, 1860-10-19
THE WIFE tanner.

pretty, rich Wdow-When DR.. ChaS. Stra-
han made her acquaintance. She was a
poor but very handsome woman when
Squire Morton married her, and at his
death, two years after, she being the sole
heir, put on her widows weeds and pock-
eted her deceased husbands gold at the
same time.
Madame rhmor said that peor old Nor.
ton never enjoyed single hour after he
married her: but how should Madame Rn.
NOR know? Of one thing, however, eau
give my readers reliable information. Mrs.
Morton had not been a widow twelve
months ere she received with seeming pleas
ure very decided attentions from DR.. Stra-
han.
Do you inquire who Dr. Straban was !?
Well, he studied medicine, and had the IT,
tie of NJ. D. conferred upon him, which he
took great pleasure in attaching to the end
OF his name with grand flourish. But it
is asserted that he never had half dozen
patients in as many years He was young
man of preposSessiug appearance ready
talker upon any subject, and was in fact
first rate company. He played the flute
and sang-was good dancer, and an ex-
cellent partner at whist besides, he had
some literary reputation. He wrote poetry
and two column sketches for the Weekly
LeVeler, and last, though by no means
least, he dressed in good taste and in the
hight Of fashion. How he did it no one
knew, but then it was no ones business.
But l must be allowed to contradict one
rumor which gained considerable preValency,
to the effect that be supported himself by
his literary laborS; an ordinary newspaper
scribbler could hardly afford Strahan's
wardrobe.
Old Squire Morton had been dead but
little over year, when Dr. Strahan, de-
spite all that gossipers could say, married
the widow and her fortune. The fact was,
be wanted rich wife. AS to her, she was
anxious to leave her weeds aud go into so
ciety again; and she could devise no reader
way to accomplish these purposes than by
marrying When any one spoke to the
doctor of her being a shrew, be merely re-
marked that be should take great pleasure
in tanning a shrew.
For three months they lived happily to-
gether for it was in the hight of the season,
and between Cape May, Newport, Sarato-
ga and the White Mountains, they were
alone with each other scarce three hours
out of the twenty-four; consequently twas
impossible for them to disagree. But the
season was soon over and they returned to
their quiet home-the place Of all others to
study wife or husband; for there is no un-
natural excitement, no fashionable Mrs. A.
to outdress, no proagate Mr.. B. to outdo
in squandering money; no one to see, to
please, but The "other half"
After season Of long-continued gayety
there necessarily follows one of extreme
dullness; and when one is dull one is easily
displeascd. Now Mr. aud Mrs. Strahan
were both Of them remarkable dull, and as
matter Of course both preferred being
pleased to attempting to please; and of
course both were greatly displeased.
1t was their third day at home, upon
which their first quarrel commenced. How
it began neither could clearly tell. 1t is
only known that Strahan expressed de-
sire to dine upon roast beef upon which
Mrs. S. said that she abominated beef, and
stated her preference to be roast turkey aud
oyster sauce; Strahan considered turkey as
child's food-he'd have beef or nothing /;
she'd have turkey. And thus commenced
the war Of Strahans. One ordered the
butcher not to have fowl the other gave
strict instructions not TO have beef brought
into the house between them they were
both likely to starVe if they remained at
home SO the doctor went to the village
tavern and dined on beef, while Mrs. S. Wis
tied Some of her friends and partook of tur-
key.
After dinner DR.. S. gave wine supper
in the room which he designated by the
name of Study" sort of variety store, in
which he kept his library, writing desk and
spittoon. Here, also, were two glass cases,
one Of which contained giants skeleton,
hung on wires; in the other was an Egyp-
tian mummy. The walls were hung with
curiosities of all descriptions; among them
a cane from tree which grew over Wash
ington's grave, snuf-box from wood Of
the Charter Oak, chip from the United
States frigate Constitution; minerals, shells
and fossils Of all kinds, specimen ears of