The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-09-10
Mrs. Bufron's Nerves.
a But my DOOR nerves, George T,

"But my poor nerves, Georgep
"Ah, YES, your nerves Confound
your nerves, Mrs Button; you are always
throwing your nerves in my face. l say
the wife of a poor man has no business
with nerves. ThereT
And Mr.. Button spitefully bit off the
end of his cigar, pulled his hat on hii
head, and strobe away to his place of busi
ness. A
But before Mr.. Button had reached the
wholesale store down town, where he
was employed as q salesman, his temper
was gone-and then he was ashamed o1
himself, as he always was; for George
Button was good-hearted fellow, despite
his fiery temper. .
/ "PoOr girlP' he muttered; "poOr Emf
ly! am too hard on her. She's the
mother of my children, and a good wife, il
man ever had one It's not her fault II
she has bad nerves"
And the more he thought about that
business of the evening cigar, the more he
saw that it was his duty to heed the little
wife's wish, timidly as she had expressed
it. And still thinking, it occurred to him
that it might not be bad idea if he were
to give up smoking altogether. He
whipped led-pencil out of his pocket and
made calculation:
"Four cigars q day-that's about my
average-at ten cents piece; that's forty
cents a day. Three hundred and sixty
| five days a year-multiplied by forty
whew l-why, it's one hundred and forty
six dollars q yearl Who would have
thought it Hum-hum-must think it
over seriously"
And thinking it over seriously, he re-
solved that, yes, he would give up smoking
altogether
And Mrs Buffons No sooner had her
husband left the house than she reproach-
ed herself for her selfishness
"Poor Georger said she; II ought
not to ask it of him. He has but few en-
joyments, and suppose it is my duty to
endure his cigar. Oh, what thing it is
for q woman to have nerves"
That night, as the family sat around the
fire after supper, Mr.. Button took to play
ing with the children, and did not take out
his cigar-case
"Why don't you smoke, dears" asked
Mrs Button.
"Oh, my wife's nerves won't allow it,,
said Button, with good-natured laugh.
~ was to blame, George" said the
wife, "Smoke, if you want to- dear. /
have made up my mind that, after all, a
cigar is not such q dreadful thing. /
ought to be thankful for my good hus-
band, who always spends his evenings at
home with his family as you do"
But Mr.. Button did not smoke; and the
evening passed away very pleasantly. No
further allusion was made to the subject.
The next morning, Mr.. Button took out
his cigar-case as usual, put a cigar between
his lips, and bidding his wife a pleasant
| goOd-by, walked away and when he got
to the corner where he usually lit his cigar,
he did not light it, but took it carefully
from between his lips and put it back in
his cigar-case
The next .evening came, and the next,
and still no cigar was lighted. Mrs. Buff
fon was thankful grateful and as month
after month passed by, and she saw that
the evening cigar was given up for good,
she declared there never was so good a
husband in the world, and that she would
do somaetting to give him an agreeable
surprise.
When a woman makes resolve of this
sort, you may be sure something will GER
tainly come Oft.
One night, year later, as the family sat
around the fireside, Mrs. Button said:
| 0SOiSO, ~ 10 Joos % y SesA w JAW
you gave up your evening cigar"
Just what was about to observe, little
wife," said Button.
"You were so good about that, dear
that thought it was my duty to make an
extra effort to please you. So come into
the bedroom, dear, and see what l have
got to show you"
They went in and Mrs. Button uncov.
cred an object which had stood hidden in
the corner, revealing-a curious little iron
and steel concern, in the shape of big
letter G..
"a sewing machinei" exclaimed Buf
fon.
"Yes, dear-just what / have been
wanting for so long time, you know. II
will save great deal of expense; for now
can make all the children's clothes my
self, Just as well as MOTTO say nothing OF
your own shirts, George"
"But where did you get the money,
Emily!" :.
Saved it from the grocer, the butcher
and the baker, George. All, you don't
know how a few cents day will count
up"
Don't 1 ?" whispered Button.
| al got the machine yesterday, all com
plete, for fifty-five dollars, and l have six
dollars left"
"But your nerves, Emily9 A sewing
machine will drive you distracted with its
racket"
at makes no noise at all, DEAR" said
Mrs Button, sitting down at the machine
and setting it to work. az can run it close
by baby's cradle, when the little fellow is
asleep, and it won't wake him. 1t won't
make noise enough to interfere with you
in the evening when you are reading aloud
to me-"
Mr.. Button kissed the little wife silently
and they returned to the sitting room.
"Well, DEAR" said he, after they were
seated, "you have given me a pleasant
little surprise, and now think l will give
| you one"
Mrs. Buttons face flushed.
"What would you call that, Emily?
said he, drawing bulky document from
his pocket.
She opened it eagerly
| "Georgel This is an insurance policy
"An insurance in Life Insurance Com
pany, my dear, for seven thousand five
hundred dollars If die tomorrow you
will get the money"
And it costs you hundred and nifty
dollars year, George?" ~
About that"
"Why, where did you get 50 much
money!"
at is cigar money, dear"
Tears stood in the wife's eyes. And
when the husband told her that, besides
giving up his evening cigar, he had given
up smoking altogether, she could not help
throwing her arms about his neck anC
kissing him 80 fervently that the children
looked IN in astonishment
"Butyou wentaway every morning witt
your cigar in your mouth" said the wife
q minute later.
"And put it back in the case as soon a.
1 got out of sight," said he. "See, Emily
Here is the old cigar case, with three cigars
in it. They are badly chewed about the
ends, you see; but these three cigars have
lasted me year."
"Oh, you rogue!" -u
"And nowI guess will light all three
of them together"
So saying he threw them into the fire.
Mrs Button declares that that night wal
the happiest of all her welded life.
Nearly Drowned by Water Dog.