Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-04-07
i STORY OF THREE WIVES.
FROM THE GERMAN.

you about to yourself, u7tIeSS ute cay jos.
On bright sunshlny morning, IN the early
summer about two hours before noon, young
man and serving maiden, both faithful domes-
tics of the family in whose household they
had been brought, were with great care lay
ing the breakfast-table of their young master
and mistress, lately married. 1t was evidently
labor of love with both of them; for, had
not Miss Emma herself taught Bettina to read
and write, while both teacher and taught
were but children? and had not the old
squire, Miss Emma's father, taken Hal, when
left an orphan, into his house, and made him
a frst-rate serving man and were not he
and Betina (now betrothed) the trusty and
loving servants of their young mistress and
her bridegroom? So it was in every sense a
labor of love, as was evident by the affec
tionate looks exchanged by the two servants,
and the playful skirmish of words that pass
ed between them. And they are arranging
the table with more than usual care; for the
old squire and his wife are coming to break
fast with their son and daughter for the first
time since the marriage of the latter.
At length the preparations are completed {;
HaTs eyes scan the table up and down and
across with the keen gaze of a majOr-domo,
and stops his tender and lively conversation
with his companion with the words, every
good; the table is set"
Bettina, in her turn, gave a glance of APP
proval, and confirmed it with the single word,
F'Yes!"
'sThat is not enough" objected Hal "you
must say as | did, Bettina, every good; the
table is set"
s'What for ?" asked the astonished maiden.
cit is a custom in my part of the country,
returned Hal, "when one has completed any
appointed task, to say, by way of thanksgiv-
ing, every good" or at is WE'LL such or such
a business is DONE" or "Such an adventure
has come to a happy end"
Bettina, however, in the levity Of her
heart would not be persuaded that there was
anything but absuIdity in uttering such 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
mo :" and | am sorry to say the young man
took his Bettina urgently by the wrist
squeezing it with a most rough pressure, in
the endeavor to force her to comply, till she
broke away in petulant 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 senti
ment: "Caprice, thy name is Woman En-.
treaties, tears, force, all have been in vain
| might have beaten her to jelly, but she
would not yield ?"
"Do not spoil Bettina's figure thus" sale
Il voice, as the opposite door opened, "let
her live to change her mind !" SO saying, the
young squire, Alfred, entered the room
laughing heartily at the recollection of what
he had overheard while writing in his study
which joined the parlor; for the young couple
ir,f hn hoo Of hni lad II
their voices higher than was prudent HAS
confusion may be better imagined than des
cribed but his young master condescended
to comfort him, and then gave directions, fol
bottle of claret, which must be put on the
table, as his father-in law liked that accom-,
paniment to his dejeuner
As Hal left the room to visit the celler the
young bride Emma entered, and before long
her husband recounted to her. with much
merriment, the conversation he had heard
between their two servants.
"Bettina refused and Hal insisted, till at
last they got into a regular quarrel; he tried
to force her to say the words, but to the last
she would not"
"And quite right !" was the unexpected
reply from the lovely bride Zone might ask
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 persist
in an obstinate refusal of such a trife > ,
asked the husband.
just rs little was it worth while for him
to persist in the request | dc not consider
Bettna to blame" returned the lady, with
little warmth OF manner, her foot impati
emily tapping the tootstoOl it rested on as she
sat at her work.
Well, said the young squire, edo not LEI
WS quarrel about it; if | were to ask YOU tt
say anything, you would say it? | am con
WINGED you would"
And suppose | would not? ?" asked the
wife III return, after little laughing hesita
ton.
"The case is not possible let us put it tt
the proof" said Albert.
"No, no" exclaimed Emma eagerly: "pra,
do mott"
81 beg you, Emma, just say once, to pleas,
me, Very good, the table is set"
But alas! the consequences of this simple
request became even more serious than in tn
case already described; for it is well know
that, when highly educated and poishe,
members of society condescend to quarrel
their words are no less cutting, and tn
wounds inflicted are no less grievous thai
those which are exchanged between disput
ants of a lower grade. SO, in this case, tn
wife insisted upon the folly of the request
and the husband declared that it was no
now matter of folly or wisdom, but a ties
of her affection for him. But she would no
yield
And now the loving bride sat working witt
unnecessary diligence, her face turned ava,
from her husband, while the fond Aifre(
seized newspaper refuge for perplexeC
husbands; bnt after a few moments, ht
glanced over at his wife, who refused to NEE
his eye; then, clearing his throat, and ad
vancing step or two he said, "Have yor
thought better of it, my Emma will you give
over this perverseness ?"
Emma threw down her work in a passiop
How perverseness! You know | eanno,
endure that word and l am not perverse
but it is you who are so in this matter, to in
sist SO obstinately on this piece of folly"
"But, Emma, understand me-" said Alfred
g it is not that the thing of itself is of an,
Importance, except to show me that you can
not refuse anything ask you; / cannot bea
the thought that~you can say no" to an,
request of mine =
"Soh l am never to say mo to you," re
turned the now excited wife, "always ''yes
yes, yes All all men are alike: you do
not want loving companion, sympathizins
friend; you require that wife should be
slave And thus the subjugation is to begir
with an act of blind obedience; but l will
never be slave, not l will never yielG
my rights either to threats or to brute force
And he shall be thy ruler where is thai
sald?' interposed the husband very gently.
Il am right them" cried Emma "yor
would be the ruler and | am to be the slave
you are to command and l to obey Oh, ]
acknowledge your rule in all fitting things
but never when your commands are unreason
able"