Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-11-15
Vol. 67.-3396. No. 4.

work, and paid not the slightest regard to his
wife's faint protest against his innovations.
80 she settled down into a calm, automatic
obedience, and regardless Of material or gar
ment, she pinned and bastcd and sewed, ac-
cordlng to his order; but all TO no purpose
his shirts would not 6tl
Thus matters were growing worse with tho
Lattimers, and the demon grew more and
more jubilant every day.
About this time Mrs. Deacon Weston came
with her knitting to spend the afternoon with
her little friend
Mrs. Weston was a kind, motherly sort Of
a woman, and was always welcome among the
young people Daisy determined to ask her
for the pattern of the dcacon's shirts and
begin all over again, and perhaps with little
Of the old ladys experience she might do bet
ter in future. So after she ensconsed Mrs.
Weston in the easiest chair, at the pleasantest
window Of the pretty sitting-room, she
brought out her sewing and sat by her side.
Making shirts, eh, Daisy?" said Mrs.
Weston, looking intently at the little wifes
work over the top Of her spectacles. "Why,
what funny shape!"
DO you think OF" said Daisy, timidly.
was going to ask you if you hadn't nice
pattern to lend me- for | don't seem to succeed
so well of late"
"Oh, my dear child, haven't made the
deacon's shirts for many long year. 1t is
my candid opinion that no woman can make
her husbands shirts to his satisfaction; if she
can she may be assured that he is not long
Tor this world. The only quarrel the deacon
and | ever had was about this very thing.
You have no idea how many incompatibilities
and uncongenialites this subject brought up
aud if had not set down my foot Just when
did, we should have been subjects to have
delighted the most rabid divorce agent"
Encouraged by these words, Daisy told her
friend of her attempts and failures and that
she might see the extent to which the thing
had gone, she opened closet door and brought
out pile Of abnormal garments, which were
clipped and pieced into such shapes as to rem
der 1t impossible for human being to wear
them. These she laid in Mrs Westons lap.
The old lady laid down her knitting and turned
them over with an air Of curious interest.
Then laying her head back in her chair she
laughed until the tears rolled down her fat
cheeks and dimmed her spectacles. Taking
them off with one hand, she was polishing
them on sleeve Of one of the deformities
with the other, when she caught sight Of Dai.
sy's perplexed face.
81 know what you have gone through"
she said. every married woman comes to
this sooner or later. |, too, have my relics
of the shirt war. Now am going to give
you some advice. Don't do any more Of this
kind Of work. Put all these in the rag.bag
and let Fred have his shirts made in future
| by men who make it their special business.
have seen enough to know that if this goes
ON much longer you will jeopardize and per-
haps ruin your chance Of future happiness"
Daisy went on with her sewing and said
nothing in reply; but new purpose was
born in her soul.
The very next time she attempted to carry
out one of Freds original improvements it
was as usual, not a success Fred lost his
temper, and rolling the shirt into bundle,
he pitched it across the room, and exclaimed,
petulantly, There's no use to try; | can't
wear the thing and it's all your fault, Daisy.
| never yet knew woman who had brains
enough to make anything fit for man to
wear"
Then Daisyspretty, soft black eyes flashed,
and she came and stood beside him.
" Frederick" said she, " I've tried hard
enough to please you in this matter, but now
| soleninly protest against doing it any more.
In future you must get your shirts made by
some one else. | shall lose the pleasure
have had in doing something for you, but you
, will be better pleased, and we shall both be
happier"
After a short, but spirited and decisive
II latilo ha 81 ..I n Al a
( Fred had his shirts made in the city.
, To say that he found no fault after this, or
t that the shirt-makers always succeeded in get
/ ting perfect ft would not be true; but 9TH
, er men seemed satisfied, aud he felt that he
must be- besides, he found that no man
would follow his erratic orders with the sub
, mission of wife.
: And so, dscomforted and disappointed, the
demon of the shirt folded up his black plum.
= age and unwillingly crossed the threshold Of
s their door, leaving Daisy and Fred to come
back to their old life again.
i Several years after, when this episode il
: their life was almost forgotten, Fred was one
s day rummaging over some old trunks, wher
he came upon pile Of linen shirts
:, al wonder why these are put away here,
hS s"iu W hiinsch tutJ ioOh as IL mlSu
u wear them" Accordingly he brought then
down and proceeded to try one on.
y "Why, Daisy, what shirts are these ?" sale
is he to his wife. "See this one, how beautiful
e ly it fits me. Now, this is something like
t. why, it is perfect ~
d "Tbose, said Daisy, with slight twinkl
5 of triumph in her eye, " are the ones you ha
before you commenced your alterations"
e "You don't say So !" said Fred, turnin
u over the rest | wonder what could hav
s. been the matter with them. I'll take on
down tomorrow to Maslin & Son, and the
Up shall keep it in future as a pattern"
And Freds kiss Of contrition obliterate
Mt the last trace of this sentence, that ono
had been rudely craven on his heart -
of never yet knew a woman who had brair
II enough to make anything fit for a man
~ wear"