Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-06-21
THE TOAD's WIFE.
By HENRY MORLEY.

By HENRY MORLEY. rs
Rospo was an ambitious nobleman, VIII,
had jewel of q wife, What. poets feigl
that their loves have, she really had. He
eyes were diamonds, her teeth were pearls
her hair was of the purest gold. She was
wife much valued by her husband.
"Ahl' said he, one morning, when ht
observed her biting her bread at breakfast
"What teeth, my TREASURED a gift of only
one such pearl would make the chief Sui,
tana, who has rule over the great Sultan
himself, my servant. All, me! ali, me my
fortune at Court could be made with one Of
those large double teeth that your cheek
hides. And you bite bread with them" .
al would give more than tooth to serve
you," said the good wife and she really
caused her largest tooth to be drawn for
him. 1t was a pearl for any queen.
"You said you would give more than a
tooth to serve me-" Rospo whispered to his
wife, fortnight afterwards, as they walked
in the woods together. "The Queen longs
for another pearl like that gave her, be-
cause then she might have a pair of ear
drops beautiful enough to make the houris
die of envy" And he had the other tooth.
A week afterwards, Rospo was very sad.
The mighty Vizier to the Sultan of the
Dawn was dying, he explained. Another
man competed with himself in brides to
become the old Vizier's successor. He had
spent all in vain, and was a ruined man un-
less one other bag of gold could be obtained
to give weight to his claim.
"Be comforted," said the kind wife.
"Look at this idle wealth of hair, on a
head that is never seen by the world I'M
covered. Take it and win your prize"
Accordingly she had her head shaved to
the scalp, and gave him all her golden hair,
for which he returned vows Of everlasting
love.
"Vexatious accident" cried Rospo,
rushing suddenly into his wife's chamber,
three days afterwards. 1.-The Sultan has
changed his favorite. Another of his wives
now rules him. Yesterday it was all Zarem,
now it is all Zeram; and Zeram is furious
against me, because of the two great pearls
given by me to her rival"
g. Take my other grinders" said the wife
"Useless, alas useless! % said the hus.
band. "All the pearls in your mouth, fu
rious as she is, will barely suffice to turn
her anger into friendship %
'At least" said the kind lady, "yol
may take them all and try"
"Glorious success, my precious one,
said Rospo to his wife, next day. "Zeran
is mad with delight at the pearl bracelet
have given her. The Vizier cannot liv'
another hour. The Sultan is now on hi
way to consult with him for the last time
and hear his last wishes. That misery
wretch, even in his last hour, is greedy fol
bride. My rival has just. left his door
| know that | have but to ask for one Of
those great diamond eyes of yours, anG
have it in time to make sure of the crea
lures good word against whatever gift
another can have offered him "lt ' ssvi,
$50 Rospo rushed away again, with one
of his wife's eyes in his hand, and in tbs
evening went back to her with oxidation
crying out: s-,5 b,or- - : !.
81 Better and better! 1t needs only the
other diamond to make me Vizier. The ole
man is dead, and spoke for me. But wheI
the Sultan saw upon the coverlet tn,
diamond had just given, he said that M
man should be the Vizier but he who woul(
present his Ruler with another diamond a
glorious as that = ''ae1 'se~ Isl -
"But," said the wife, 81 am now bald
toothless, and one-eyed Will you bear wit
me and guide me when am left altogethe
blind" - -i..l ,la..s74
IAN Eastern wife," said Rospo angrily
sis never seen of men, and has nothing t,
see except her husband. You know wei
what am like. Think that after all hay
done, and all the trouble 1 have had, an
wealth l have risked, without that othe
diamond shs all be ruined FL
So the good wife was left sitting in dark
akA. hoa -. a. 4
Sultsn of the Dawn, returned to her n
more. Why should he? How could sh
help him when she could not help herself? ?
But 0beron and Fitania were then travel
ing across the country of the Dawn. S
they went one of them to Rospo, and tn
other one to his deserted wife
The Sultan did not see the King of tn
Fairies, but it was odd that he did not Sc
any more his own Vizier, who had bee
tisttering him minute ago. And Their
was a large toad hopping to the door. /
seemed to have come from underneath tn
throne.
Oberon leading the Toad by a magi
string, met on his way Titania, who ad
vanced towards him lovingly, with her arm
on the neck of the most radiant of fairies
1t was fairy with eyes of the starlight
hair of plated sunbeams, and teeth through
which she could lisp magic language. 50
81 take this good wife for my friend,
Ttania said.
"And brought that fellow Rospo to thu
dust" said 0beron. "See, here he is, anC
Tor his punishment he bears jewel in hi
mead. The Sultan has not missed it from 1T
cssket yet, and when he does he will not
know that the Toad's head is its casket now.
Inc Toads head shall be heavy with it; ht
snail never be without headache unit
ooeron is dead. Come with us, beautiful
new fairy
Nay" said the fairy wife. "Since the
TOAD Is my husband, shall make my couch
VITA him and cherish him"
She dld so; and because of her there is
nor more humbled and harmless, or more
nome-keeping creature upon earth than the
AoSu' VINO was once so eager to 60 ont and
De slzler. His headache is still con-
Sant; one has only to look at him and see
mat Of the precious jewel in his head we
have all heard.
As Tor the Toad's Wife, in the homes OF
generous and patient women she has. in our
0"n time, now and then been seen.
MAhckR expectation of females to Wash.
lyon territory proves poor speculation
'He women don't get married, and they tall