Litchfield enquirer., 1860-08-30
n1isfellanp.
A STORY OF THREE WIVES
FROM THE GERMAN,


 FROM THE GERMAN.
 Do not, dear reader, apply the conduct 0 either of the three wives We are going to tel you about, to yourself, umless the cap fts.
 On bright sunshiny morning in tue earl, summer, about two hours before noon, young man and serving maiden, both faith lul domestics of the family in whose house Hold they had been brought up, were witt great care laying the breakfast table of thei young master aud mistress, lately married 1t was evidently q labor of love with both O them for had not Miss Emma hersel taught Bettina to read and write, while botl teacher and taught were but children anG had not the old squire, Miss Emma's father taken Hal, when left an orphan, into his house, and made him first-rate serving man! and were not he and Bcttina (now betroth cd) the trusty and loving servants of thcil young mistress and her bridegroom So i, was in every sense labor of love, as was evident by the affectionate looks exchanged by the two servers, and the playful skirmisl of words that passed between them. Ant they arc arranging the table with more thal usual care for the old squire and his wifi are coming to breakfast with their son ant daughter for the first time since the marriag, of the latter
 At length the preparations are completed llaPs eyes scan the table up and down al.c across with the keen gaze of a major-domo and stops his tender and lively conv+r<a,o, with Lis companion with the words, Very good the table is set"
 Brttina, in her turn. gave glance of ap probation, and confii med with the siugl, word, "Ycs!7
 That is not enough" objected Hal; "yo, must say as l did, Bcttina, "Ncry good the table is sct.'"
 "What for 2 asked the astonishcd maiden.
 It is custom in my part of the coun try" returned Hal, when ono has completed any appointed task, to say, by way of thanks giving, Very good, or It is well, such O such d business is donc,' or Such an adven ture has come to happy end'"
 Bettlna, however, in the levity of hcl heart, would not be persuaded that there was anything but absurdity in uttcring sucl words, as applied to the transactions of every day. Hal entreated her, for his sake, at least, to say them. "No"-because he wished it." no ;" and I am sorry to say that the young man took his Bettina urgent y by the wrist, squeezing it with most rough pressure, ill the endeavor to force hel to comply, till she broke away in petu'ant anger, and, stamping her foot, declared that all was over between them ?"
 As she rushed out of Halls presence, that worthy gave utterance to the following sen tmenl Caprice, thy name is Woman!- Entreaties, tears, force, all have been in vain l might have beaten her to a jelly, but she would not yield?"
 Do not spoil Bettina's figure thus." said voice, as the opposite door opened, "ant let her live to change her mnd! So saying the young squire, Alfred, entered the room laughing heartily ut the recollection of wha1 he had overheard while writing in his study which joined the parlor; for the young couple Tn the heat of their argument, had raised their voices higher than was prudent. HaPs confusion may be better imagined than de scrlbed; but his young master condescendeG to comfort him, and then gave directions fol the bottle of claret, which must be put or the table, as his father-in-law liked that ac compartment to his dejeumer. | As Hal left the room to visit the cellar the young bride Emma entered, and befor, long her husband recounted to her, witl much merriment, the conversation he hat heard between their two servants.
 Bettina refused, and Hal insisted, til at last they got into Q regular quarrel; h tried to force her to say the words, but t the last she would not"
 And quite rightw was the unexpecte, reply from the lovely bride: cone might asl which was the most obstinate of the two!"
 "Only," said the husband, he requested her to say it."
 "But it was an absurd request"
 Think you it was worth while to persis Tn an obstinate refusal of such trife?" asked the husband.
 Just as little was it worth while for hin 1o persist in the request. I do not conside n,.s n.'slna to blame, returned the lady, with ss,o warmth of manner, her foot impatiently at her work. 'N o1 "' 'A' ''
 weil," said the young squire edo no iet us quarrel about it: if were to ask VI, to say anything, you would say it2 on convinced you would" ''' q"
 And suppose I would not?" asked in wife in return, after Q little laughing hesita tion. A'''''
 "The case is not possible; let us put it t the proof" said Alfred.
 "No. mo-" exclaimed Emma eagerly "pray do notw
 Il beg you, Emma, just say once, t please me, Very good, the table is set {" But alas! the consequences of this simpl request became even more serious than the case already described; for it is we known that. when highly educated and DO