Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-12-24
MRS. CHESTER'S NERVES.
A New Years Story.

A New Years Story.
1t was wash-day, and everything was
at skies and sevens-as the saying is-in
the farmhouse 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 q
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. Hel
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 filleC
with plans for Johns comfort and hap
piness, and she made many eXcellen
resolutions, which, had they been kept
would have saved her many an hour o
lonely sorrow.
Emma had so many pleasant associa
tions with New-Year's Eve that sh
made up her mind to celebrate it thi
year as well as her circumstances woulC
allow, and thus give John a surpris
when he came home tired with his day
work in the town. So she prepared
bountiful and delicious little supper
choosing all the dishes John liked best
and roasting her pretty face over tn
stove nearly all day in their preparation
But she didn't mind that, for her hear
was light with anticipations of john
surprise and pleasure, and the delight
would be to sit opposite each other a
the small table in the CHEEKY little din
ing-room, and talk over the incidents G
the New-Year's Eve on which they ha
first met, and the many friends in whor
they were interested during the days c
their engagement.
Hannah" she said to the stout Ger
man girl who was her sole assistant
the duties and labors of the farmhouse
"we won't wash until Wednesday, fC
tomorrow will be New-Year's Day
and l want to make it different from tn
rest.n
Hannah was agreeable to anything
She was good-natured and rather dul
and it made no difference to her if ii
washing was put off week.
"I'll do honor to the SUPPER Mr.
Chester murmured, when she looked
the glass to give the last touch to HI
hair and the lace at her throat.
She might well be excused for feelir
little vain, for the reflection in IL
glass showed a very pretty face, beaut
fully tinted skin, chestnut lair, al
large brown eyes. But there was an e
preston of fretfulness about the mout
and few fine lines in the forehe;
which told that little Emma Chester w
not blessed with very equable tempe
ament. She had had long illness We
before that New-Year's Eve on Whit
she had met John, and since then h;
"suffered with her nerves." as her
dulgent mother expressed it.
Alas, Emma's nerves were a sour
of much annoyance and unhappine
to poor John, who often wish
there was no such thing in t
human makeup when his wife cri
for an hour at a time, nearly faint
from exhaustion, and then, when he !
preached her for making such seer
excused herself on the plea of her "po
nerves.
Six O'Clock and tea-time came, but
81 JOIN, and the fine lines in Emma's fol
head began to show very plainly. T
fried chicken would be all dried up, t
baked custard a whey, the biscuits ha
if left in the oven,o and "stone co!dh
taken out, and the tea bitter from star
ing so long; but there was no help
it.