Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-07-13
ISCELL A NY
The Other Side.


breakfast was lust over OF the parsonage; the
table was cleared away, the chairs set BACK, anu
Mrs Ashton. in neat morning dress, with
pretty little cap on her pretty little head, was
standing with her arm over her tall husbands
shoulder, looking at the morning paper. ana as
6ne.looking pair they were as you will be
likely to see in a summers day. The reverend
Clement Ashton was indeed said to be the hand
soonest man in the parish, land that with good
reason; whether he ever had any ideas OF his
own on the subject, was entirely his own affair.
Mrs. Ashton, as she was styled by the Parish
Christiana, as her godtathers and godmothers
named ber-Chrissey, as her brother and hus-
bad called her-was not usually regarded as re-
markablv handsome. Her features were not
very regular, and she was not fair; but her eyes
so bright and clear, her figure so elastic and
trim. her abundant hair, above all her frank ca.
sy manners and the expression OF sunny good
temper and perfect openness which lighted up
her face, made most people consider her very
attractive woman. Every one in the parish
liked her, from the two old people who sat IN
the warm corner near the stove in church, and
always came round to get their dinner at the
parsonage on Sundays to Mrs. DIR. Rush, who
was by far the finest lady in the parish.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ashton had been married about
six months, after an engagement OF almost three
years, during which time they had seen very
little of each other, for Mr.. Ashton was an assis.
tant ip an oyergrown parish in one OF our larg.
est cities. and could seldom be spared; and
Chrissey was teacher in another great city,
where She supported herself and helped by her
labors to educate one of her brothers for the
ministry. 1t was not till this brother had t1n-
ished his studies, and was placed on an inde-
pendent footing, that she had consented to be
married. &,
"George cannot support himself entirely" she
said. in answer to the remonstrance OF her lover
she is not strong enough to labor as many OF
the Young men do, and he needs my help.
know that he has talents which will make him.
enipenty useful in the calling he has chosen; l
know too, that ifhe attempts any more than hels
doing. his health will fail, and he will become
discouraged You must content yourself to board
awhile longer with your good friend, Mrs. Blck-
cts, Clement"
And to this resolution she steadfastly adhered,
DESPITE Clements persuasons, and those OF
George himself who was very much distressed
at the thought that his sisters marriage should
be mt off on his account. Under these circum-
stances the lovers did not see much of each
other, and they were finally married, without
Chrissey's ever having suspected her husband
of any infrmity of temper. She had suffered
much on discovering that such was the case,
and felt inclined sometimes to wish that she had
never been disenchanted but she was wise
woman she knew her husbands intrinsic ex-
cellencies and strength as well as his weakness,
and altering an old maxim to suit her own pur'
poses, she resolved both to endure and to cure.
"What do you set about to-days" she asked,
as Mr. Ashton, having exhausted the paper, arose
from the sofa corner
"visiting!" replied his reverence. 81 must
20 up TO old Mrs Balcomb's and see the Joneses
and try to prevail on Phil Taggart to let his
children come to the Sunday School once more.
Then, have to see poor Maggy Carpenter, who
is much worse again, and if have time, shall
get into the omnibus ard ride out to the Mills,
to see that girl Miss Flower mentioned to me
Yesterday"