Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-12-04
= can make a cup OF cofee myseli
over the furnace fire" she exclaimed.
Springing to her feet.

@N4Af NAAANAOk4I again luU6CDOSeO
''Sit down, Fanny, please. / woul,
rather you would sew this button on th
neck OF my shirt. have packed th
others-th0se that are fit to wear.
have shirts enough, but not one in re
pair"
Fanny csimsoned as she remembered
how often in the course of the las
month or two she had solemnly prom
ised herself to devote a day to tn,
much-neelled renovation of her hus
bands shirts. She looked around fo
her thimble.
Il left It downstairs last night III
get it in minute"
The housemaid had Just kindIed =
fire in the sitting-room CRATE; it wa:
blazing and cracking cheerily among
the fresh Goals, and Fanny could mo-
resist the temptation of pausing a mo-
ment to warm her chilled fingers, and
watch the greenish purple spires OF
fame shoot merrily up the chimney.
until she heard her husbands voice
calling her imperatively.
Fanny, Fanny! what are you do
ingP" 4
s'Oh, dssrp' thought the wife, as she
ran up-stslrs, II wish Frank wouldn't
be SO cros He's always in q hurry. !"
Little Mrs. Chickerly never stopped to
think thai the real reason was that she,
his wife, was never IN hurry
The needle threaded, the thimble
fitted on. an appropriate button was
next to beselected.
''Oh, dear, Frank, l haven't one the
right siz4w
Sew Sn what you have, then; but
be quickJh
But Fanny was quite certain there
was just the right button somewhere. in
her workbasket, and stopped to search
Sor il
"Thers told you sop' she cried,
riumphantly, holding it up on the end
If her needle.
"Well, we'll, sew it on qrickr, said
Mr.. Chiekerly. glsncing & bic watch
nervously.
That's just your worrying way
Frank; as if anybody could sew but-
ton on we'll IN a hurry Therel ny
my needle has come unthreaded
"Oh, Fanny, Fannyp' sighed hef hus.
band. fairly, out Of patience last
"why didAt you do it last night, as
begged d onp aIEbalf miss tie train,
-,sd ne siftl, Sa had of- a.
place in Aunt ElizabetRs will will be
sacrificed to your miserable habit of be-
ing behind-hand.
''There he goes" murmured Fanny,
'and he's gone away cross with me,
and all for nothing but miserable
button! | wish there wasn't such a
thing as button in the worldr'
CA wlsL which we must misdoubt,
many another wife than Mrs. Chickerly
has echoed, with perhaps better reason.)
Mrs. Chickerly was sitting down to
her little dinner, with a daintiIy
Drowned chicken. tumbler of currant
jelly. curl ly bunch of celery ranged
before her, when, to her surprise, the
door opened and in walked her lord
and husband.
''Why, Frank, where on earth did
you cone from?' cried the astonished
wife
From the office" very coolly an
swered Mr. Chickeriy.
But thought you were off for
Scenersvlle in such a hurry
Il found myself just five minutes too
late for tie train, after having run all
the way to the depot"
''Oh, that was too bad"
ChickeHy smiled a little as he be-
gan to cave the chicken.
YES, Twas little annoyed at first;
it did seen rather provoking to be kept |
at home BY only shirt button"
What are you going to do?"
'Why, shall make a second start to-
"Tn seeto it that your breakfast is
ready this line, to the second, and all
your wardrobe in trim," said Fanny,
rather reibved at the prospect of a
chance of lstrieving her character.
You ned not | have engaged q
room at ptel near the depot. / can't
run any moe risks"
He did MT speak unkindly, and vet
Fanny felt that he was deeply dis
pleased with her.
"But, Frank"
WO WAInOt ulScuSS Cn6 matter any
my dear, if you please. l have
resolved to say nothing more to you
about reforms. see it is useless, and
only tends b foster an unpleasant state
IF feeling bItween us. Shall | help you
20 some moe macaroni?n
Fairly silAced, Fanny ate her dinner
with what appetite was left her.
Three da1s afterward Mr.. Chickerly
once more made his entrance, just at
lusk, Valise n hand, while Fanny sat
Enjoying the ruddy light of the coal fire
Ind the Consciousness of having per-
ormed her duty in the mending and
,eneral renpvation of her husbands
o shirts-a job which she
lad long been dreading and post
Doning.
"Well, hdw is Aunt ElizabethP"
Questioned Mrs. Chickerly, when her
duly welcomed and greeted,
ad seated himself in the opposite easy
hair.
dead" was the brief reply.
''Dead! On. Frank! OF her old
nemy, apoptxyP"
"Yes.
''Was her will madeP"
''It was. Apparently sne had ex- /
ected me- on The day - ,rself APP
ointed; ana IN my nog.a wal on the
nIv tram III ii st4uaS St,s .si or tia ! ,