The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-09-05
Volume lS.

riue out 10 tne mills 10 SEQ tnat girl Miss
Flower mentioned to me yesterday"
"What a round :" exclaimed Chrissy.-
"You win never get home to dinner at two
o'clock. think will put it of till six,
and run the risk Of being thought stuck up,
like poor cousin Lily"
"what do you mean?'
"why, you know they always dine at six,
to suit the Doctors arrangements. One day
Lily called about some society matter on a
lady who lived not hundred miles from her
street, about FIVE o'clock in tho afternoon
The lady herself came to the door, and Lily
was about entering, when she thought she
perceived the smell Of roast beef in the hall,
and said, very politely, "perhaps it is now
your dinner hour?'
"No indeedl" replied Madam, with indig-
nation. ave don't dine at this time Of day;
we are not 50 stuck up!"
Poor Lily" exclaimed Mr.. Ashton,
laughing. "what did she say9"
80, she did her errand and retired, of
course. There was nothing to be said"
Mr.. Ashton turned to 20 into the study,
and as he did so his loot caught in the car
pet, and he was nearly thrown down. Chris
sy started in alarm, but he recovered him
self, and said pcttishly-
81 wish you would have that carpet nailed
down. have stumbled over it twenty times
in the course Of week, really believe"
al thought Amy had fastened it down.
replied bis wife with mildness. al am sure
| saw her at work there. The door must
pull il out of place, think"
40! Of course there is some excellent rca-
son for it being out Of order. Its seems to me
that with all your ingenuity you might find
some way Of making it more secure"
lie turned into the study, shutting the
door after him with unnecessary force, and
Mrs. Ashton returned to the fire and arranG-
cd her work basket for the day, with some
thing Of q cloud on her face. She was not
left long undisturbcd. for Mr.. Ashton's voice
was soon heard calling her in an inpatient
tone. She sighed, but arose and entered the
next room, where she found her husband bo'
fore his bureau, partly dressed, and with
shirts, handkerchicfs and crayats scattered
about him, like new kind of snow, while
his face bore an expression of melancholy
reproach at once painful and ludicrous.
"what is the matterH" she asked.
30, the old story. No button where it
ought to bc! Not a shirt ready for wear /
do not mean to be unreasonable" he contin-
ued in an agitatcd voice rs he tumblcd over
the things, to the manifest discomdturc OF
the clean linen, "but really. think you
might sec that my clothes. are in order. l
am sure that would do more than that for
YOU. but here am delayed and put to the
greatest inconvenience, because you cannot
sew on these buttons. should think little
of the time you spend in writing to George
and Henry might as well DO bestowed on
me."
This address was delivered in a tone Of
mournlul distress which might have been
justified, perhaps, if Mrs. Ashton had picked
, his pocket of his sermon as he was going to
church.
"what Is the matter with this shirt!'
said Chrissy, quietly examining one of the
discarded garments. alt seems to have oil
the buttons in their places; and this one, too,
is quite perfect and hero is another. Ny
dear husband, how many shirts do you usu.
ally wear at time?"
"Oh!' is very well for you to smile, my
love. but do assure you that found several
with no means Of fastening the wristbands.
We had breakfasted late; and now | shall
be detained half an hour when | ought to be
away. know you mean well; but il you
had served years apprenticeship to my
mother before you were married, it might
have been all the better for your housekeep-
ing"
at might have prevented it altogether" ;"
though, Chrissy; but the thought was re-
pressed in a moment. She picked up and
replaced tho scattered apparel, folded the
snowy crayats, warmed her husbands over
shoes, and saw that the beautiful littlo COM
munion service presented by lady Of the
parish, and consecrated to such sufferers as
} Maggie Carpenter, was in readiness. Before
, he left the house, Mr.. Ashton had forgotten
both his frctfulncss and its cause. lie kissed
his wife, thanked her for her trouble, and
proposed that she should send for Lily to
spend the day with her, and strobe away
with his usual elasticity Of step.
: ChriSy watched him from the door until
, he turned into tho next street. and then went
back to the frcside, and her own reflections.
The fretfulness and tendency to be disturb
ed at little matters, was almos. her husbands
only hult. He was seli-sacrifcing to tho
last degree; faithful and indcIatigablc as ar
apostle, almost, IN his professional labors,
, liberal to a.lault, and in his administration
|, of parish matters, wise and conciliating to
all. He could bear the injuries, real injuries
with tho creates, patience, and was never
known to show resentment.
, But with all these good qualities, Mr.. Ash
ton had one fault-a fault which threatened