The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-05
WHOLE NO. AS.


had overheard Of his complaint, had haZarded
the foregoing remark at a venture.
/" Mrs. Bundle, ma'am !" said Mr.. Bum
bic, with sentimental sternness.
"Well," cried the lady.
slave the goodness to look at me-" said
Mr. Bundle, fixing his eyes upon her.
"If she stands such eye as that" said
Mr. Bundle to himself, "she can stand any
thing. 1t is eye never knew to fail with
paupers, and lift fails with her my power is
gone"
Whether an exceedingly small expansion
of eye IS sufficient to quell paupers, who,
being lightly fed, are in no very high condi-
ton, or whether the late Mrs. Corney was
particularly proof against eagle glances, are
matters Of opinion. The matter Of facts, that
the matron was in no way overpowered by
MIR. BUNDLES scowl, but, on the contrary,
treated It with great disdain, and even raised
laugh thereat, which sounded as though il
were genuine.
On hearing this most unexpected sound,
Mr.. Bundle looked first incredulous, and af-
forwards amazed. He then relapsed into his
former state; nor did he rouse himself until
his attention was again awakened by the voice
Of his partner.
| Are you agoing to sit snoring there all
dayl" inquired Mrs. Bundle.
al am going to sit here as long as think
proper, ma'am," rejoned Mr.. Bundle; +" and
although was not snoring, | shall snore,
cape, sneeze, laugh, or cry, as the humor
strikes me, such being my prerogative,'
"Your prerogative !" sneered Mrs. Bundle,
with inefiable contempt.
81 said the word, ma'am," observed Mr..
Bundle. "The prerogatiye of man is to
command"
"And what is the prerogative of a woman,
in the name of goodness Z" cried the relict of
Mr.. Corney deceased.
To obey, ma'am," Numbered Mr.. Bum
BILE. "Your late unfortunate husband should
have taught it to you, and then, perhaps, he
might have been alive now. | wish he was,
poor manw
Mrs. Bundle, seeing at glance that the
decisive moment had now arrived, and that
blow struck for the mastership on one side or
other must necessarily be final and conclusive,
no sooner heard this allusion to the dead and
gone, than she dropped into chair and, with
loud scream that Mr. Bundle was hard
hearted brute, fell into paroxyism of tears.
But tears We're not the things to find their
way TO Mr.. BUNDLES soul; his heart was
er-proof Like washable beaver hats,
that improve with rain, his nerves were rem
dered stouter and more vigorous by showers
of tears, which, being tokens of weakness,
and SO far tacit admissions of his own power,
pleased and exalted him. He eyed his good
lady with looks of great satisfaction, and
begged in an encouraging manner that she
would cry her hardest, the exercise being
looked upon by the faculty as strongly condu-
Give to health
alt opens the lungs, washes the counte-
nance, exercises the eyes, and sotens down
the TEMPER" said Mr.. Bundle; $50 cry
away"
As he discharged himself of this pleasantly,
Mr.. Bundle took his hat from the peg, and
putting it on rather rakishly on one side, as
a man might do who felt he had asserted his
superiority in becoming manner, thrust his
hands into his pockets, and sauntered away
towards the door with much ease and wag-
gishness depicted in his whole appearance.
Now Mrs Corney that was, had tried the
tears, because they were less troublesome than
manual assault but she was quite prepared
to make trial of the latter mode of proceeding,
as Mr.. Bundle was not long in discovering.
The first proof he experienced Of the fact
was conveyed in hollow sound, Immediately
succeeded by the sudden flying off Of his hat
to the opposite end Of the room. This pre-
limnary proceeding laying bare his head, the
expert lady, clasped him tight round the throat
with one hand, inflicted shower Of blows
(dealt with singular vgor and dexterty,) upon
| it with the other. This done, she created
little variety by scratching his face and tearing
his hair off, and having by this time inflicted
as much punishment as she deemed necessa-
~ for the offence, she pushed him over chair,
which was luckily well situated for the pur-
pose, and de6ed him to talk about his preroga-
tive again if he dared.
Get up" said Mrs. Bundle, in voice
of command, sand take yourself away from
here, unless you want me to do something
desperate"
! Mr.. Bundle rose with very rueiul coun-
tenance, wondering much what something
desperate might be, and picking up his hat.
looked towards the door.
"Are you going 7" demanded Mrs. Bum
BILE.
Certainly, my dear, certainly" rejoined
Mr.. Bundle, making a quicker motion to-
wards the door. 81 didn't intend to-Im
going, my dear-you are so very violent, that
really -"
AT this instant Mrs. Bundle stepped hastily
forward to replace the carpet, which had been
kicked up in the scuffie, and MIR. Bundle i'm
medately darted out OF the room without be-
slowing another thought on his unfinished SEN
tence, leaving the late Mrs. Corney in full
possession of the field.
Mr.. Bundle was fairly taken by surprise,
and fairly beaten. He had decided bullying
propensity, derived no inconsiderable pleasure
from the exercise Of petty cruelty, and conse-
qucntly was lit is needless to say) coward.