Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-07-31
THE SCOLD.

mere were not long since, TWO youlns,
male and female, who were so affection
ately attached, that it appeared to them
they could not live happy without each
other; and consequently they soon very
honestly became man and wife. During
the two first days all was peace and
love. But it is always the case with
both men and women, that during court
ship they keep concealed many little
traits and qualities which alter marriage
soon discover themselves, and the de-
iects of the parties are both mutually
known. The husband soon learned that
his wife, with all her beauty, possessed
also an evil and scorching tongue, which
the slightest causes would set in motion.
She loved her husband with all her soul;
and of this he was sensible; but he was
of choleric disposition AMI sometimes re-
piled to his wife's upbradings in man
ner which he was afterwards sorry for.
TO free himselr from the annoy yuce Of
her tongue,h he gradually fell into the habit
Of absenting himself from home, and
while wandering hiiber and thiiher in
company with friends, became addicted
to the bottle. On his return at evening,
after having decided upon the qualify Of
various wines, with swollen eyes and
stammerng tongue, one may well imag-
inc the reception she gave him. AS
soon as she heard the key turn in the
door, she would station herself at the top
of the stairs and overwhehn him with a
torrent Of reproaohes. He, half stun
ned with the camor, and stupetied with
the wine in his head, after some efforts
at retorting in her own style, would
sneak off to bed. Finally, the evil in
creased to such degree that they saw
each other but little, for the drunken hus-
band slept by himself, and sometimes
did not even come home all the night
but slept at the tavern. The wife in
despai went to "gited lady, und
asked advice Of her. From this dealer
in forbidden knowledge, she obtained a
phial of very Iimpid water, which she
said had been brought from beyond the
/, seas by pilgrim of the greatest virtue
and holiness, with the instruction that
when her husband came home, she mus
Immediately fill her mouth with It, tax
ing great care neither to allow MOI
, spit it out, but keep her mouth closed
( I he lady thanked her cordially, and
/ then hastcned home TO awai, the arriva
! of her husband, and make trial of tn,
1 virtues Of the water.
! At length the husband, with fear ant
dread enters the house, and is astonsh
ed to find his wife, whose mouth wa
full of the charmed water, perfectly qui
et He addresses a few words to her
but she says nothing. The husband be.
comes pleasant; she says to herself, be
hold the effects of the charmed water
and is delighted. The husband ask
her what has happened and she act
courteous and looks pleasantly, bu
makes no reply. Peace is soon made be
tween them. The water lasted man,
days, during which time they lived II
tremendously as doves. The husban,
went no more abroad, but found happi
ness at home. But at last the water o
| the phial was exhausted, and soon az ali
beheld them in the field of domest
strife. The vile repaired again to tn
, "gilted lady;" but this one said, "aIas
, the vase in which l kept tire water
broken!" "What is to be done ?" aske
the other. "Hold," replied the sybi
| "your mouth exactly as if you had tn
water in it, and your success will be tn
salne."
Every person similarly situated, is ad
vised to make the experiment. Ever
- IL 4 4 A
/ good, & even without water it is though
the same end may be obtained.-- Trans
lated from The French.