Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-05-16
HIS ONE GREAT FAULT.
A Tale OF Huttons.


Breakfast was iusi over at the parson-
age, the table was cleared away, the
chairs set back, and Mrs. Ashton in neat
morning dress, with pretty little cap
on her pretty little head, was standing
with her arm over her tall husbands
shoulder, looking at the morning paper.
And as fne-looking pair they were as
you will be likely to see in summers
day. Rev. Clement Ashton was, indeed,
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 Christiana, as her godfathers and
godmothers named her-Chrissey, as her
brothers and husband called her-was
not usually regarded as remarkably hand
some. Her features were not very regu-
lar, and she was not fair; but her eyes so
bright and clear, her figure so elastic and
trim, her abundant hair, and above all
her frank, easy manners, and the expires
sion of sunny good temper and openness
which lighted up her face, made most
people consider her a very attractive
woman. All in the parish liked her,
from the two old people who sat in the
church, and always came round to get
their dinner at the parsonage on Sundays,
to Mrs. DR.. Rush, who was by far the
grandest lady in the parish.
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 as
sistant 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 by her labors to edu-
cate one Of her brothers for the ministry
1t was not till this brother had finished
his studies, and was placed on an indie
pendent footing, that she had consented
to be married.
'Heorge cannot support himself en-
tirely," she said, in answer to the remon-
strances of her lover; che 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
content yourself to board awhile longer
with your good friend, Mrs Bickctts
Clement"
And to this resolution she steadfastly
adhered, despite Clements persuasions
and those of George, who was 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 other, and they were
finally married without Chrissey's ever
having suspected her husband of having
any infirmity of temper. She had SUI
fered much on discovering that such
was the case, and felt inclined sometimes
to wish that she had never been olsen
chanted. But she was a wise woman;
she knew her husbands intrinsic excel.
lencies and strength rs we'll as his weak
ness, 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.
Visiting" replied his reverence. II
must 60 up to old Mrs. Balcomb's and
sec 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"
Mr.. Ashton turned to 90 into the
study, and as he did so, his foot caughtin
the carpet, and he was nearly thrown
down. Cbrissey started in alarm, but he
recovered himself, and said pettishly
enough:
ri do wish you would have that carpet
nailed down. / have stumbled over it
twenty times in the course of a week, I
do believe"
81 thought Amy had fastened it," re-
turned his wife, with perfect midness.
II am sure saw her at work there.
The door must pull it out of place, 7
think"
ooh! of course there is always some
excellent reason for its being out Of order.
1t seems TO me that, with all your ingenu.
ity, you might find some way of making
ii more secure"
He turned into his study shutting the
door after him with rather unnecessary
force, and Mrs. Ashton turned to the fire
and arranged her work basket for the day
with something of cloud on her fair face.
She was not left long here undisturbed,
for Mr.. Ashton's voice was soon
heard calling her in inpatient
tones. She sighed, but arose
and entered the next room, where she
found her husband standing before his
bureau partly dressed, and with shirts,
cravats and handkerchiefs scattered about
him like new kind of snow, while his
face bore an expression of melancholy
reproach at once painful and slightly
ludicious.
"What is the matterl" she asked.
ooh, the old story! Not a button
where it ought to be- not shirt ready
to wear! i do not mean to be unreasona-
ble," he continued, in an agitated voice,
as he tumbled over the things, to the
manifest discomposure of the clean
linen, "but really, Chrissey, think you
might see that my clothes are in order.
! am sure would do moro than that for
you; but here / am delayed and put to
the greatest inconvenience because you
cannot sew on these buttonsl / should
really think that little of the time you
spend in writing to George and Henry
might as we'll be bestowed on me-"
This address was delivered in tone
and manner Of mournful distress, which
might have been justified, perhaps, if
Mrs. Ashton had picked his pocket as he
was going to church.
"What is the matter with this shirt"
asked Chrissey, quietly examining one of
the discarded garments. at seems &c
have oil the buttons in their places; and
this one, too, is quite perfect; and hero
Is another. My dear husband, how many
shirts do you usually wear at a timer
ooh il is all very well for you ia
emile, my love, bu. do assure you
found several with no means ut ali