The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-10-17
Religion and Buttons.
BY E. g


man of good abilities, gentIemanly
and scholarly address, and cOnscien.
tlOus and devotional temperament.
His wife, rtIUugh-nnt strikingly
handsome, vet with her bTigut,-iafei-
ligent cOuntenance, sweet and WO--
manly ways, and neat and graceful
figure, was a most attractive person.
They were happy couple.
But one fault in her husband was
forcing itself upon her attention, and
threatened, unless summary treated,
TO impair, ii not destroy their happi-
piness.
Reversing the old saying, she re-
solved to endure and cure.
One morning Mr.. Grey informed
his wife that he would be out all day,
making pastoral calls.
Turning to leave the breakfast room
his foot caught in the carpet and q
very impatient expression escaped
him.
"Wife," he said, irritably, "can't
you have that carpet fixed, or do you
want to break my neck?
She replied quietly, ~ told Ann to
attend to it yesterday, and supposed
she had done So"
Soon she heard him in his chamber,
calling her with veXatIOn and anger
in his tones. She went up hurriedly,
and found him raging and chatting at
a bureau drawer with piles of clean
shirts, handkerchiefs and stockings,
thrown in all directions.
"Mary," he complained, 81 do
think it is outrageous that l never
can find a shirt fit to wear, especial
ly when Pm in great hurry. l do
think 1t is a wife's duty to keep but
tons on her husbands shirts" His
wife calmly took up and laid down
one after another, till she found six
in perfect order for wearing-and two
that each lacked buttons at the wrists.
"HOW many shirts do you usually
wear at one timer" she inquired.
20" he exclaimed fretfully, sit is
adding insult to injury 10 turn the
subject into ridicule, when you know
I require everything IN perfect order"
AT length our minister was proper
ly habited, as to the outer man, and
started upon his rounds of pastoral
visitation.
We will follow him to the bedside
of a ssiHss -sziEl- strielcan- in-the fresh
hE16 VI TOAllAAT y CT Win q II AA1N
in the one who was leading her
through the dark valley.
As she listened to words of cOnsOla-
ton from her beloved pastor, her
countenance was like that Of an an
gel.
He was an earnest man, and his
heart was in his work. As he rode
hOmeward, his heart swelied with de-
vOuU meditatiOns, and on reaching
the house, his enthusiasm sought the
sympathy of his faithful companion.
"Oh, Mary v' he exclaimed, ''surely
our blessed religion has power to sus-
tain and console, under all misfOr-
tunes and trials ~
Except the loss of a button," said
Mary.
The Rev. Henry Grey started in
dismay, and looked at his wife as if
he suspected her of sudden lunacy.
"What do you mean ?" he added.
"Just what | say! You can endure
great trials with fortitude, but the
failure of button or two, or a nail in
the carpet, gives you right TO be un-
reasonable, unkind, and--I must say
| it-unchristian."
Her husband walked the room with
a distressed air. Il did not think"
said he, "thst you would condemn
me for a hasty word or two"
"If 1t were only once or twice." an
swered his wife, ~ should say moth
| ing; but you seem unconscious how
strong the habit is becoming. There
has not been day this week in which
you have not made my heart ache
with some outbreak of fretfulness."
Mr.. Grey was astOnished, but on re-
| Election was still more surprised to
| find his wifeis remarks correct. One
day it had been about the door mat;
another time about a lost pair OF
gloves, which, after all, were found IN
= :. -tsSz true, tnat for mOmentary
vexatiOns, he had inflicted hours OF
pain, and days Of sad misgivings, up
/ on tue one lie loved best upon earth.
'But the worst of it is" Mary con-
! fessed, 81 am afraid l shall fail to re-
spect and love you as must, if l live
at all, would rather die this minute,
than cease to love you"
God forbid" said her husband,
cIaspiEg her in his arms, "Bnt why
have you never told me of this be-
fore ?"
SIT was not so easy for a wife to re-
prove her husband, or a woman her
pastor. But if you are not angry i
am glad told you, for it has lain on
my heart like lead, this long time"
'Say no more" said Mr.. Grey, Il
will not complain if the sleeUes are
missing, as well as buttons"
"You promise too much," said bis
wife, but TO conclude, "wrong con-
fessed is half redressed, and so let us
leave them, human, and imperfect
yet, but faithfully striving for victory
over all besetting sins, and for true
union with each other, and will
Christ.