The Republican journal., 1883-09-27
The Other Side.
4 TALE OF BUTTONS.


Breakfast was just over at the parson-
age the table was cleared away, the
chairs set back, and Mrs. Ashton in a
neat morning dress, with a pretty little
cap on her pretty little head, was stand
ing with her arm over her tall husbands
shoulder, looking at the morning paper.
And as tine-loohing pair they were as
you will be likely to see in a summers
day. The Rev. Clement Ashton was in
deed said to be the handsomest man in
the parish, and that with good reason );
whether he had any ideas Of his own on
the subject was entirely his own affair.
Mrs. Ashton as she was styled by the
parish Christana lis her godfathers and
godmothcrs named her -Chrissey, as her
brothers and her husband called her
was not usually regarded as remarkably
handsome. Her features were not very
regular, and she was not fair; but her
eyes, 50 bright and clear, her figure so
elastic and trim, her abundant hair, and
above all, her frank, easy manners, and
the expression of sunny good temper and
perfect opennGSS which lighted up her
face, made most people consider her a
very attractive woman. Every one in
the parish liked her, from the two old
people whn sat in the warm corner near
the stove in the church, and always came
round to get their dinner at the parson-
age on Sundays, to Mrs. DR.. Rush, who
was 10y far the grandest lady in the par
ish.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ashton had been married
about six months, after an engagement
Of almost three years, during which time
they had corresponded vigorously, but
had seen very little Of each other, for Mr..
Ashton was an assistant in an overgrown
parish in one Of our larger cities, and
could seldom be spared; and Chrissey
was teacher in another great city,
where she supported herself, and helped
10y her labors to educate one of her broth
ers for the ministry. 1t was not till this
| brother had finished his studies, and was
placed on an independent footing, that
she had consented to be married.
"George cannot support himself en-
tirely," she said, in answer to the remon-
STRANGE OF her lover; "he is not strong
enough to labor as many of the young
men do, and he needs my help. know,
too, that if he attempts any more than
he is doing, his health will fail, and he
Will become discouraged. You must con-
tent yourself to board awhile longer with
your good friend, Mrs. Bicketts, Clem-
ent'
And to this resolution she steadfastly
adhered, despite Clements persuasons,
and those of George himself, who was
very much distressed at the thought that
his sisters marriage should be put off on
his account. Under these circumstances
the lovers did not see much of each 9TH
cr, and they were finally married with
out ChrisSey's ever having suspected her
husband Of any intirmity of temper. She
had suffered much on discovering that
such was the case, and felt inclined some
times to wish that she had never been
Gisenchanted. But she was wise wO-
man: she knew her husbands intrinsic
eXcellencies and strength as well as his
weakness, and altering an old maxim to
suit her own purpose, she resolved both
to endure and cure.
"What do you set about to-day ?" she
asked, as Mr. Ashton, having exhausted
the paper. arose from the sofa corner.
"Nisting," replied his reverence. II
must go up to Old Mrs. BalcOmb's and
see the Joneses, and try to prevail on
Phil Taggart to let his children come to
the Sunday school once more. Then |
have to see poor Maggie Carpenter, who
is much worse again, and if | have time,
| shall get into the omnibus and ride out
to the mills, to that girl Miss Flower
mentioned to me yesterday"
hat a round"' exclaimed Chrissey.
"Gou will never get home to dinner at
two o'clock. | think l will put it off till
six, and run the risk of being thought
stuck up, like poor cousin Lilly"
''What do you mean"
"Why, you know they always dine at
siN to suit the doctors arrangements
One day Lilly called about some society
matter on a lady who lives not hundred
miles from her street, about five o'clock
in the afternoon. The lady herself came
to the door, and Lilly was about enter
ing, when she thought she perceived the
smell of roast meat in the hall, and said
very politely, But perhaps it is your din
ner hourE
/" No, indeed = replied madame, with
Indignation we don't dine at this time
of day we are not so stuck up"'
"Poor Lilly" exclaimed Mr.. Ashton
laughing, "what did she say ?"
ooh. she did her errand, and retired
of course. There was nothing to be said.
Mr.. Ashton turned to 90 into the
study, and as he did so, his foot caught
in the carpet, and he was nearly thrown
down. Chrissey started in alarm, but he
recovered himself, and said pettishly
enough
81 do wish You would have that carpe,
nailed down have stumbled over il
twenty times in the course of a week,
do believe"
'I thought Amy had fastened it," re
turned his wife, with perfect mildness
IL am sure | saw her at work there
The door must pull it out Of place,
think"
'Oh of course there is some eXcellen
reason for its being out Of order.
seems to me that, with all your ingenuity
you might find some way of making i
more secure"
He turned into his study, shutting th'
door after him with rather unnecessar,
force, and Mrs. Ashton returned to th,
fire and arranged her work basket tO
that day with something of a cloud OF
the fair face. She was not left long her,
undisturbed, for Mr.. Ashton's voice wa
soon heard calling her in impatient tones
She sighed, but arose and entered th'
next room, where she found her husband
standing before his bureau partly dressed
and with shirts, cravats, and handker
chiefs scattered about him like nev
kind Of snow, while his face bore an eX
preston of melancholy reproach at onc'
painful and slightly ludcrous.
Nv hat IS the matter y she asked.
son, the old story Not button wher
it ought to be! not shirt ready to wear
do not mean to be unreasonable" h,
continued, in an agitated voice, as h
tumbled over tile things, to the manifes
discomposnre of the clean linen, "bu
| rnallN EhrSSau [ think uolI rninbt co