The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-03-30
PEEPS BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

| osAlu WI. DtOhu III h'hNf anu w
closed his ledger, took his hat, and with a
quick, nervous step started homeward.
Mr. Brown was prosperous merchant, and
like all successful business men constantly
hurried, and often exceedingly perplexed.
The past day had been one of the wrong
sort-things had gone wrong all day-and
now he was going home weary and nervous;
and, to get rid of these excited feelings, he
strobe rapidly along the pavement. p.
Il am glad night has come at last" he
soiloquized; Il shall have little rest, hope.
No, there is that engagement with Morse at
seven; it's always just so-no rest, no peace
business, business, day and night" BY this
time Mr.. Brown was just in the right mood
to find fault with some :. e, no matter who,
and he suddenly remembered that last night
the tea was FIVE minutes too late. O..
To be sure Betty went out and oyerstayed
her time, and his wife prepared the lea her.
self. 1t ioaS nicer than usual, he would allow,
but then she might have been more punctual
she had nothing else TO do. What if Willie
did cry with the ear-ache, and the baby was
cross, the little nurse-girl could have taken
care of them. If tea should be too late to-
night, and he not able to meet his engage
ment precisely at the appointed time, his repu-
tation for punctuality would suffer.
Mr.. Brown prided himself on his punctu-
alty. ...........
| The excited man jerked his watch from his
pocket; Five minutes of six now" he ex-
claimed, and hurried on. By the time he
reached home he was morally certain that he
should be too late for that engagement, and
all through his wife's inattention TO his wishes.
But the discomfort of the previous evening
had not been forgotten by either mistress or
servants, and the clock struck six and the bell
rang for tea just as he closed the street door.
"Nhy couldn't Betty wait till she knew ]
was at home before she rung the bell!-
Strange a man cant have minutes peace in
his own house" exclaimed Mr.. Brown,
throwing himself on the sofa aud wipng the
perspiraton from his brow. .....-..
Heated by his rapid walk and excited feel
ings he was now rcady-to reprove the very
punctualily which yesterday he had 50 rigidly
enjoined. n .....
ave were too late last evening, you recol-
lcct," said his wife, sand told Betty 10 be
ready to ring the bell just when the clock
should strike tonight" .l ts
"You were angry at what | said, and
thought you would retaliate in this way,
suppose" was the abused husbands amiabe
reply; and the happy couple seated them.
selves at the tea-tabe r.r...f
"This tea is about as warm as dish-water,
and about as paatable," was Mr.. Browns
first remark.
With an effort Mrs. Brown drove back the
tears which were fast filling her eyes, but
choking sensation prevented her from reply
ing. ... %.
"Have'nt these sweetmeats strange tastef
asked the fault finder after pause, deter
mined not to he baffled in his attempts to
make every one else as unhappy as himself.
II have not tasted them et," was the quiet
answer of the now self possessed wife.
Mr.. Brown was enraged at such apparent
Indifference. ,,s.. -..t....
"These buiscuits are rs cold rs n stone,
and the butter is like oil" said he; "lndeed,
there is nothing on the table fit to eat. 1t
does appear TO me that it is a womab's duty
to attend to these little maiters-it cant be
much trouble; and if a woman really loved
her husband she would superintend her af-
fairs better than some wives do" And the
poor neglected husband, who had somehow
contrived 10 cat heartily of the unpaatable
food, rose Indignantly from the table and
rushed away 10 meet his engagement. r
Mrs. Brown was not an angel--she was
only sensitive, loving, right minded woman.
Taking her Bible for her guide in relation to
her own duties, she remembered that the
same inspired apostle who said, "Wives, sub
nit yourselves unto your own husbands as it
is fit in the Lord, also commanded husbands,
"Husbands love your wives, and be not Bit
ter against them" Sometimes she became
highly indignant at the wounding and almost
insulting language used by her petulant hus-
band; and bitter words of recriminatlon were
spoken, TO be repented of, and wept over,
and acknowledged, but never 20 be forgiven
by him who had provoked them.
Ten years passed away-to Mr.. Brown
they were years Of great worldly prosperity
wealth huwed in upon him; four beautiful
children were blooming in his prineely abode;
his lovely wife, like ministering angel, qui-
city, sweeily presided there, and sometimes
the sunshine continued even when "papa"
came home. f
But alas the upas of fretfulGess had con-
tinued to grow IN that garden of flowers;
and did the "east wind" blow ever 50 softly,
the blighiing aroma was shaken from its
branches, and the joy-blossoms were oil
withered.
Too gentle and amiabe for long resis.
tance to the unjust reproaches and require
ments of her husband, Mrs. Brown had been
gradually and almost imPerceptibly fading.
One by one the chords of love Imd been
rudey spapped asunderr JecoiliDg upon her
heart and obstructing its ttrobbings of ten