forgive me. I'm
going home to begin new life.'
"The two men clasped hands for an
instant as tue tears poured down
their bearded cheeks like rain. They
were boyhood playmates from the
same neighborhood in the East. They
left the saloon together and went
home the same day.
'"The parsonage was named the
hospital the first week the parsons
wife came to town. These two Incl
dents did more to preserve the peace
than q dozen policemen could have
done. The moment two men began
handy words which threatened to end
in blows some bystander would shout:
"'Boys, here's another fellow who
has engaged cot at the hospital!'
'"The good.natured jeer was taken
up by the crowd and others would re-
ply:
Run and tell the parsons wife
to send her stretcher for her next
patient!
1.-THE fight was off at once. Street
brawls almost wholly ceased. Even
the rude, profane and obscene lam
guage, which before the parsons wife
came polluted the very air in every
part Of the town, was almost COM
pletely banished. The plucky little
woman had tine habit Of appearing un-
expectedly wherever crowd OF men
had gathered. She accepted with q
sweet smile and a gracious bow the
Difference OF the rough, coarse men,
who always said as she approached: