CHAPTER XV.
BECOMES RECTOR OF ALL SAINTS' CHURCH, FREDERICK, MARYLAND.
Freed at last from the drudgery of teaching, Mr. Pendleton
accepted, in the autumn of 1847, the rectorship of All Saints'
Church in Frederick, Maryland, just vacated by Rev. Dr. Peterkin.
Outside of Baltimore and Washington, there was no more
desirable or influential parish in the diocese. Dr. Stone, Bishop
Henshaw, Bishop Johns and his brother, Dr. H. V. D. Johns, and
Dr. Peterkin were some of its previous rectors. The people were
thus accustomed to learning, eloquence, personal piety, and sound
doctrine, and not disposed to choose a pastor unworthy in these
respects to succeed such predecessors.
The removal to Frederick was a salutary change. The parsonage
was comfortable and partially furnished, and the salary of one
thousand dollars was supplemented by considerable fees. The
society of the town was intelligent and cultivated, and received
the new-comers with cordiality. Leisure from the routine of
school-work gave increased opportunity for study and sermon-writing,
which was diligently availed of. It was Mr. Pendleton's
custom at this time, and for many years of his life, to rise at five
o'clock, and in winter to make the fire in his chamber. After
dressing, he repaired to his study, made the fire, and occupied
himself with his devotions and devotional reading. A short time
before family prayers his children went to him for a brief religious
instruction, after which his little boy's lessons in Latin and Greek
were prepared at his father's knee. The girls were still taught
solely by their parents, but this only son—just seven years old—
was sent to the excellent school of Mr. Bonsal, because his father
believed association with other boys the best thing to develop independence
and manliness of character in him. Not from books
alone were the lessons to be learned necessary to fit him for a
useful, honorable life. Intercourse with his fellows must teach
him to estimate himself and them aright: to know that, while the
perfect lessons required by his father would gain the approbation
of the teacher, no excellence of recitation would atone in the
eyes of his playmates for cowardice, falsehood, or meanness. One
boy in a houseful of sisters is apt to become a rough tyrant or a
spoiled darling. Little Sandie was not robust and aggressive
enough for the former, but a delicate constitution and timid dread
of pain threatened to make him too effeminate to satisfy the expectations
of his fond parents. Shortly after going to school, he
came home several days in succession and tearfully related to his
sympathizing sisters how Jim Thompson, a boy several years his
senior, had beaten him. For three days his mother heard the
pathetic recital without comment. Then she decided that through
no weakness of hers should her son grow up a milksop. The
next morning, when he was ready for school, she told him that
if he came home crying that day she would give him a whipping.
"But Jim Thompson beats me so hard." "Very well. If Jim
Thompson strikes you, strike him again, and he'll let you alone."
"He is so big, mamma, and he hits so hard." "No matter. If
he strikes you again, and you don't strike him back, I will give
you a good whipping." Nothing further was said, but there
were no more tears or complaints. At the end of a week Mrs.
Pendleton asked, "How do you and Jim Thompson get on
now?" "I hit him back, as you told me, and he don't fight me
any more, and the boys don't call me 'cry-baby' either," was the
reply.
In the spring of 1848, after the close of the Mexican War,
Frederick was chosen as the place for the court-martial summoned
to settle the difficulties between General Scott and General
Pillow. To it came many of the officers most distinguished in
the brilliant campaign from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico.
Several of these were classmates of Mr. Pendleton, and others
former army acquaintances. The excitement and enthusiasm
over men who had so recently crowned the arms of the country
with victory was eager, and the spectacle of such a military gathering
rare. General Scott, General Pillow, General Twiggs,
General Cushing, General Towson, with their respective staffs,
besides other field-officers, presented an interesting sight in the
court-room, and, when the daily proceedings were over, occasioned
a stir on the street and a season of festivity unusual to
the town. This renewal of former friendships was a great
source of pleasure to Mr. Pendleton, and his house was the frequent
resort of the officers, who found there relaxation and
recreation after the tiresome routine of the day.
Clerical friends also came from time to time to share his hospitalities.
Dr. Sparrow, from the Alexandria Seminary, was accustomed
to make him a visit every summer, bringing one or two of
his daughters with him.
When his regular course of life was not interrupted by guests,
it was Mr. Pendleton's custom to spend the forenoon in his study,
reading and writing, except on Monday morning, which he gave
to recreation and rest from the fatigue of the Sunday labors. In
the summer an hour after breakfast was devoted to out-door work,
and by his exertions the small lot back of the parsonage was
transformed into a flourishing garden. Peach-trees were trained
against the walls, grape-vines shaded the porches, strawberries
ripened in the sunniest spots, roses hid and adorned the cow-house,
and every nook and corner blossomed into beauty with
flowers. When the season forbade gardening, a half-hour of
vigorous wood-chopping furnished exercise. Visiting from house
to house, going among the sick and suffering, looking after the
poor, and taking a long walk with his wife filled up the afternoons.
After tea he again returned to work in his study. Evening
prayers at ten o'clock sent the family to bed, while he continued
to read and write far into the night. But going into his study
did not imply shutting himself in or his family out. Unless some
visitor desired to see him in private, his wife and children were
always welcome there; and the little ones played on the floor or
learned their lessons in the corner while their father worked on, undisturbed
by any noise they made unless an accent of pain or a
tone of anger was heard. Then he was quick to sympathize with
their trouble or quiet their dissension. Every day he gave lessons
not only to his boy, but to his daughters also, in Greek and Latin,
mathematics, and the higher English branches; but the time for
these could never be a fixed one. His children knew that whenever
he had a spare half-hour he would call for them, and it was
their pride to be ready when summoned. Sometimes it would be
just before or after dinner, sometimes in the quiet hour before
tea, or, again, not until nine o'clock at night. But somewhere in
the twenty-four hours, except on rare occasions, the lessons were
always crowded in. His wonderful aptitude in understanding
the difficulties of young minds, and imparting information, made
ten minutes with him more efficacious than an hour with another
instructor. He loved to teach, and, as a natural result, his pupils
loved to be taught. As in former years he had facilitated the
education of his young relatives, so now he took charge of the
orphan son of a brother clergyman, teaching and training him
as carefully as his own boy.
