Smyrna times., 1855-06-20
Family Jars.


between hearts that love Somebody has done
that though in poetry; but no matter, it is true
as prose. There was Mr.. Mligan, who mar
ried Fanny Lee, one of the sweetest, prettiest,
lovingest girls in the village. Millgan was a
young lawyer, and all the girls had taken
notion after him; but being a lawyer himself,
he kept his own counsel, and though he was
often in Court he did his courting very quietly.
He was successful in his suit with Fanny, is
sued an attachment, and as she was under age
and so had no property in her own right, he
took her person. under the habcas corpus act,
and made her his own
They were married and settled down in
lovely cottage. close by the stately mansion of
Fanny Lees father. On the first day that they
took possession of the cottage, and towards
the close of it-a sweet day in May-they
were sitting at ea-table, happy as two birds
whose nest was just completed. While they
were enjoying their first cup of domestic bliss
and tea, the eye of each of them caught sight
of something running from the chimney corner.
Instantly they exclaimed and in one breath:
He" Oh, see that mousc!"
She-Oh, see that rat!"
lie" l think 1t was a mouse, my dear"
She" But, my love, think 1t was a rat''
lie i es, but | saw it, and am sure it was
a mouse"
She-"And so did see it, Henry, and know
it was rat"
He" say it was mouse, Fanny"
She" Well, say it was rat"
lie" 1t was mouse"
She" 1t was a rat"
He Twas a mouse"
She" Twas rat"
And so they went on" mousse" "rat,"
"rat' mouse" rat, rat, rat" "mCuse,
mouse, mouse" louder and louder; Mllligan
got mad, and Fanny got to crying, and from bad
to worse things grew fast, until Fanny said
she wouldn't live with such brute OF /. man,
and so she took her things and went over to
her fathers and stayed all night Alilligan
had solitary time in the cot;age-all alone bv
himself, and nobody with him, but he was a
lawyer and man, and wasn't to be put down
by little woman the very first day He went
to his office the next morning, "whsting to
keep his courage up" and in the midst OF busi-
ness tried to forget the past He was quite
sure that Fanny would be home when he re-
turned in the afternoon.
Not bit of It, She was too spunky for that
lie would not go. after her, as that would be
giving up, beat, and she wouldn't come till he
did. Several days passed in this wav, and
weeks and months, and the summer was near
! y gone, when the friends of both, who had
heard of the foolish cause of separation, inter
tered, and very easily brought them together.
| They were glad enough, both of them, to for
give and forSet,and return to that pleasant cot
tage, wiser If not better than they were before.
And now they are once more seated at the
same tea-table, in the same cheerful room, und
looking across the table in each others eyes
brlmlnlng over with love. They could not but
recall the last time they had sci there-ihc
first time as well as the last--and laughing at
the folly of their quarrel, MIlligan said just
what she was ready'to say:
"Well, now, Fan, was there ever anything
so foolish as for us to make such a fuss about
that coniounded mouse !'
Fanny" You forget, Henry dear, it was a
rat
Henry" No, no, Fanny; it was mouse,
child; saw it right there"
Fanny" Well, I saw it too, my dear; ant
| know it was a rat.''
Henry say it was a monse."
Fanny" say it was a rat''
Henry" Twas mouse"
Fanny" Twas rat"
And so they went at it again worse anC
worse, until they both lost their temper, Fam,
went home crying, and they are now separate,
for life.