Mrs. Middleton's Mistake and How She Corrected It
It was in the sunny Southland, where the air is filled with the perfume of jasmine and magnolia, that our friends, the Middletons, lived. They were well-to-do people, surrounded with happy boys and girls growing up amid scenes of plenty and comfort. They were warm-hearted and hospitable, universal favorites in their community. Mr. Middleton was a prosperous business man, and it was his delight to bring into his home every convenience that would add to the happiness and comfort of his family. Mrs. Middleton was a good housekeeper, as well as a successful home-maker. It means more to be a home maker than it does simply to keep a house. The housekeeper looks after the material comforts of the family; she sees that the laundry is cared for, the mending done on time, the baking attended to properly, and the meals served promptly. All this must be done in a good home, but the home maker, in addition, must look after the hearts of the family. Mrs. Middleton was a resourceful little woman, and with the aid of her helpers she created a wholesome, uplifting atmosphere in her home. The Middletons were what we call worldly people, for though of fairly good habits they were not churchgoers, at least not regular members. They attended the theater and other places of worldly pleasure, and found much happiness in one another's society, as well as in entertaining their friends. One day in the early spring there came into their town a company of people who pitched a large tent a few blocks from their home. It created no small stir in the neighborhood. Soon all the small boys in the town were plying the strange men with questions: “Mister, are you going to have a show?” “Where are the animals?” “Have you any Shetland ponies?” The men putting up the tent told the boys that they were going to have some meetings, and when the tent was ready and seated they would like to have their parents come to the lectures. Preaching in a tent! That was a new idea. Every one was curious to hear what the new ministers would talk about. The meetings continued every night for several weeks. The congregation was greatly interested when the speakers unfolded the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. Their hearts were deeply stirred when the signs of the times and the soon coming of the Lord were presented. Notwithstanding the solemnity of these themes, when it was made plain that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, and if we are true to God we must observe it as the Sabbath, many turned away and hardened their hearts against the truth. Our friends, the Middletons, were divided. On account of his business and his popularity, Mr. Middleton tried to excuse himself, and decided, at least for the present, to go on in his usual way; but Mrs. Middleton was more conscientious. She said, “If these things are so,—and I believe they are,—I must obey,” and she decided to abandon her worldly pleasures, give herself to the Lord, and keep all the commandments. Her husband did not seriously oppose her, but thought she was needlessly concerned about the matter. All went well for a time, until a “fine play” was announced for a certain theater. Mr. Middleton expected to take his wife and daughter. He was not a little disappointed when Mrs. Middleton told him she could not attend such places any more. Soon he noticed that she did not wear her prettiest evening dresses. Her jewelry was laid aside; and often when he was home in the evening she was away at the missionary meeting or the prayer meeting. This was a great change to him, and it was hard for him to see the justice of it all. He thought he would surprise his wife by buying her beautiful things to wear,—costly furs, elegant hats, and other articles he deemed suitable. He invited their friends to dine with them, and continued to enjoy the pleasures of this life as in the former days. Once, when Mrs. Heartsease, one of the church workers, came to visit them, Mrs. Middleton gave her whole attention to this lady, and left her husband to entertain their old friends alone. In her zeal to be plain in her dress and simple in all her habits, Mrs. Middleton was unconsciously widening the breach between herself and her husband. She did not realize that if she failed to guard the avenue to his heart, Satan would creep in and work ruin in her home. Matters continued in this way for some time. Mrs. Middleton was quite absorbed in her church work, attending meetings, distributing literature, and in other ways “advancing the cause,” as she supposed. Mr. Middleton was learning to enjoy other society. The house did not seem so empty after all when his wife was away at her meetings. Sometimes he invited friends to spend the evening, or he went out alone to find congenial companionship at his club. Poor Mrs. Middleton! How shocked she would have been if she could have realized how Satan was stealing a march on her! But God is good to his children. He says, “The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way.” One day Mrs. Wiseheart came to visit Mrs. Middleton. She noticed that her friend was growing in the Christian graces of patience and kindness. She saw, too, that she had put off her jewelry and her gay colors. But she observed something else. She noticed with sorrow what Mrs. Middleton had not noticed,—that her husband was spending too much time away from home evenings. He did not invite his wife to go with him as often as he used to do. This grieved Mrs. Wiseheart deeply, for she thought a great deal of the family. It was sad indeed if the religion of Jesus Christ should thus be brought into reproach. She decided to have a talk with Mrs. Middleton.