The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-01-13
RECONSTRUCTION IN texas.

/ weeks in camp and learn the feelings
and views Of the soldiers
4 Wager Between Man and Wlfe-A
WeIl.knOWn Merchant Loses, and is
Handsomely Sold.
| From the Cincinnati Enquirer, Jan. g.
About two months since, we'll known
and popular merchant in this city, and
his accomplished lady, in the presence
of several friends, entered into a wager
that one of the two was to perpetrate
apractical joke on the other, and which
ever was defeated in first being "sold,"
should undergo penalty to be inflicted
| bs the triumphant party. The punish
ment was at once agreed upon as fol
| lows if the husband was defeated, he
should on the day following, take a
! wheel barrow, and 70 to a well known
-four dealer on Walnut street, purchase
a barrel of choice family -four, and
wheelit up Walnut to Fourth, west of
| Fourth street to their residence. The
feat to be performed between the hours
Of 10 A. NJ. and P. NJ Should the
wife be defeated, she was required 70
attic herself in full yankee dress, of
the eXtraV8gant order, on the Sunday
morning following, and proceed to St.
Johns Episcopal Church at ii o'clock,
and occupy the front seat, observing
carefully not to conceal her face, and
during the services to present to the
clergyman purse of 500 for the ben
eft of the poor belonging to that parish.
lf the wager was singular and unu-
sual between husband and wife, the for
felt was certainly extravagant, and re-
markedly severe. The parties, howev-
er, agreed to the contract, and imme-
diately began to determine the plan
which should produce a successful is
sue Each was vigilant cautious, and
Ileenly observant Of the others move
ments, and every attempt at a joke
| failed until last evening, when woman's
wit triumphed in the following terrible
| discontinue Of the unsuspecting hus-
! band.
On Thursday last JilIet do,lr was re-
| ceived, inviting Mr.. and Mrs. --, the
! aforesaid merchant and his wife, to a
party, to be given Monday evening,
Jan. ID, at the residence of a well
/ known citizen on Sixth street, the mer-
chant being the bearer of the invitation
missive 10 his wife. The lady made eY-
cry preparation for the party, advising
with her husband as to the character
| OF her toilet, and scrupulously execu-
ting every wish he indicated On yes
terday morning the lady complained of
| indisposihon, and during the day ex.
! pressed a fear that she would not be
| able 10 attend heparty. The husband
offered to procure a carriage, and
thought there would be no serious con-
sequences if she wrapped up warmly,
and avoided the night air. The ruse
was working charmiDgly.
Early last evening, the lady prepared
! her toilet and assisted her husbandin
the same very interesting proceeding
! The merchant went in search of car
! riage leaving instructions with the
wife to be in readiness when he return
ed. The husband was only absent
about fifteen minutes, but in that in
| term negro woman Of the same
/ height and size had been bundled up
with the lady's bonnet, cloak, furs, &c,
q thick veil concealing her dark COM
| plexion. When the carriage drove up
to the door, the bundled up "joke" was
at the door with the waiting maid, who
with the gallant husband, assisted her
to the carriage, the maid rendering the
advice, mot to draw of the night air
on her lungs" Mrs, in the mean
time, had preceded the carriage in an
other hack, and informed the company
assembled of the cruel sell 1t was
/ agreed that Mia should conceal
herself, and when Mr. and his asso-
ciate arrived, they should at once be
ushered into the parloT, where, in pubs
lie view, the amazement and diseom-
future of the husband should produce
! the merriment Of the hour.
Only a few minutes elapsed. and the
carriage was at the door the door-bell
/ rang, and in another instant the couple
were Ushered into the brilliantly light
ed parlors, the husband apologizing for
bis Wife's feebieness because of an in
disposition during the day With the
! assistance of the lady whose guest they
we're, the merchant began unrobing his
! partner The removal of the veil
/ caused a wild shrek and scream from
the ladies, and my gracious" from the
gents, while the pale and detected mer-
]
floor, his eyes staring on the negress,
who offered her hand for forgiveness
The enraged merchant was in the act
of suddenly leaving the company, when
the wife, full of smiles, and in her beau
tiful toilet, confronted him by remark
ing, Ny dear, what's the price of
flour The husband acknowledged
the sell, and promised that the wager
should be paid The negress returned
home, and the pleasures of the evening
proceeded, although frequently inter
rupted by bursts of laughter and ap-
plause at the very successful manner
the wife had outwitted her husband
To-day, between 10 and o'clock, the
wheelbarrow performance with barrel
of -four will take place on the route in
dicated, and as the merchant, unaccus-
toned TO work, tugs at his load, there
I will no doubt De q considerable amount
of sport by the passers by at his ex-
! pense.