Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-07-21
"TnE CRAY MARE Is THE BETTER HoRsE.n


Most Of our readers have heard this expression, and
loss for lis solution but many may not be
Of lite origin In tho hope that 1t may aiuuse,
and prove profitable TO them, give the story as fol
lows
An English gentleman having married young lady,
who was handsome, accomplished, and rich, expected
reap the harvest of matrimonial felicity but he soon
found that she was of high domineerng spirit, al.
conlendng 10 be mistress of him and his family;
and he, therefore, resoved part with her. He went
10 he. father, and told him, he found his daughter OF
such temper, aud heartily tired OF her. that
II he could replace her in her former home he would
return her every penny Of her fortune. The old gen
teman having inquired the of this plant,
asked HIM why he should be d,squeted it than
any other married man, since It was common occur
renee with them, end, consequently, than he
ought 10 nave expected the husband said he lar
from giving his assent TO this assertion that he thought
himself mnre unhappy than any other man, his wife
had very attrac;able spirit and certainly who
had due Of RICH; and wrong, would submit
TO be governed by his wife
"Sr, said the old man, "you are little acquainted
with the world # you 10 mol know that all women
govern their husbands though indeed by the same
method However, TO end all disputes between us,
will put shat | have SAID this proof, if you are
wiling to try it, | have five horses in my stable
you shall harness them 10 cart, in which Will put
basket containing hundred eggs; and If, in pass
ing through the country, and making strict inquiry
INTO the truth falsehood Of my nssertion and leav
ing horse at the house Of every man who is master
Of his family himself and egg only where the wife
governs, you shall find your eggs gone before yonr
horses, hope you will then think your own case
not uncommon but will be contencd to 60 home, and
look upon your wife than her ne ghbors; ",
the other hand, your horses 60 hrs VIII take ny
daughter home again. and you shall keep her fortune.
This proposal advantageous to be reJected the
young man, therefore, sci out with great eagerness TO
re, d as he thought, CT his horses and his WIFE AT
the frs, house he saw he heard woman, with shr,li
angry voice, call her husband TO so TO the door
Here he left an egg may be sure, without making
further inquiry. AT the next, he met with some
thing Of the same kind, and at every ordinary
house; in short, until his eggs were almost gone J;
when he arrived at the seat OF n gentleman OF iam'
ly and figure in the country, be Knocked at the
door, and rnqulrng for the master OF the house, was
told by servant that his master was not yet stirring,
but that bis lady was in the paror The wife, with
great complaisance desired him 10 seat himself and
said If his business very urgent, she would wake
her husband to let him know it, but would much
rather not disturb him. 'Really, madam, said he,
umv business is only to ask question: which you can
solve we'll your husband, If you will be ingenu
with me-yuu may, doubtless, think ii odd and il
may be deemed impolle for stranger to be so free
but a great weight depends upon It, and IT may be
some advantage yourself declare the truth me-
hope these considerations vii! plead my excuse-what
wish to know IS thls-whethe you govern your hus-
band, or he rules over you "iudeed, Sir. replied
the lady, "that is odd question, but, as think no
ought TO be asha med OF acting rightly, shall not
scrupe 10 say, that nave oeen Always PROUD 10 ohey
M husband in all things, but, if womans own word
is 10 be suspected in snch case, let him answer for
me, for here he comes.
The gentleman at that moment entered the room,
and confirmed every word his nbedent wife had report
ed in her own favor; upon which, he requested
to choose which horse the team he liked best, and
10 accept il as a present. black geding struck the
fancy OF the gentleman most but the lady desired he
would choose The gray mare, which she thought would
be very fit for her sde-saddlcher husband gave sub
tho lack horse ho
useeul to Them but madam still persisted in her claim
10 the gray marc. what said she, sand will you
DO, take her them but say you shall, for am sure
the gray mare is much The better horse 'Well, my
dear" replied the husband, "If YOU VIII have it So, |
mus, give way You must take an egg, replied the
gentleman carter sand must take all my horses back
and endeavor to live in peace and harmony with my
WIFE
| gentleman engaged in taking the census of Louis
j lLSad Of the X Lnki that be