Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-08-03
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
A GENTLE REPROOF.

There is no sound which greets more harshly
on the ear OF q man Of a feeling, generous dispo.
sition, than to hear brutal husband speak harsh.
ly to an amiable wife. The wretch who can treat
woman i'll, deserves the contempt Of his fel.
low.creatures-but when that woman is one who
looks to him for support, for kindness and pro-
tection--one whose path through life, he is bound
by every noble principle to strew with flowers,
the brute who plants the thorns instead, like Cain
should have a mark upon his forehead, that he
may be known and shunned BY every honest man.
But there is many worthy woman, who could
tell an affecting tale Of patient suffering under
unmerted abuse.
Zachariah Hodgdon was not naturally an ILL.,
natured man. twas want Of reffectloo. more
than a corrupt and ungenerous heart, that led
him to consider his wife in the light Of an inerl-
or being, and to treat her more like slaue than
an equal. If he met with any thing abroad to
rulfle his temper, his wife was sure to suffer
when he came home. HIS meals were always i'll.
cooked, and whatever the poor woman did to
please him was sure TO have contrary effect
She bore his Ill humour in silence for long time,
but finding it to increase, she adopted method
Of reprovinS him for his unreasonable conduct,
which had the happlest effect.
One day as Zachariah was going to his daily
ayocatiou after breakfast, he purchased a fine
large cod. fish, aud sent it home with directions
to his wife to have it cooked for dinner. As no
particular mode Of cooking it was prescribed. the
good woman we'll knew that whether she boiled
It, or fried it, or made II into chowder, her hus.
band would scold her wheThe came home. But
she resolved to please him once if possible,
and therefore cooked portions of it in several
different ways, She also, with some little diff
a
brook back of the house, plumped him into the
Dot. In due time her husband came home
some covered dishes were placed on the table,
and with frowning. fault6nding look, the moo.
DIV man commenced the conversation.
"Well, wife, did you get the fish bought"
eyes, my dear"
~ should like to know how you have cooked
it, will bet any thing you have spoiled it for
my eating. Taking off the couer.) thought
SO. What in the DE name possessed you
to frv il? would as lief eat boiled frog.'
"Wby, my dear, thought you loved it best
fried"
You did not think any such thing. You
knew better-I never loved fried fish-Why
didn't you boil it?
NV dear, the last time we had fresh fish, you
know boiled it, and you said you liked it bet
ter fred. | did it merely to please you. Blu
have boiled some also" So saying she lifted 3
cover, and 10! the shoulders of the Cod NIGEL,
boiled we're neatly deposited on dish: sigh
which only added TO the Miniature Of her husband
| ga pretty dish this!' exclaimed he,-" Boil
ed fsh!'-Chips and porridge. lfyou had not
been one Of the most stupid OF woman kind you
would have made il into ch0wder."
His patient wife, with smile, lmmedlatel!
placed ,ureen before him containing an excel
lent chowder.
"My DEAR" said she, 81 was resolved Il
please you. There is Jour favorite dish"
"Favorite dish indeed" grumbled the discom
| flied husband. 81 dare say il is an unpaatabI'
wish. washy NESS. would rather have boilet
frog than the whole of it,"
This was common expression OF his, and hat
been anticipated by his wife, who. as soon as th'
preference was expressed, uncovered large disl
at her husbands right hand, and there was a butl
frog Of portentous dimensions, and pugnaciou
aspect, stretched out at full length! Zacharial
sprung from his chair not little frightened a
the unexpected apparition.
! "Why DEAR" said his wife, in kind, en-
treating tone, 81 hope you will at length be abb
to make dinner"
Zachariah could not stand this. HIS sury moot
was finally overcome, and he burst out into
hearty laugh. He acknowledged that his wifi
was right, and that he was wrong-and declared
that she should never again have occasion to reat
him such another lesson. And he was as goot
as his word.