Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-09-11
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were raised p or
'Please TO shut that drawer, will you, Mr.
Jones p or
you are the most disorderly man in ex
istencc p or
'You are enough to try the patience OF
saint, MIR. jones' produced no good effect.
In fact, Mr.. Jones seemed TO grow wors'
every day, instead of better. The na,ura
habits of order and regularity which his wifi
possessed, were not respected in the least de-
gree. He drew his boots in the paror ant
left them in the middle of the hoor-put his
hat upon the piano, instead of hanging it OH
the rack in the aassage-tumbled her drawers
whenever he went to them-left his shaving
apparatus OH the dressing table or bureau
splashed the water about and soiled the wall
paper in washing spite of all that could be
said TO him, would neglect to take lhe soap
out of the basin -spattered everything around
him with bIacsiag when Re brushed his boots
and aid tuntred other careless things, that
gave his wife world of trouble, annoyed her
sorely, and kept her scolding at him near
| ly all the time. The scolding worried him a
good deal, but never for single moment made
him think seriously about reforming his bad
habits.
One day he came to dinner. II was a
hot day.-He went up into the chamber where
his wife was sitting, and threw himself into a
large rocking chair; took off his hat and toss
ed it over upon the bed right in the midst of
half dozen lace collars newly done up, and
kicked off his boots. with such energy that
one OF them landed upon the bureau, and the
other in the clothes basket, soiing a white
dress Just from the ironing paper. Poor Mrs.
Jones was grievously tried. Her husband
expected a storm, but no storm broke.-Ele
looked at his wife; she lifted his hat from the
bed and put il on the mantel piece-took his
boots and put them in the closet, from which
she brought out his slippers and placed them
beside hith, but he did not understand the ex-
preston of her face, exactly, nor feel comfort
able about it. Mrs. Jones did not seem an
cry, but hurt. After she had handed his slip
pers, she took the soiled dress from the clothes
basket, over which she had spent nearly
half an hour at the ironing table. aud attempt
ed to remove the dirt which the boot had left
upon it. But she tried in vain.-The pure
white muslin was hopelessly soiled, and
would have to go TO the washing tub before it
would be again fit TO wear.
'lf you knew, Henry she said in voice
that touched her husbands feelings, as she
laid aside The dress, 'how much trouble you
give me sometimes, am sure you would be
more particular.
do really give you much trouble Jane =
MIR. asked, as if new idea had broken in
upon his mind, q am sure am sorry for it,
'lndeed you do. If you would only be
more thoughtful. you would save me great
deal. | shall have 10 wash out the dress my
sell, now the washer woman has gone, and ]
can't trust Sally with it. spent nearly half
an hour in ironing it to day, hot as it is"
q am very sorry indeed, Jane; and if you
will forgive ME, will promise not to offend
you again.
All this was new. Both Mr.. and Mrs
Jones felt surprised at themselves and at each
other. He had offended and she did not get
angry; she had been annoyed, and he was
really sorry for what he had done. Light
broke on both their minds, and both made an
instant resolution to be more careful i'm future
of their words and actions towards each
other; and they were more careful. When
Mr.. Jones offended, as he still too often did,
his wife checked the instant impulse she felt
to upbraid him. He perceived this, and APP
preca,ing her self-denal, compelled himself
in consequence, TO be more orderly in his hab-
its. A few years wrought SO great change
in MIR. Jones, that, to use hyperbole, he
hardly knew himself. He could shut closet
door as well as open it-could get handker-
chief or anything else ont of drawer without
turning it upside down-could hang his hat
upon the rack, and put his boots away when
he took them off, In fact, he could be as or
derby as any one, and without feeling that il
involved any great self-deniaI to do so.