Year: 1878

Mrs. CheeVy'S New WatCh'


Mrs. Chevy has a new gold watch-a
real gem-and the loveliest chain-one
of the new-fangled kind that goes
around the neck and bangles about loose
without a slide, catching on chairs, door
knobs, and every thing else that comes
handy. They're always in the way,
that kind; but then, bless you, they're
so stylish, and who wouldn't put up with
good deal of discomfort for the sake Of
little tone? Not Mrs. Chevy.


The watch was present from her
husband and nothing could have been
more acceptable. From about the time
that she donned long dresses, she had
felt that the world would never look like
a fower-garden to her every day in the
year until she could have watch and
chain of her own. She wasn't expect
ing it, though; didn't have the slightest
thought that way. Chevy had CON-
planned a good deal about business dur
ing the past year-said every thing was
going to the dogs-and she hadn't built
any very high hopes upon what she
might receive from him on her birthday
And so, when, some time during the day,
she accidentally stumbled upon the prize
concealed in the middle of a paper of
candy that he had tossed into her lap,
remarklng that times were awful hard
and that was the very best he could do,
it isn't surprising that she gave little
glad squeal of joy, and then INDUCED in
a downright good cry of ecstacy. They
always do so, you know, and nobody
can make out why.


It seemed too good to be real at first
such splendid tortune-an1 it was two
or three days before she could get over
the fear of awaking from a delightful
dream, to find her bright treasure only
a creation Of thought. Its tiny ticking
made the sweetest music she had ever
heard, and as she surveyed herself in
the bureau glass she couldn't believe
that any other woman could possibly
look so well with a chain about her neck
as She And what deal of company it
was to her while her husband was away
at work, and what an interest it gave her
in the lapse CT time! True, there stood
the old clock on the mantel, and a
mighty reliable piece of machinery it
was, too; but she never looked at it any
more, and, if she happened to hear it
strike, out came the little watch, and if
it failed to corroborate the statement,
no credit was given to the veracity of
the clock. About every five minutes
during the day, on an average, the
watch was consulted, and every morn
ing and evening it had to be compared
with Cheevy's, and whenever any varia-
ton was noticed the latter of course had
to take all the blame.


About the middle of the forenoon of
the third day the new watch suspended
business, and the remainder of the day
was dreary and lonely. 1t was consult
ed as frequently as before, however, but
always told the same story. Mrs.
Chevy didn't like this, and commenced
an investigation to see what the matter
was.


81 don't believe | wound it up last
night" she mused; "that's the trouble,
I'll bet.n


Out came the KEY, and made few
urns, when the handspring remon-
! trated, with a noise that almost fright
ned the little woman out of her wits.


But she was curious to find out what
the trouble was, and after breaking
both thumb-nails and hurting several
fingers she managed to get the case
open.


"Why, declare, there's hair all
twisted up in there. No wonder it won't
run. | must get that OUT" she said,
and by the aid of a hairpin it wasn't
more than two minutes before the hair
spring was torn out, but the watch con-
tinued mute. After a deep study of a
few minutes she concluded that the
hands must have got caught together,
and needed loosening, so she went to
work and loosened them--by breaking
them both off close-and in doing so
she also smashed the crystal. By this
time the conclusion dawned upon her
mind that she had injured the watch, il
fact, she verify believed that she had
ruined it beyond all reparation, and so
what did she do but sit down and cry
all the rest of the afternoon.