Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-22
MENDING A HUSBAND.


best, and dearest little girl in Hillsburg; and
when Tom Carter fell head-over-heels in
love with her, nobody blamed him in the
least. And when the parson gave his bless
ing, and they went to commence house
keeping in coy little house in the south
part of town, everybody prophesied all sorts
Of happiness .or the pretty bride.
And, truth to tell, Nellie Carter wk very
happy. Il is pleasant thing to go TO house.
keeping for the first time, with everything
new and shiny, and if you have somebody
you love for a companion it is still pleasant
er. Now, Nellie did love thar great, big,
laundering Tom Carter, with all her might
and main; and there was only one thing to
disturb her perfect peace. She was the
very pink Of tidiness. while Tom was the
most careless fellow alive.
He kept his person neat and nice-bul
he kept his personal belongings anything
else, Tom would persist in tossing bis slip
pers under the parlor SOFA, so as to have
them handy. In vain did she gently sug-
gest that the rack in the hall was the place
for his hat and oYereoat. Tom would
fling his overcoat, wet or dry, on the pref
ty, smoothly made bed, and drop his hal
anywhere.
In vain did tidy Nellie make place fol-
everything, for Tom invariably tossed every
thing down in some other place. Now lit
tie Mrs. Nellie was only human, and Toms
sloyenly ways annoyed her exceedingly.
She was resolved not to spoil the peace of
their cozy home by scolding, but how to
cure him she could not tell.
She bore with him with the patience of
an angel, until one morning after he had
gone to the Office, she went into the parlOr
and there lay Toms heavy shawl right
across the table, ruthIessly crushing beneath
it the pretty trifes which lay upoa the mar
bic top. -er4
"Now I can't stand this, aud I WON'T"
said Nellie, as she carefully raised the
covered the ruins ola Bohemian vase.
81 don't know what to do, but this !
won't have?" she continued with the little
bit of wifely snap, which every good wife
must have if she expects to get along at all
with that occasionally unreasonable animal
man.
"Some way must and shall be discovered
to cure Tom of such performances as thisl''
went on Mrs. Nellie as she removed the
ruins Of her vase, and all the morning she
went about the house with scarlet lips
closely compressed and a little fash in her
brown eyes, which argued well for Master
Toms suhjugation.
Woman's wit, having the will, seldom
fails to find way. But when determin
ed little woman says s'mustn and 'swill,"
masculine insubordination might as well
surrender at once. Before Mrs. Nellie had
closed her bright eyes that night she had
arranged her plans for the campaign against
her liege lord who slept the sleep of an in
nocent at her side. q
But she meant to give him one more
chance. So after breakfast when Tom
drew on his boots and gave his slippers their
usual toss under the sofa, she said gently:
"TOm, dear, hadn't you better put your
slippers in the passage, or the back room.
"No; .et 'em alone. They II be handy
for tonight" said Tom.
"But, Tom, dear, they look so untidy."
"Wby, no they don't. A thing looks as
we'll in one place as another. What's the
use of man having a home if he can't
keep any thing where he wants it?" said
rebellious Tom. e..
whats the use TO keep wife and GER
want on their feet all day to pick up things
after you?" asked Nellie without the least
show Of temper.
"DoD't pick them up at all. Just let
them alone, and then can find them when
l want them," declared Master Tom, as be
gave her kiss, and took himself of,
And the moment the dor closed on him
Nellie's red lips compressed again and her
brown eyes wore the same look they had
wore yesterday.
"War it is, them" she said to herself.
"Now, Master Tom, we shall see who wins
the field" ~ 7
She set quietly about the usual morn
ing's work of mistress of household, where
only one servant is employed; and when
Tom came home to lunch everything was
in its usual good order. IL remained so,
and Nellie busted herself with her needle
work until nearly time for Tom to return
to dinner.
Then she rose, put away her work, and
prepared, as she said to herself, to "open
the campaign"
First, she put Toms slippers where he
always left them, under the sofa. Then
she tossed bis shawl upon the piano, and
bis best hat on the table. Then she brought
some of her dresses, and threw them across
the chairs aud on the sofa. Her furs re-
posed in Toms especial arm chair, and her
best bonnet KEEP Toms slippers company
under the sofa, while her own slippers lay
on the chiffonier.
And then, thinking that feminine iDgen-
uity could make no greater sacrifice than
her Sunday bonnet, she took a piece OF
crochet work and sat down.
Presently the door opened, and in walked
Master Tom. He gave low whistle Of sur
prise as he glanced at the unwonted disor-
der, and at Nellie, sitting calmly in the
midst with her crotchet work, and then
came into the room.
"Hsvn't been putting things TO right,
Nellie?" he asked.
"No, no, Why?" said Nellie, looking up
in sweet inconsistencies.
81 thought may be you had been i'll, that's
all" remarked Tom, dryly, as he looked fer
a place to sit down.
Nellie quietly pursued Der work.
Presently Tom said, "Psper come this
evening""
"Not vet" answered Nellie.
Tom gave a halt sigh. F .
"Nellie, L met Granger just now, and be
said he would call round this evening""
"Vely vel. Probably be won't call be-
fore dinner. l will be ready sooD," said
Nellie, working away in demure innocence.
Hadn't you better put things little to
rights before he comes?" said Tom, glanc-
ing uneasily around the room.
"Oh, no Just let them lie" answered
Nellie, sweetly. .E-s
"But they look so bad" said Tom.
ooh, no, they DON'T" said Nellie, as
sweet,y as before. ga thing looks as well
in one place as smother"
Toms face Redeemed.
81 never saw your room look like this
BEFORE" he said hesitatingly. 81 shou not
like to have any one step in"
"Why not?" said Nellie. ave might as
well keep things handy. What's the use of
having house if you can't keep things
where you want them?n
Toms face got redder and redder. He
tried TO look serious, and then broke into a
laugh.