The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-24
THE THREE WIVES.
sY F. H. COOK.

Nj. Jeduthun Spike was an eccentric bach
elor of ffty. His mother died in giving him
birth, and it would seem that the mothers
heart died with her, for from that hour the
haPless Jeduthun seemed to have no pereep-
tion of feminine excellence, and diverted
himself with ridiculing the foibles of the sex,
whose true character was to him despised
enigma. As babe, he was fed and tended
by an invalid brother many years his senior
and he afterward grew in stature and hard,
ungenial kind of wisdom, without much mat
ronizing from any body. As years and pos
sessions increased, he boarded at a fashioas bic
Motel, where the cook and attendants were of
his own sex, and ignored the address of his
laundress. His predispositions against matri-
mony were confirmed and strengthened by the
fate Of the brother alluded to, who married
somewhat late in life, and after an unhappy
connection of seven years duration, left his
widow permanent inmate Of an insane asy
lum, and his three boys to the guardianship of
the uncle. The recipient Of this unexpected
legacy, who had till then loved nothing in the
whole of his miserable life, felt q strange
pleasure in the duties of this new ard unsolici-
ted relation. The docility with which the lit
tie fellows accommodated themselves to the
oddities Of the eccentric hnmorist, their un-
questioning faith in his most startling dogmas,
LlkelE dFtlesS Ol p6IeOud al dLLACu-
ment, won upon his isolated nature to degree
that surprised himself 1t seemed that these
helpless children were destined to fulfill to the
lonely man that feminine mission without
which human life is a failure, and happiness
a myth. With a devotion and patience hardly
to be expected of him, he reared the fragile
boys TO manhood, gave them all the needful
advantages of books, and schools, and pocket
money, and at last saw them all established in
business, and in a way to do credit to them
selves and to their connections. Judge then
Of his painful astonishment when all three
waited upon him in body, to announce that
they had jointly and severally formed the au-
dacious resolution OF committing matrimony.
Neither would have dared to approach the
subject alone, and though countenanced by
each other, they felt so much gratitude, rever-
ence and compassion for the prejudiced old
man, that they fairly trembled for the result
When the confession was made to Mr..
Jeduthun Spike, be turned his back on the
agitated young men, and walked quickly to
the window. After standing silently for some
minutes, he turned and said very calmly:
"Well, boys, 1 have nursed you through
the measles, ard the scarlet fever, and the
whooping cough, and did my best to alleviate
what ! could not prevent. You are now the
victims Of disorder quite as general as the
others, and for which there is no remedy but
experience. Neither precept nor example" p
here his lips Quivered slightly =" have been of
any avail In your case. Go then and marry if
you will. give my full consent, on one con-
dition only. 1t is that you all present your
| selves in three years from this day and hour,
and declare solemnly, upon the worth of your
remaining manhood, whether you are un-
happy, and why. The causes of misery in
| wedlock are various, but the result is uni
I nil T1nu hax,
an appointment with my tailor"
| 1t is needless to say that the three nepnews
avaied themselves of the permission thus un-
willingly given, and that any self reproaches
they might feel at defeating the cherished
wishes of their kind benefactor did not seri-
ously embitter the honeymoon. The three
| years that followed stole handful of gray
| hairs from the bald forehead of Jeduthun
| Spike, and as if ashamed of the theft, secretly
restored them hidden among the chestnui
| locks of his young relations. And, as 8
further restitution, the same silent agents
| transferred unneticed portion of the hopeful
tenderness of the youthful Beredicts to refresh
the withered heart of the disappointed bache
| lor. The time for the interview SO long an
| ticipated arrived at last. In the luxurious
rooms of the lonely uncle, Henry and Charles
the two esder nephews, waited impatiently the
arrival of the younger.
1t is useless looking for Edward saiC
| Charles, at last. awe shan't see him befor
evening. His wife is now looking for needl
TO darn his stockings, and replace the missing
buttons upon his coat
Yet as he spoke a cheerful step was hear
without, and the taFdy brother entered tn
room, breathing quickly, and with smiling
apology for his delay. The two first arrives
exchanged meaning glsnces, but the merciles
uncle cut short their merriment by sayin
gravely:
"Henry, my boy, You are the Oldest. 1t
just that you should lead upon this occasion
FELL US frankly, how do you enjoy marie
life 2"
The young man paused for a moment, ther
with comical grimace that but lily conceale
his reluctance, he replied:
/" It is bitter dose to swallow, / confes
Uncle, you are revenged."
There was slight movement of surprise, fc
Mr.. Henry Spike was recognized as decided
notable.
"I thought" said the uncle drily, tia
yours was q pattern wife"
"Only too much so,n returned the nephey
at is my belief that she was modelled upo
the most approved patterns and made up t
order. If ever there was a machine for pei
a forming mechanically every outward yirtu
it is Mrs. Henry Spike. She never loses be
temper, indeed doubt if she has any TO los
She never betrays any futter of vanity
wounded feeling. To the calmness of statu
: she adds an instructive perception of decorur
rigid adherence to rectitude, which leav
: nothing to hope or fear, and very little to el
Joy. Nothing con disturb her. When OF
infant was dangerously I'D, she moved abo'
his cradle with the same unpertnrbed comp
sure, and dropped his last cordial, as '
s | thought into the cup with untrembling hand
!, a hardly see how you came to marry her
> remarkedtE Edward, par paranthese. e
"She was pretty, and mistook her natur
roses for blushes, and her silence for delica
reserve. was much moved when she on
left me in tears; have since learned that 81
had the tooth-ache. can never fad in b
y department anything TO forgive, and am tir
of praising where correctness seems inevitabl
Besides she don't care for praise She W