Squatter sovereign., 1855-03-06
THE TAMING OF THE sHREW.


In a certain town In Spain, there was a
Moor of great respectability, who had a
son, the best young man in the world, full
OF great projects, but so poor, that he had
the will, but not the power to execute them.
In the same place there was another
Moor, very rich, and he had an only
daughter; but she was devil, and nobody
would marry her.
The young man came one day TO his
father, aud said, s'Father, am weary of
the poor and wretched life that lead,
wish to marry"
The father said he should be delighted
if his son could find partner that suited
him. Upon which the young man named
his neighbor's daughter. On hearing this,
the father was much surprised; but the son
persisted in desiring his father to speak to
the Moor, who was his intimate friend and
ask him for his daughter. The Moor said,
when he was applied to, he had no objec-
| ton, but whosoever had his daughter, would
be better dead than alive
The wedding day, however, was fixed
and the bride was led away to her htls-
bands house; and according to the Moor
ish custom, supper was prepared, and a
table laid, and the fathers and mothers left
the bride and bridegroom together till the
next day, not without great fear and sus-
picion that they should find the bridegroom
in the morning dead, or not far from it.
AS soon as they We're gone, the new
married couple sat down at the table, and
before she could speak, he looking about
him, saw one of his house dogs, and calling
to him with loud voice, ordered him 10
bring him some water, to wash his hands,
which the dog not doing, he got up in a
rage, and drew his sword; this the dog
seeing, run away, and he after him, till he
had caught him, and cut off his head and
legs, and body In peices, and dashed the
blood over the table, and all over the room,
then came and seated himself by the table.
He looked round again, and saw a Maltese
beagle, and gave him the same order; but
on his not complying, he first threatened
he would serve him as he served his mas
tiff; then springing from his chair. he
caught him by his legs, and cut him into Il
hundred pieces. He then returned sec
ond time to the table, making horrid faces
and furious gestures, and stared wildly
around him.
The bride, who was an eye witness of
all this, was beside herself for fear, and
stupid, without being able to utter a syl-
liable.
| He then swore he would serve every
living Creature in the same manner, not
excepting his horse, which was the only
one he had remaining to him; he then
having killed his horse, came back to the
table, with his sword reeking In blood
and seeing no other animal to kill, turned
his eyes upon his wife, and cried with
1 mn, md brine M, eo,,,x,
water to wash my hands"
She Immediately rose and brought him
water. Then he said, if you had not done
dogs and horse. He then ordered her 10
help him, which she did, but with so horrid
an aspect that she still expected to have
her head cut off. In the same manner
they passed the night together, and she new
er spoke, but did every thing he bade her !;
and when they had slept some little, he
said to his wife, 81 have not been able TO
rest from rage tonight, see that nobody
disturbs me tomorrow morning, and take
care that have good breakfast"
Early In the morning, the Parents of the
bride and bridegroom knocked at the door,
and as no one answered, they concluded
that the bridegroom was either killed or
wounded. and when they saw the bride
come to the door without her husband, they
were confirmed IN their suspicious.
AS soon as she saw them, she began
to call them traitors, and asked them how
they dared to come to the door without
speaking; make no noise or you are all
dead men. This astonished them all more,
and when they knew how the night had
been passed, they thought very highly of
} the young man for his great skill in gov
erning his wife, and arranging his house,
hold; and from that day forward, she is so
well managed, that he lived perfectly well
} with her, and the father-in-law took hint
from his son, and killed horse to keep
HIS wife in order.