Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-12-24

hurried DOWNSTAIRS, ana found Hannah |
making the kitchen fire.
"Hannah, Mr.. Chester didn't come |
home last night, and am almost wor-
ried to death, - said Emma, going to the
window to look out.
"Mayhap he staid in the town." said
Hannah, who never worried about any
thing. i
1t was still showing, and the ground
was covered foot deep. As Emma
turned from the window the hired man
came trudging in, making path from
the stable with his cowhide boots.
"Jim," said Emma, 81 want you to
take horse and ride straight to Barn
vile. Mr.. Chester did not come home
last night, and | must find out what is
the matter. Lose no time"
"No use in going, ma'am," said the
man, "for Mr.. Mallows passed by a
few minutes ago, and he said as how
Mr.. Chester and he staid at the Ameri-
can House all night. lie said they had
a regular breakdown there, and the
young folks danced till mornin'. Mr..
Chester IL be along soon. He had to
wait to have some work done to the
wagon"
Emma became very pale as she lis
tened to Jim's story, and when he had
finished she turned quickly TO Hannah.
"Get out the tubs" she said, sharply.
"We'll get the washing out of the way
to-day"
"But you said''-began the girl.
( No Ntnr ~ olo,
my mind. There is no sense in trying
to keep New-Year's Day. I'll see to
the breakfast, and you get to the wash
ing"
Hannah went down cellar after the
tubs, and was soon at her work, which
she performed quietly and methodically.
But Emma was in no humor to follow
her servants example. She had never
in her life been so angry as now, and
calmness was out of the question. She
banged the pots and kettles about at
such rate, and was so impetuous in
her movements, that she ended in turn
ing the contents of the boiling hot tea
kettle over her left hand, scalding it and
the wrist very badly.
1t was long time before she could do
anything to relieve the pain, and of
course she forgot all about breakfast,
and Hannah had to prepare a hasty
meal of cold meat and fried potatoes for
herself and Jim.
1t was high noon when John Chester
at last came in, and he thought he had
never seen more disordered kitchen.
Hannah, between the washing and at
: tending to the numerous wants of her
nervous mistress, had had no time to
wash the dishes or put things in order,
and when John came in she was down
cellar hanging up the clothes, which
, could not be dried out of doors.
John was about to cross the kitchen to
go in quest of his wife, when his eye;
fell upon the platter pieces piled up un-
der the table. He knew at once what
, had been broken, and surveyed the ruin
with a clouded brow.
. 81 tried to impress upon Emma the
danger of letting Hannah use that dish, )
! he muttered, "but, as usual, my wishe.
are not attended TO in the least.''
} He opened the hall door, and wen
g upstairs, taking no pains to tread gently
S He usually paid that much respect t
y Emma's nerves, but just now he didn'
& care.
r His wife lay on the bed, still in he
rumpled wrapper, and the disorder o
t the bedroom was almost worse thai
that of the kitchen.
( "Well, Emma, and why are you il
r bed this time of dayP What on earth il
a the matter? And New-Year's Day
tool"
T. "New- Years Day." repeated Emma
Il starting up from her pillow. eth
v least you say about that the better.
= don't see how you could treat me 81
# cruelty. / never slept at all, my poo
n nerves were in such condition. 70,
A. knew couldn't, and you did it on pur
o pose!"
q GA nice reception" said John, in
= cold, sarcastic tone, "but what els
r. could l expectP"
"What else did you deserveP" erie
,r Emma, whose much-abused nerves wer
II thoroughly unstrung. "To leave m
q, all alone the whole day and night, an
70 to spend your New Years Eve carouS
y. ing at tavern"
A John grew very pale, and set HI
at strong teeth in his under lip till it bleC
m cit was impossible for me to com
G. home," he said. "My wagon brok
in down, and l could not get it mended III
ne til this morning. And it was such
ne stormy night that l had no desire to rid
or four miles on horseback. 1t is NJ
pleasant to have to walk horse such
Nd distance through the binding, driftin
r. snow. 1t was bad enough comm
k, home this morning after the road W,
nd broken. As matters are here, l wish
n had staid in Barnville. This is New
Year reception for which Ibid not ba
or gain"
cd Then Emma must reply, of cours
as and matters very quickly went from BIZ
NJ to worse, for these young people did n
To appreciate the truth of the old saying
be "The least said the soonest mended
of At last the young wife went into viole
id Mysteries, and after her husband hi
of poured cold water on her with lavi
te generosity, and thereby Gained her co
no siderably, he said with white, quiverir
mt lips:
nv Emma, l have had enough of tt
an life. Your extravaganza and 20
nd nerves combined are more than | C;
oh bear. I've never known single we,
10 of happiness since the day / marie
cd you. 1 came home to-day with n
M heart full of love for you, and all Il
nd way from Barnville was making res
GO buttons to begin the New Year in ha
to piness and peace. But it is of no use