Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-10-17
M I 8 G n LxA N r
A GENTLE REPRooF.

Zachariah Hodgdon was naturall,
an Ill natured man. Ii was want o
reflection, more than corrupt and un
generous heart, that led him to consid
er his wife in the light of an inferior be-
ing, and to treat her more like slart
than an equal. If he met any thing
abroad to ruffle his temper, his wife
was sure to suffer when he came home.
His meals were ill-cooked, aud what.
ever the poor woman did to please
him, was sure to have contrary eff
feet. She bore his ill-humor in silence
for long time, but finding it to in
crease, she adopted method of repro
wing him for his unreasonable conduct,
which had the happiest effect.
One day as Zachariah was going TO
his daily ayocation after breakfast, he
purchased fine large Goldfish, and
sent it home with directions TO his wife
to have it cooked for dinner. As no
particular mode Of cooking it was des-
cribed, the good woman we'll knew
that whether she boiled it or made it
into chowder, her husband would scold
her when he came home. But she re-
solved to please him once, if possible,
and therefore cooked portions OF it in
several different ways. She also with
some little difficulty procured an am
phibious animal from brook behind
the house, and plunged it into the pot.
In due time her husband came home
some covered dishes were placed on
the table, and with a frowning, fault
finding look, the moody man common
ced the conversation.
"Well, wife, did you get that fish !
bought 2"
Yes, my DEAR"
81 should like to know how you
have cooked i'll will bet any thing
that you have spoiled it for my eating.
(Taking off the Govern | thought 50.
What IN creation possessed you to
fry i'll would as lief eat boiled
frog"
+" Why, my dear, thought you To-
we'd it best fried"
"You didn't think any such thing.
You know better-l never loved fried
fish-why didn't you boil it p
My dear, the last time we had
fresh fish, you know | boiled it, and
YOU said you liked it best fried. But
have boiled some Also"
So saying, she lifted cover, and 10 !
the shoulders ofthe COD nicely boiled,
were neatly deposited in dish
sight which would make an epicure re-
loice, but which only added to the ILL
nature Of her husband.
GA pretty dish this!" exclaimed he.
4" Boiled fish chips and porridge! If
you had not been one of the most stu
pid Of womankind you would have
made it into "a chowder."
His patient wife, with smile, inn
mediately placed tureen before him
containing an excellent chowder.
"My DEAR" said she, 4" was resol.
we'd to please you. There is your ia
vorite dish. :, i,
"Favorite dish indeed" grumbled
the discounted husband, 81 dare say
it is an unpalatable wishy-washy mess.
would rather have boiled frog than
the whole Of it,"
This was common expression OF
his, and had been anticipated by his
wife, who, as soon as the preference
was expressed, uncovered large dish
near her husband, and there was
large bull. frog, of portentous dimen-
sions, and pugnacious aspect, stretched
out at full length! Zachariah sprung
from his chair not little frightened at
the unexpected apparition.
any DEAR" said his wife, in kind,
entreating tone, 81 hope you will at
length be able to make dinner"
Zachariah could not stand this. His
surly mood was finally overcome, and
he burst into hearty laugh. He ac-
knowledged that his vile was right and
that he was wrong,-and declared that
she should never again have occasion
to read him such another lesson-and
he was as good as his word.