The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-07-10
Misceuanp.
MRS. BUTTONS NERVES.
..But my poor nerves, Georger

"Ah. YES. YOUR nerves Confound your nerves
Mrs. BufEo1 you are always throwing you nerves
IN INV face / say, tho wife of poor man has
m b1siness with nerves. ThereT
And Mr.. Button spitefully bit off the end Of
RE cigar. pulled his hat on his head, and strobe
sVsy TO his place of business.
But before Mr.. Button had reached the whole
sale store down town where he was employed a'
salesman, his temper was gone-and then he was
ashamed of himself as he always was; for George
Buffon was a good hearted fellow, despite his
frey temper.
.xaPoor girl ~ he muttered "poor Emily I am
too hard on her. She's the mother of my chill
dren, and good wife if man ever had one It's
not her fault if 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, tmdly as
abe had expressed it. And still thinking. it oc.
Cured to him that it might not be bad idea II
he were to give up snokins altogethkr lie
whipped lead-pencil out of his pocket and made
calculation: t1
"Four cigars day-that's about my average
at ten cents piece; that's forty cents day.
Three hundred and sixty-fve days year-multi-
piled by forty-whew why, it's one hundred
and forty-six dollars year! Who would have
%honUht it2 Hum-hum-must think 1t over
seriously"
And thinking it over seriously, he resolved
that. YES. he would give up smoking altogether.
And Mrs. Button. No sooner had her hus-
band left the house than she approached herself
for her selfshness
"Poor George !" said she, 81 ought not to ask
it of him He has but few enjoyments and 1
suppose it is my duty to endure his cigar On,
what thing it is for woman to have nerve"
That night as the family sat around the fire af-
ter supper, Mr.. Button took to playing with the
20 10 o,,kh 10 oir
"Why do you not smoke, dear?" asked Mrs.
Button.
ooh, my wife's nerves won't allow it, said Mr..
Button with good natured laugh
81 was to blame, George" said the wife, "Smoke
if YOU want to, dear.-I have made up my mind
that after all, cigar is not such dreadful
thing. l ought to be thankful for my good hus-
band, who always spends his evenings at home,
with his family, as you do" H
But Mr. Button did not smoke, and the evening
passed away very pleasantly. No further allu-
sion was made to the subject.
The next morning, Mr.. Button took out his CT
gar-case as usual, put cigar between his lips,
and bidding his wife pleasant goodbye, walk
ed 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 Button 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 50 &C ID a
husband in the world, and that she would do
something to give him an agreeable surprise.
When o woman makes q resolve OF this sort,
you may be sure something will certainly come
Of it.
One night, year LATER as the family was
sitting around the Preside Mrs Button said to
her husband:
"George, it is just a year ago tonight since
you gave up your evening cigar"
.Just what was about to observe, little wifi, }"
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 have got to show yoa."
They went in, and Mrs. Button uncovered an
object which had stood hidden In the corner, re.
vealing curious little iron and steel concern,
in the shape of big letter G.
"a sewing machine p exclaimed Button.
eyes, dear--just what have been wanting for
SO long time, you know. 1t will save great
deal of expe se for now / can make all the chill
drens clothes myself, just as we'll as MOTTO say
nothing of you 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 few
cents day will count up"
"Dont l ?" thought Button.
II got the machine yesterday, all complete for
ieit" 'D'''A'' anu nave ''A '''l"'' 'D"' was
"But your nerves, Emily A sewing machine
will drive you distracted with its racket
at makes no noise at all, DEAR" said Mrs. Buff
fon, sitting down at the machine and setting it
to work. Il can run it close by baby's cradle,
when the little fellow is asleep, and it won't wake
HIM. 1t won't maxi noise enough to Interfere
with you in the evening when you are reading
aloud to rue"
Mr. Button kissed the little wife silently, and
they returned to the slit ag-room.
"Well DEAR" said he, .fter they were seated,
"you haye given me easant little surprise,
and now l think will give you one"
Mrs. Buttons face fus I'd.
"What would you cal that, Emily 2" said he
drawing bulky document from his pocket.
She opened it eagerly.
''George! This is an insurance policy"
can insurance in Life Insurance Company,
my dear, for seven thousand five hundred dol
lars. If die tomorrow. you will get every cent
of the money"
Sand it costs you a hundred and fifty dollars
a year, GeorgeP"
"About that"
"Why, where did you get so much money ?"
''It 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 alt,,-
gether, she could not help throwing her arms
about his neck and kissing him 80 frequently
that the children looked on in astonishmont.
"But you went away every moyning with your
cigar in your mouth" said the wife about min.
us later
And put IL hack in the case as soon as got
out O siyhtn said he WSee Emily Unra L.