Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-04-07

| the two ladies burst forth into a double at
tack regarding the Turkish dispositions of
their husbands, with the sentiment, women
| never shall be slaves" which they sustained
long after the enemy's fire had been silenced;
the younger lady winding up with the declar-
alton, Unreasonable commands we will
never obey, will We, dear mother }" and the
elder confirming the matter with a resolute
"Never, never, neverl" like the double bar
at the end of a noisy piece of music
| Victory being now decidedly in favor of
the two wives, what could the husbands do
but propose terms of surrender? s-.
This is pretty business" said the SON.
in-law; "now we have the whole sex down
upon US what shall we do p"
| dear son" replied the squire, ''do as
| you please; cannot permit nv breakfast to
be spoiled, for if 1 lose my breakfast get no
appetite for my dinner, and so all goes wrong
for the day."
"Only we must not YIELD" suggested the
| younger.
| We'll, this is strife in which no man
ever gained anything" replied the more ex-
perienced elder. Il foolishly allow myself
to get angry but now my equanimity is re,
stored, and-in fact, want my breakfast
While this conversation was going on in
undertones, what were the victorious party
|
| hulting in their triumph? Not at all and
perhaps, If they had been asked, they ould
have confessed that victory in battle of words
with husband is only second to a defeat
=" If L could have guessed it would have
come to this, would have taken the Joke a,
once," said Emma: wish l had done what
Alfred asked me, but now it is too late"
You have at least shown him." said the
sympathising mother, that you have will
OF your own, and that is something I shall
astonish my old man too it will be long be-
fore l make friends with him again"
You will stand by me, dearest mother p
" You may be sure of that, my child" EN-
ma sighed; perhaps she wished her mother
to give different answer, but she did not
say so.
eve had better give in" said the old gen
tleman to his son,in-law, looking very hard al
the good things on the table.
!" But what is to become Of our honor p
asked Alfred,
"Bah!" cried the old man, cit is disa
greeable thing to yield, and so it is said tc
touch the honor. Let US put an end to it %
"Listen, children" continued the kind, ole
man, turning and speaking aloud to his wife
and daughter, laughing; "You are little toe
steadfast in your resolutions. 1 must now
strengthen myself by some breakfast, to car
ry on the battle; happily, the table is set
and one has nothing to do but to enjoy the
repast So saying, the old man sat down
and began to attack the substantial meal be-
fore him.
"Dear mother, shall we not also? p
tremblingly suggested Emma.
Yes, yes, of course, we must not lose oul
breakfast" so the three sat down to the ia
BILE, for Alfred had slipped out of the room
when the old man had begun his speech. He
shortly returned, however, holding in his hand
two handsome shawls, with which he ap
preached his now thoroughly humbled bride
"Dear little wife," said he, "accept peace
offering from my hands. l acknowledge that
our quarrel was entirely my own fault anG
as proof of my consciousness of guilt, l beg
you will take your choice of one of these
shawls"-unfolding and displaying them as he
spoke.
Emma scarcely looked up, and when she
did raise her eyes, they were full of tears
not such tears as she had shed an hour be-
fore, but proceeding from a very different
source, which the reader may guess. She
wished to avoid making her choice, and beg
ged that Alfred would not ask her non but
he persisting, in his own determined and per
verse way, choose, little one, choose" the
victorious wife pointed to one of the shawls
which the vanquished husband cheerfully
placed round her shoulders and indeed, to
those who had not witnessed the progress OF
the battle, it would have appeared that the
victory and defeat were in exactly the re
verse quarters from what we know them to
have been.
q have come three parts of the way to
meet you, little wife"
What conld the little wife do but answer
the appeal by hiding her halfcrying, half
laughing face on her husbands shoulder, and
whispering in his ear, Very good-the table
| is set ~
So peace was declared between those who,
we hope, never allowed it to be again dis
turbed; and Catherine seemed meditating
how best to follow her daughters example
Looking admiringly at the other shawl, she
laid her hand on her husbands shoulder with
| the familiar words: cold man %
"Wel?"
"See now, there is yet another shawl will
you not be reconciled to me too? ?"
"With shawl ? nay, cannot afford it."
"But consider" urged Catherine.
cold wife, l hope you are more reasona'
BILE young bridegroom may make it up with
his bride by bringing her a peace-offering
when he is as old as l am he will do SO nc
longer"
Hal and Bettina were now busy in attend
ance as the breakfast proceeded; the maiden
took every opportunity of turning her back
upon her fellow servant he all the time
watching her with looks of entreaty, but
there was no sign of yielding in that quarter.
Alfred gaily addressed his favorite servant
as he stood behind him: els it all right now
between you and Bettina?" but the answer
was given in profound melancholy "No, sir,
no. she will never give in"
"Bettina must say the words" cried Emma
" she is the cause Of all the trouble, and now
she must say them"
cit is true" said the old lady; "now Bet
tina, you must say them before US all as pun
ishment Say the words after me- Very
good-the table is set"
The laughter that followed puzzled the old
lady, who at first did not perceive that she
now for the first time had said the words
herself until her husbands triumphant shout
reached her ear: "you have said it at last
my wife !"
Catherine joined in the laugh, and acknowl
edged herself vanquished and now it only
remained for the still stubborn serving mai
den to follow in the track.
CHOW, Bettina," said her young mistress,
it is your turn; you must do as we have
DONE But with much confusion Bettna
turned away from Halls entreating looks, and
declared it was impossible.
"Do you know that l have arranged every.
thing for your wedding in three weeks ~
asked the indulgent mistress.
every good" demurely answered the
maiden, as if it did not signify much.
"Well, well, you have said it halt, now say
| the rest" was the universal chorus.
Bettina finding she had now no supporters,
and perhaps liking the prospect of the mar