Year: 1860

ever. Amy drew firmly on the chair. and
he held on to it firmly.


Let me have the chair = said the per-
sistent little woman


Do you wish to sit down on it p said
John, looking steadily into her face
| mo, but


But what?' asked her husband, knit
ting his brows.
/ why will you play with chairs in that
! fashion! 2 said Amy, with Slight irritation.
1T makes me nervous to see you.


I'm sorry your nerves are so delicate,
said John Leslie, pushing away the chair.
My wife, Aunt, has grown as particular
as an old maid


AEnt Phoebe made no reply, She felt
uncomfortable. For nearly a minute ST.
lence pervaded the room Then the tea
bell rung, and the scene changed. They
were scarce seated at the table before
John was guilty Of some little breach of
etiquette which brought on him a reproying
word from his wife He did not seem to
notice her.


why, husband, how can you do so p
| broke from her lips few moments after
wards. You really seem to be trying your
self


What has he done, child ? said Aunt
Phoebe, looking across the table in some
surprise at Amy.


Done? Just look at his cup on the ia
ble-cloth. \ nice stain it will make


Where are your cup pplates p asked
Aunt Phoebe.
oh, dear! nobody has cup-plates now
a-days, answered Amy.


That's just it, Aunt said John. Our
Amy is growing excessively genteel. She
won't have cup plates, and I'm not the fool
to burn my mouth with hot tea and coffee
Both being selEwiIled, there has as yet
been no compromise
Nonsense, children spoke out Aunt
Phoebe. This is little worse than tri-
fling The old lady's rebuking tone rath
er chilled them, and neither made any ad
ditional remark. But the buoyancy of
their feelings was gone, and was not fully
restored during meal-time. After supper
they all went up stairs into a cosy sitting
room. They were there only few min
utes, when John commenced drawing off
one of his boots, saying as he did so:
How my poor feet do ache They've
been bound up in this tight leather SINCE
morning


Don't take them off here ? exclaimed
Amy. Why don't you go over into our
room? Your slippers are there


But he paid no more attention to his
wife than if he had not heard her The
boot just removed he placed against the
wall, and went on deliberately taking off
the other


There, that feels BETTER he said. Il
tell you what, Aunt Phoebe, its no joke to
60 all day with pair of tight boots on.
My feet feel as if taken out of vice


We'll, I'm downright ashamed of you,
John Leslie ? said his wife.


Il hope you will never have anything
worse to be ashamed Of he replied, and
not in very kind tone ofvoice Il think
it's pity if | can't take my boots off
where | please in my own house


oh, as to that retorted Amy, her face
reddening, you can take them off in the
parlor if you choose, apd put them on
the Vh9tRQt for an ornament! | don't
care


I'm glad to hear you say that, retorted
John.


You are% said Amy sharply.


Yes; shall have some peace of my life
now


Il don't understand you,' said Amy,
showing some irritation of manner


'Oh, its very plain answered She young
man. IT L can leave my boots in the par
lor, can leave them anywhere Much
obliged to you fer condescending so much


And he laughed in mocking way that
was particularly irritating to his wife, who
lost temper, and said great many hard,
accusing things to her husband and then
giving way to passionate food of tears,
left the room.


Is that right, John p said aunt Phoebe,
looking soberly into the young mans
face


Is what right?'


Right for you to do what is annoying
to your wife p


She's no right to be annoyed with tri-
fes of this kind he answered firmly.


That is not speaking like kind and
sensible man, John. Your wife is neat
and orderly by nature, and cannot help be-
ing annoyed at what is disorderly. This
is no place for your boots


Il know it, aunt But when a mans
tired half to death on coming home, he
might be excused for pulling his boots off
anywhere


Yes, if he were more thoughtful of
himself than anybody else. But we won't
discuss this matter now. | must go to
Amy, poor child


And aunt Phoebe arose and went from
the sitting-room, leaving John Leslie in
no very comfortable frame of mind. She
found Amy in her own apartment, sitting
on the side of her bed, sobbing violently