Iron County register., 1881-12-29
MRS. CHESTER'S NERVES.
A New.Year,s STORY.

1t was wash-day, and everything was
at SKIES and sevens-as the saying is-in
the farm house kitchen. Any one would
have guessed at once that little Mrs.
Chester had begun wrong somehow, for
things had gone crooked all day. And
perhaps they might have wondered why
the first day of the New Year had been
turned into wash-day. Well, in the first
place, Mrs. Chester was angry at her
husband for staying in Barnville all
night, instead of coming home at a sea-
sonable hour, as she fully expected him
to do. She didn't care what business
he had in the town, it wasn't right for
him to stay, he of course knowing that
she would sit up for him way into the
small hours, and nearly worry herself
sick over his unusual and extraordinary
absence. She thought it was enough to
make any woman angry, particularly
one whose married life numbered only a
few months, and who, naturally, was
not expecting to be treated so soon with
such glaring neglect and Indifference.
This was the train of thought which
ran through Mrs. Chester's mind, and
the longer she dwelt on it the crosser
she grew.
Well, it was rather provoking, we
must admit. John Chester had set off
for Barnville early in the morning of the
31st of December, which fell that year
on Monday, and he had promised to be
at home to tea at six O'Clock.
Now, things had not gone very pleas
antly with the young couple for the past
three or four months. There had been
much quarreling, and many bitter re-
proaches, and both had frequently been
very unhappy. But no soouer did John
start for the town four miles distant
than Emma took herself to task. Her
husbands affectionate parting kiss and
bright smile touched her heart, and she
thought that now, if ever, was the time
to make good resolutions; for all the
past could be buried with the old year.
So, after reviewing the mistakes of the
past, Emma resolved to act very differ
erently in the future, and while she bus
tied about putting things in order
through the house, her mind was filed
with plans for Johns comfort and hap
piness, and she made many excellent
resolutions, which, had they been kept,
would have saved her many an hour OF
lonely sorrow.
Emma had so many pleasant associa-
tions with New-Year's Eve that she
made up her mind to celebrate it this
year as well as her circumstances would
allow, and thus give John a surprise
when he came home tired with his day s
bountiful and delicious little supper,
choosing all the dishes John liked best,
and roasting her pretty face over the
stove nearly all day in their preparation.
But she didn't mind that, for her heart
..xcr 1;rb% With fsnvc rs TOh,, Sc
surprise and pleasure, and the delight it
the small table in the CHEEKY little din
ing-room, and talk over the incidents OF
the New-Year's Eve on which they had
first met, and the many friends in whom
they were interested during the days OF
their engagement.
Hannah" she said to the stout Ger
man girl who was her sole assistant in
the duties and labors of the farm house,
tive won't wash until Wednesday, for
tomorrow will be New ears Day,
and want to make it different from the
rest, -
Hannah was agreeable to anything.
She was good-natnred and rather dull,
and it made no difference to her If the
washing was put off a week.
"En do honor to the SUPPER" Mrs.
Chester murmured, when she looked in
the glass to give the last touch to her
hair and the lace at her throat.
She might well be excused for feeling
a little vain, for the reflection in the
glass showed very pretty face, beauti.
fully tinted skin, chestnut hair, and
large brown eyes. But there was an ex.
preston of fretfulness about the mouth,
and few fine lines in the forehead
which told that little Emma Chester was
not blessed with very equable temper.
arnent. She had had long illness year
before that New-Year's- Eve on which
she had met John, and since then had
suffered with her nerves." as her, in
dulgent mother expressed it,
Alas, eEmma's nerves were a source
of much annoyance and unhappiness
to poor John, who often wished