Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-11-04
Elf STAUNToN, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER A. 1862

ireproach at once painful ard ludicr0us. n
/ "What is the matter 90 she asked.
go, the old story. No button where it ougl
to be Not shirt ready to wear do nc
'mean to be unreasonable, he continued, in a
agitated voice as he tumbled over the things t
the manifest discomposure of the clean liner
.but really, Chrissy, think you might see tha
| my clothes are in order. am sure would d
more than that for you, but here am delaye
md put to the greatest inconvenienbe becaus
you cannot sew on these buttons. should real
| iy think that little of the time you spend il
writing to George and Henry might as well b.
bestowed on me. - ts
full distress which might have been justified, per
haps, if Mrs. Ashton had picked his pocket his
sermon as he was going to church.
ssWhat is the matter with this shirt? 3" saic
Chrissy, quietly examining one OF the discarded
garments. ssIt seems to have all the buttons in
their places, and this one, too, is quite perfect
and here is another. Ny dear husband, how
many shirts do you usually wear at time g,
ssOh it is very well for you to smile, my love,
but do assure you I found several with no
means at all of fastening the wristbands. nc
had breakfast late, and now shall be detained
half an hour, when ought to be away. know
you mean well; but if you had served year s
apprenticeship to my mother before you were
married, it might have been all the better for
your housekeeping"
s.It might have prevented it all together, -
thought Chrissy but the thought was repressed
in a moment. She picked up and replaced the
the scattered apparel, folded the snowy cravats.
warmed her husbands overshoes, and saw that
tie beautiful little communion service, present.
ed by lady of the parish, and consecrated to
such sufferers as Maggie Carpenter, was in readi-
ness. Before he left the house, Mr.. Ashton had
forgotten both his fretfuness and its cause. He
kissed his wife, and thanked her for her trouble,
and proposed that she should send for Lilly, to
spend the day with her, and SO rode away with
his usual elasticity of step. ..sss & s-s.s
Chrissy watched him from the door till be
turned into the next street, and then went back
to the 6reSide and to her own reflection.
The fretfulness and tendency to be disturbed
at little matters was almost her husbands only
fault. lie was self-sacrihcing to the last digree;
faithful and indefatigabe an apostle, almost
in his professional labors, liberal to fault; and
in his administration of parish matters, wise and
conciiating to all. He could bear injuries, real
injuries, with the greatest patience, and was
never known to harbor resentment. &Ez
But with all these good qualities, Mr.. Ashton
had one fault--a fault which threatened to dis
turb and finally destroy the comfort Of married
life. If his wife had, by extravags nee or bad
management, wasted his income and involved
him in difficulties, it is probable that he would
never have spoken an unkind word to her; but
moved from its place, would produce lamenta-
ton half indignant and halt pathetic, which rung
in Chrlssy's ears and made her heart ache long
after Clement had forgotten the circumstances
altogether. Strange as it may seem, Mr.. Ash
ton never thought of this habit, of which, indeed,
ne was but imperfectly conscious as to its being
a fault. 1850 +
He thought, indeed, that it was a pity he
should be SO sensitive. and sometimes said that
ne wished he had moi such love Of order and
symmetry for then he should not be so often an
nOyed by the disorderly habits of other people,
He saidit0 himself that it was one OF his peculiar
trials that even Chrissy, as perfect as she was,
did not come up to his ideas in this respect;
but that the temper with which he met what he
was pleased to call his peculiar trials ever be-
came trial to other people, he did not imagine.
He had indeed remarked in spite of himself,
that Chrissy' $ face was EOt as cheerful, nor her
spirits as light, as when they were first married,
and he regretted that the cares Of housekeeping
should wear so heavily upon her; but nothing
was further from his thoughts than anything in
himself could have produced the change.
Mr. Ashton exhausted with his days work,
turned towards home, with his mind and heart
tnll of all he had seen and felt. He said very
title during dinner; but when the table cloth
was removed, and he sat down in his dressing
gown and slippers before the fire, he relited to
his wife all the events Of the day. describing
with all the enthusiasm of his earnest nature the
patience and holy resignation he had witnessed.
and ended by saying:
ssCerta,niy religion has power to sustain and
console under all trials, and under every misfor-
tune } 20
Excepting the loss of BUTTON, replied
neither ply ylosophy nor relignon can enable one
to sustain. " @4
The reverend Mr.. Ashton started as though .
pistol had been discharged at his ear.
stWhy, what do you mean, Chrissy ~
'sJust what say returned Chrissy, with the
can bear with the greatest resignation the loss OF
friends, and misfortune. l never saw you rufled
by rudeness or abuse fro,n others, or show any
npatience under severe pain; but the loss of
button from your shirt, or a nail from the car
pet, gives you perfect right to be unreasonable,
unkind, and must say it-unchristian. y
Mr.. Ashton rose and walked up and down the
room in some agitation.
81 did not think, my love- he said at last, in
trembling tone, ssthat you would attach SO
mucn Importance to single hasty word. Per-
haps spoke too quickly but, even If it were
so, did We not promise to be patient with each
other intrmities am very glad to bear with :
Mr.. Ashton paused; he was an .emlnently
truthful man, and, upon consideration, he could
not remember that he had ever had anything to
bear from his wife. aside from the SHIRT buttons,
etc., which he Was now becoming conscious he
had not borne very patiently. ~ az,s1
sit it were only once, my dear husband,
should say nothing about it; but you do not
seem In the least aware how the habit has grown
upon you. There has not been day this week
in which you have not made my heart ache by
some such outburst OF fretfnlness. -
Mr. Ashton was astonished but as he began to
reflect, he was still more surprised to find that
his wife's accusations were quite true.
One day it had been about the front door mat,
the next about a mislaid Review, and then lost
pair ct gloves, which after al, were found in his
own pocket. He felt that it was all true, and as
his conscience brought forward one instance Of
unkindness after another-real unkindness-he
sat down again and covered his face with his
hands. asss ssa86a
SsBut this is not the worst,'' continued Chris
sy, becoming agitated in turn, 81 fear-I cannot
help fearing-that shall be led to feel as ought
not toward you. fear lest | shall in time lose
the power, of respecting my husband /; and when
respect goes, Clement, love does not last long.
This very morning found myself wishing had
never known you.''
Chrissy burst into tears, an unusual demon
stration for her, and Clement, springing up once
more, ,traversed the room once or twice, and then
sat down by his wife's side. 40
ssChristiana,' - he said, mournfully. ssI have
deserved 1t; feel that have but to lose your
respect, to lose your love; my punishment is
greater than can bear, Chrissy."
sslt was but the thought of a m0ment'' re-
Piled Chrlssy, checking her sobs; ssbut I am
frightened that the idea should have entered nv
head. If should, would rather die this mo-
ment. ks s*ig4s ff8 4ss1n Sss ~ fea5fFf.
'sGod forbid ~ CALCULATED her husband, as he
ciasped ner IN bis arms. ssBut why, my dearest,