The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-17

not see much of each other, and they were
finally married without Crissy ever having
suspected her husband of an infrmity of
temper She had suffered much on dis
covering that such was the case, and felt
inclined sometimes to wish she had never
been disenchanted; but she was a very wise
woman; she knew her husbands intrinsic
excellencies, and his strength as well as
weakness, and, altering an old maxim to
suit her purpose, she resolved both to en-
dure and to cure.
What do you set about to-day" said
she, as Mr.. Ashton arose from the corner
of the sofa, having exhausted the paper.
"Visiting,'' replied his reverence II
must go up to old Mrs. BalcOmbs and see
the Jeneses, and try to prevail on Phil.
Taggart to let his children come to Sunday
School once more Then ! have to see
poor Maggie Carpenter, who is much worse
again and shall get into the omnibus
and ride out to the mills to see that girl
Miss Fowler mentioned to me yesterday" 5"
What round!" exclaimed Chrisy
You will never get home to dinner at
o'clock | think will put it off till six,
and run the risk Of being thought stuck
what do you mean?"
why, you know they always dine at
six to suit the Doctor arrangements. One
day Lilly called about some society matter
on lady who lives not a hundred miles
from her street, about five O'Clock in the
afternoon. The lady herself came to the
door, and Lilly was about entering, when
she thought she perceived the smell Of
roast meat in the hall and said very po-
litely, but perhaps it is now your dinner
hOur?'"
" No, indeed !" replied madam, with in
dignation. 1--WE don't dine at this time of
day; we are not so stuck up!''
Poor Lilly!" exclaimed Mr. Ashton,
laughing. "What did she say?'
80! she did her errand and retired of
course. There was nothing to be said
Mr.. Ashton turned to go into the study,
and as he did so, his foot caught in the
carpet and he was nearly thrown down
Chrissy started in alarm, but he recovered
himself and said pettishly-
''I do wish you would have that carpet
nailed down. | have stumbled over it
twenty times in the course of week, ]
really believe
"I thought Amy had fastened it down."
returned his wife with perfect mildness
u am sure saw her at work there. The
door must pull it out of place, think.
go! of course there is some excellent
reason for its being out of order. 1t seems
to me that with all your ingenuity you
might find some way of making it more
secure
He turned into his study, shutting the
door after him with unnecessary force, and
Mrs. Ashton returned to the fire and ar
ranged her work-basket for the day, with
cloud on her face She was not left long
undisturbed, for Mr. Ashton's voice was
soon heard calling her in impatient tones.
She sighed, but arose and entered the next
room, where she found her husband stand
ing before his bureau, partly dressed, and
with shirts, cravats and handkerchiefs scat
tered about him, like new kind of snow,
while his face bore an expression of mel
ancholy reproach at once disdainful and
ludicrous.
"What is the mattcr?" she asked.
80, the old story. No button where it
ought to bel Not shirt ready to wear!
do not mean to be unreasonable, - he
continued, in an agitated voice, as he tum-
bled over the thing to the manifest discom-
posure of the clean linen, "but really
Chrissy, think you might see that my
clothes are in order. / am sure l would
do more than that for you, but here l am
delayed and put to the greatest inconve-
nience because you cannot sew on these
buttons. ! should really think that little
Of the time you spend in writing to George
and Henry might as well be bestowed on
me.'
This address was delivered in tone of
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 P"
said Chrissey, quietly examining one of the
discarded garments. It seems to have all
the4buttons in their places; and this one,
too, is quite perfect; and here is another.
My dear husband, how many shirts do you
usually wear at timer"
Oh! it is very well for you to smile,
my love, but can assure you found sew
eral with no means at all of fastening the
wristbands. We have breakfasted late !;
and now shall be detained half an hour,
when l ought to have been away. know
you mean well; but if you had served a
years apprenticeship to my mother before
marrying, it might have been all the better
for your housekeeping"
| ~ 1t might have prevented it altogeth-
er," thought Chrissy but the thought was
represented in moment. She picked up
and replaced the scattered apparel, fold
ed the snowy cravats, warmed her hus-
bands overshoes, and saw the beautiful
little communion service, presented by a
lady OF the parish, and consecrated to such
sufferers as Maggie Carpenter, was in rea-
dlness. Before he left the house, Mr.. Ash