THE TIMES, NEW BLOOM FIELD, PA., MA11CH 8, 1879.
OUR MINISTER'S WIFE.
OUR minister 1b a favorite In the con
gregation, lie Is so approachable, bo
kind, so pleasant, bo sympathising.
Every body likes hltn the young and
the old, the rich and the poor. Ami lie's
6uch an eloquent preacher 1 lu all his
private relations as well as his public
mlnlsterles, he seems as near perfection
as can be hoped for UiIb earth. Now
tbls 1b Baying a good deal for our minis
ter. But there Is no unmixed good til this
world. Weare not permitted to enjoy our
minister .without the accompaniment of
some unpleasant drawback. Mr. El
more has a wife, and a minister's wife,
it is well known, Is not usually perfect
In the eyes of the congregation. There
was no exception to the rule In our
cane. Mrs. Elmore was no favorite.
What the trouble was I did not know
from personal observation ; but no one
seemed to have a friendly feeling toward
her.
When I say no one, I refer to the
ladles of our congregation. When Mr.
Elmore was the Bubject of conversation
you would be almost certain to hear the
remark, " Ah, If It wasn't for his wife."
Or, " What a pity Mrs. Elmore Isn't
the right kind of a woman."
Or, "Isn't It a shame Unit lie has a
wife bo poorly fitted for her position."
Bo the changes rang. Mr. Elmore
had been our minister for over a year,
and during that time very little had
been seen of his wife in a social way.
'The ladies of the congregation had called
i upon her, and Bhe had received them
i kindly and politely, but with a certain
dlBtauco in her manner that repelled
rather than attracted. In every case
r she returned these calls, but, when re
peated, failed in that prompt reciproca
tion which her visitors expected. There
are, in all congregations, certain active,
patronizing ladies, who like to manage
things, to be deferred to, and to make
their influence felt all around them.
The wife of our previous minister, a
weak and facile woman, had been en
tirely In their hands, and was, of course,
a great favorite. But Mrs. Elmore was
a different character altogether.
You saw by the poise of her head, by
the steadiness of her clear, dark blue
eyes, and by the firmness of her delicate
I month, flint aim wnn a wnmnn nf In
depent thought, purpoee, and self-re-li
Hftnoe.
Polite and kind in her lntercouse with
the congregation, there was withal a
coldness of manner that held you at a
certain distance as surely as if a barrier
had been interposed.
It was a serious trouble with certain
ladies of the congregation, this peculiari
ty in the minister's wife. How he could
ever have married a woman of her tem
perament was regarded as a mystery.
He is so genial she so cold; he so ap
proachable by everyone she so con
strained ; he all alive to the Church, and
she seemingly indifferent to everything
but her own family. If she had been
the lawyer's wife or the doctor's wife,
or the wife of a merchant, she might
'have been as distant and exclusive as
she pleased ; but for the minister's wife 1
Oh, dear I it was terrible 1
I had heard so much Bald about Mrs.
Elmore, that without having met her
familiarly, or knowing anything about
her from personal observation, I took
for granted the general impression as
true.
' Last week one of my lady friends, a
member of Mr. Elmore's congregation,
called in to see me. I asked her to take
off her bonnet and sit for the afternoon.
But she said : ,
"No ; I have called for you to go with
toe to Mrs. Elmore's."
' " I have not been In the habit of visit
ing her," was my answer.
' "No matter," was replied. "She's
Our minister's wife, and It's your privi
lege to call on her."
" It might not be agreeable," I sug
gested; "you know she Is peculiar."
, " Not agreeable for the minister's wife
to have a lady of the congregation call
on her ! and my friend put on an air of
.surprise.
" She's only a woman after all, I re
marked, and may have her likes and
lislikes,her peculiarities and preferences,
as well as other people. And I'm sure
that I have no desire to Intrude upon
her."
"Intrusion. How you talk! An
Intrusion to call on our minister's wite I
Well, that sounds beautiful, don't ItV
I wouldn't say that again. Come, put
on your bonnet. I want your company,
and I am going to have it."
I made no further objection and went
with my lady friend to call on Mrs. El
more. We sent up our names, and
were shown Into her neat little parlor,
where we sat nearly five minutes before
' she came down.
" (She takes her own time," remarked
my companion. If the tone of voice In
which this was said bad been translated
into a sentence, it would have read
' thus :
"She's mighty independent for u
minister's wife."
I did not like the maimer nor the re
mark of my friend and so kept silent.
Soon there was a light step on the
stairs, the rustle of garments near the
door, and then Mrs. Elmore entered the
room where we were sitting. She re
ceived us kindly, but not with wordy
expressions. There Was a mild, soft
light in her eyes, and a pleasant smile
on her delicately-arching Hps. We en
tered Into conversation, which was a
Utile constrained on her part; but
whether this was from coldness or diffi
dence, I could not decide. I think she
did not, from some cause, feel entirely
at her ease. A remark In the conversa
tion gave my companion the opportuni
ty to sny what I think she had come to
say.
" That leads me to suggest, Mrs. El
more, that as our minister's wife, you
hold yourself rather too faratadlstanco.
You will pardon me for saying this, but
as It is right that you should know how
we feel on this subject, I have taken the
liberty of being frank with you. Of
course I meau no offence, and I am
sure you will not be hurt at an Intima
tion given In all kindness." .
I looked for a flash from Mrs. El
more's clear, bright eyes, for red spots
on her cheeks, for a quick quivering of
her flexible lips; but none of these signs
of feeling were apparent. Calmly she
looked Into the face of her monitor, and
when the above sentence was com
pleted, answered in a quiet tone of
voice:
" I thank you for having spoken so
plainly. Of course I am not offended.
But I regret to learn that any one bus
found cause of complaint against mo.
I have not meant to be cold or distant;
but my home duties are many and
various, and take most of my time and
thoughts."
" But, my dear ma'am," was answer
ed to this, with some warmth, "you for
get that, for a woman In your position,
there are duties beyond the homo circle
which my not be omitted."
"In my position!" Mrs. Elmore's
calm eyes rested in the face of my com
panion with a look of inquiry. "4 am
not sure that I understand you."
" You are the wife or our minister."
" I am aware of that." I thought I
saw a twinkle in Mrs. Elmore's eyes.
" Well ma'am, doesn't that Involve
some duties beyond the narrow circle of
home V"
" No more than the fact that your be
ing a merchant's wife Involves you in
obligations that reach beyond the circle
of your home. My husband is your
minister, and as such you have claims
upon him. I think he 1b doing his duty
earnestly and conscientiously. I am
his wife and the mother of his children,
and as such I too am trying to do ray
duty earnestly and conscientiously.
There are immortal souls committed to
my care, and I am endeavoring to train
them up for heaven."
" I think you misapprehend your re
lations to the Church," was replied to
this, but not in the confident manner in
which the lady had at first spoken.
"I have no relations to the Church in
any way different from yours, or that of
other ladies in the congregation," said
Mrs. Elmore, with a decision of tone
that Bhowed her to be in earnest.
" But you forget, madam, that you
are the minister's wife."
" Not for a moment. I am the mlnls
ters's wife, but not the minister. He
is a servant of the congregation, but I
am not."
1 glanced toward my friend, and saw
that she looked bewildered and at fault.
I think some new ideas, were coming
into her mind.
"Then, If I understood you," she
said, " you are not interested in the
spiritual welfare of your husband's con
gregation." " On the contrary," replied Mrs. El
more, " I feel deeply interested. And I
also feel interested in the welfare of other
congregations. But I am only a wife
and a mother, and my chief duties are
are at home. If, time permitting, I can
help in any good work outside of my
home, I will put my hand to it cheer
fully. But home obligations are first
with me. It is my husband's duty to
minister in spiritual things, not mine.
He engaged to preach for you, to ad
minister the ordinances of the Church,
and to do faithfully all things required
by his office. So far as I know he gives
satisfaction."
. "Oh, dear ! yeB, indeed, he gives satis
faction," was the reply to this. "No
body has a word to Bay against him.
A smile of genuine pleasure lit up the
face of Mrs. Elmore. She Bat very still
for a few moments, and then, with the
manner of one who had drawn back
her thoughts from something agreeable,
she Bald :
"It Is very pleasant for nie to hear
such testimony in regard to my hus
band. No one knows so well as I do
how deeply his heart in his work."
" And if you would only hold up his
Lands," suggested my friend.
" Help hlni to preach, do you mean V"
"Oh, no, no, no 1" was ejaculated. " I
don't mean that, of course." The warm
blood mounted to the very forehead of
my lady monitor.
Mrs. Elmore smiled briefly, and an the
light faded from her countenance, said
in her grave, Impressive way :
" I trust we are beginning to under
stand each other. But I think a word
or two more Is required to make my po
sitlon clear.
" In arranging for my husband's ser
vices no stipulation was made In regard
to mine.
" If the congregation expected servi
ces from me, the fact should have been
stated. Then I would have communi
cated my view In the case, and Informed
the congregation that I haif neither time
nor taste for public duties.
" If this bad been unsatisfactory, the
proposition to my husband could have
been withdrawn. As It Is, I stand un
pledged beyond any lady In the parish,
and what Is more, shall remain unpledg
ed. I claim no privileges, no rights, no
superiority. I am only a woman, a wife,
and a mother your sister and your
equal and as such I ask your sympa
thy, your kindness, and your fellow,
ship. If there are ladles lu the congre
gation who have the time, the- Inclina
tion, and the ability to engage In the
more public uses to be found lu all re
ligious societies, let them, by all means,
take the precedence. They will have
their reward In just the deitree that they
act from purified Christian motives.
As for nie, my chief duties, as I have
said before, lie at home, and, Ood being
my helper, I will faithfully do them."
" Hlght, Mrs. Elmore, right !" said I,
speaking for the first time, but with a
warmth that showed my earnestness.
"You have stated the case exactly.
When we engaged your husband's ser
vices nothing was stipulated, as you
have Bald, in regard to yours, and I now
see that no more cau be justly required
of you than of any other lady In the
congregation. Igiveyoutny hand as
an equal and a sister, and thank you for
having put my mind right on a subject
that has always been a little coufused."
" She knows how to take her own
part," Bald my companion as wc walk
ed away from the house of our minister.
Her manner was a little crestfallen.
" She has right and common sense on
her side," I answered, " and if we had
a few more such minister's wives in
our congregations, they would teach
the people some lessons, needful to be
learned."
1 was very favorably Impressed with
Mrs. Elmore on the occasion of this
visit, and shall call to see heraguln right
early.
To think how much hard talk and
uncharitable judgement there has been
in regard to her, and all because as a
woman of good sense and clear percep
tion she understood her duty in ourown
way, and as she understood it, perform
ed it to the letter. I shall take good
care to let her view of the case be
known. She will rise at once in the
estimation of all whose good opinions
are worth having.
We are done with complaints about
our minister's wife, I trust. She has
defined her position so clearly that none
but the most stupid or self-willed can
frail to see where she standi.
A Slow Train.
WE ARE frequently Indebted to our
friend Colonel Yard, of the Mon
mouth " Democrat," for anecdotes illus
trative of the character of the peculiar
people who live in New Jersey. He
Bends us this:
The Hon. O. T tells a good story
of a slow railroad in the northern part
of the State. He says he went there
gunning, and came to a short line of
road on which was run a single car, the
forward end of which was partitioned
off for baggage. He took his dog in the
car with him and put him under the
seat. Presently the conductor camef
along, and insisted that the dog should
go into the baggage-room, which, after
some altercation, was done; but here
the baggage-master demanded a fee of
fifty cents, which was denounced as a
" swindle," a "put-up job, "between the
conductor and the baggage-master, and
sooner than pay it he would tie the dog
to the train and let him " work his pas
sage." The conductor assented, and the dog
was hitched to the rear of the train.
The dog, so T Bays, kept along
easily with the train, but the conductor
began to get uneasy, making frequent
trips to the engineer, urging him to in
crease the Bpeed of the train, and back
again to watch the effect upon the dog.
The latter began to show signs of .fa
tigue, but after a while caught bis " sec
ond wind," and was keeping , along as
before. The conductor now ordered the
engineer to heave all the coal into the
furnace and stir up the fire, which being
done, the speed perceptibly increased.
The conductor again went to the rear to
observe the effect, but the dog had dis
appeared, whereupon ho triumphantly
called T 'b attention to the iact.
The latter, after taking a glance, at the
situation, quietly pointed to a crack in
the floor of the car, " arid there," says
he, " was the dog, comfortably trotting
along under the car, and licking the
grease from one of the axle-boxen f
Harper ' Magazine,
" You'll Have to Stand?"
One tl me, Henry Ward Bcecher went
down to Boston to lecture. In the after
noon ho went Into a barhar shop of great
tone and refinement to be shaved. The
barber was a garrulous little fellow who
entertained Mr. Beecher, while he lath
ered his face, with Intellectual conversa
tion. He asked, "Are you going' to
the lectu re th Is even I ng V "
" Oh," Mr. Beecher replied wearily,
as a man who didn't take much stock
in lectures.
" I don't know ; who's going to lec
ture?" " Woh," the amazed barber exclaimed,
" Itev. Henry Ward Beecher; Itev.
Henry Ward Beecher, of Brooklyn,
doing to lecture to-night In Music
Hall."
Mr. Beecher roused up a little with an
air of indifferent Interest. " Oh, well,"
he said "If he is going to lecture, I
guess I'll have to go."
" Got your ticket V" the barber rattled
on. "(Jot your ticket V"
" No," Mr. Beecher replied, " I have
no ticket."
The barber laughed merrily. "Ha,
ha, ha," he shouted. " You'll have to
Btand up ! Seats all gone two days ago ;
you'll have to stand up."
" Well, now," said Mr. Beecher, with
an air of grave vexation, "do you know,
that is Just my luck V I was in Brooklyn
last Sunday, went over to Tlymouth
Church twice, to hear that fellow preach,
morning and evening, and both times
I had to stand up all through the ser
mon." And as be went away the still uuen
llghtened barber laughed at the man
who would have to stand up at Mr.
Beecber's lecture.
A Touching Incident.
A lady in the street met a little girl be
tween two and three years old, evidently
lost, and crying bitterly. The lady took
the baby's hand and asked where she
was going.
" Down town, to find my papa," was
the sobbing reply.
" What is your papa's name?" asked
the lady.
"His name Is papa."
" But what is his other name ? What
does your mamma call him ?"
"She calls him papa," persisted the
little creature.
The lady then tried to lead her along,
saying:
" You had better come with me. I
guess you came from this way."
" Yes; but I don't want to go back.
I want to find my papa," replied the
little girl, crying afresh as if her heart
would break.
" What do you want of your papa V"
asked the lady.
" I want to kiss him."
Just at this time a Bister of the child,
who had been searching for her came
along and took possession of the little
runaway. From inquiry it appeared
that the little one's papa, whom she was
so earnestly seeking, had recently died,
and she, tired of waiting for him to
come home, had gone out to find him.
The Biggest not the Bravest.
It is the first battle that tells the cour
age of the soldier. Many think before
the battle that nothing can frighten
them. When it begins they are panlo
stricken, and j-un in disgrace. Col. Ches
ter, of Conn., who commanded a com
pany of bis townsmen at Bunker Hill,
used to tell a good story of two of his
soldiers in that battle. A large and
powerful man standing by the side of a
pale-facedyouth of slender figure, said
to the comrade :
" Man, you had better retire before th e
fight begins. You will faint away when
the bullets begin to whiz around your
head."
The pale stripling replied :
" I don't know but I shall, as I never
heard one, but I will stay and see."
He did stay, and was seen by Col.
Chester during the battle, calm and
firm, loading and firing with great cool
ness. But the burly giant by his side
was missing, and at the retreat was
found alive and unharmed, secreted un
der a hay cock. Boastful words and
moral courage to face any danger rarely
go together.
Workingmen.
Before you begin your heavy spring
work after a winter of relaxation, your
system needs cleansing and strength
ening to prevent an attack of Ague,
BUlious or Sprlug Fever, or some other
Spring sickness that will unfit you far a
season's work. You will save time,
much sickness and great expense if you
will use one bottle of Hop Bitters in your
family this mouth. Don't wait. See
another column. 1
DR. WHITTIER,
No. 003 Ienn Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.,
Continue tn afford reliable special t rent men t of
J rlvate and Urinary Diseases, Perfect cure
ftliaranteed. Spermatorrhoea or Seminal Weak,
lies resulting from self abuse or at-xual eicess,
producing nervous debility, night emissions, de
spondency, dlr.zlness, dimness ol sliiht, pimples
!!' 1 '," '" "iiKness o! mind and body, and
finally Impotency, lossof denial power, sterility,
etc., untitling the Tlctlm for marriage or business
and leiidorlna life miserable, are permanently
f,1!? 'J' , ''"'' polle time, Uonorrheas.
(fleet. Strictures, al Urinary diseases and Hyphl
lls,(aU forma, consls lug of Hkln Eruptions. Ul
cers In the mouth, throat, or on other parts of the
body, are perfectly cured, and the blood poll-on
t V.,r?yi,.lljn,!rsllcllte'' 'r,,m 1,18 Intern: DR.
Wil l H 1KR Is a regular graduate of medicine, as
his diploma at olllce showsi hi life Inn special
experience In all private diseases, with purest
Hi (Heine prepared by himself, enables lilm to
curedllllcult cases after others fall it Is self.evl
dent that a physician treating thousands of casea
every year acquires great skill. The establish
maul Is central and retired, aud so arranged that
patients see the doctor only. Consultation and
correspondence private and free, l'amphletssent
sealed for stamp. Medicines sent, everywhere.
Hours 9 A. M. to 4 P. M., and P. M., to 8 P.M.
Sundays from 10 A. M., to 1 P. M. everybody
should read the
MARRIAGE AND HEALTH GUIDE,
144 pages, fine Illustrations, price 20 eents. A
book for private, careful rading bv both sexes,
married or single, explaining wonders and mys teries
of sexual systemf reproduction, marriage
Impediments, etc., causes, consequence and cure.
Hold at onice or by mall, sent securely sealed, on
receipt ni price In money or postage stamps. Ad
dress Ml. WHITHER. No. Rll2 l'enii Ht . Pitts.
burgh, l'a.
W 4ly
J. M. Gmvtx.
J. II. OlKVlii.
J. M. GIRVIN & SON.,
FLOUR, GRAIN, SEED & HRODUCE
Commission Merchants,
No. 01 South Gar, HI.,
BALTIMORE, MD.
We will pay strict attention to the sale of all
kinds of Country Produce and remit the amounts
promptly. 4ftlvr.
. 3. M. GIRVIN A 80N.
EWAIMMNU'S
(1876 Uniform Copyrighted 1877)
LAW 13 IONICS,
The Latest and Rest. A Oreat Improvement
want supplied. We furnish low and whatever
you need.
La w and Commercial Supplies of all Kinds.
fiend for samples and price lists of what
you want.
-!atlgiies of Dlanks furnished at THIS
OFFICE, ordirectfrom the publisher.
K. WARINO, Tyrone, Pa.
JEW WAGON SHOP. '
THE undersigned having opened a
WHEELWRIGHT SHOP,
IN
NEW BLOOMFIELD,
are now prepared to do any kind of work In their
line, In any style, at prices which cannot fall to
give satisfaction. Carriages of all styles boil!
and all work will be warranted.
8TOUFFKR & CRIST.
New nioomtleld, April 23, 1874.
USSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
NEWPORT, PENN'A.
Mow oiler the publie
A HARE AND ELEOANT ASSORTMENT OF
DRESS GOODS
Consisting af all shades suitable for the seasoa.
II LACK ALP AC CAS
AND
Mourning Goods
A SPECIALITY.
BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHED
MUSLINS,
AT VARIOUS PRICES.
AN ENDLESS SELECTION OF PRINTS!
We sell and do keep a good quality of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS,
And everything nnder the head of
GROCERIES!
Machine needles and oil for all makes o
.Machines.
To be convinced that our goods are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
IS TO CALL AND EXAMINE STOCK.
No trouble to show goods.
Don't forget the
CENTRAL STORE,
Newport, Perry County, Pa.
WHEN FEVER ANT AOTJE,
MALARIA, AND ALL FEYER4CAN BE
CURED
FO SO CENTS,
It Is criminal to suffer. An absolute means ot
cure la found in
LNFALLIABLE AGUE PILLS.
THIS speciflo eures not only Chills and Fe
vers, but every form of Malarial taint from
Aching bones to the Shake There is no mistake
about It. If you get the nxtit article.
Remember the name Klloi.I.'H AGUE PILLS.
Bemberthe price F1FTV CENTsi.
If your drUKK'tt has none. I will send them by
mail on receipt of 5" eents. or I will send a box
free to any person not able t j pav for them.
Address JOSEPH SHOLL. Burlington. New
Jersey. uu