The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-04-24

so far that could not undeceive her
Shame at a confession of a faIsehood. as
well AS the fear Of exposing my previous
indiscre'ion, alike KEEP. me silent. The
coctor wto had been busy in the kitchen
suddenly came out, and befc re had time
to avoid him. put red no, iron hook in
to my eum-hoil. ] howled and jumped
but he had made deep wound, and ont
OF 1t came the rice. All present now
SAW the truth, and the doctor picking up
the rice, cried at me-
"fou big simpleton, when Won onlv
had rice in your mouth, why did YOU
not sav"so'
81 made no answer, but took to nv
heels and ran home. Then lost a cool
wife and the prospec, Of good fortune,
y and have ever since believed myself the
greatest simp'e'on vet born
Having lsu ched heartily at this story.
III" judge turned to the second man and
asked
"Wh"t evidence have von, sir, Of vour
right t" the how Won cE.imr
"Mv story is Short" lie answered. "hnt
| viii ssho" ihst have ms much rich, to
tie TO" a' any man. | married early.
and tried TO he happy, but found my
wife could not manage the house without
help; so married another (polvgsmv
being allowed in my conn,rv.) and 'hough,
that all would he well man cah hv the
;w", and should get my rest afcr my
days I"h"r in the field. Bat alas,
was mist AIKEN. | had no more rest 2,
home II | spoke to one wife for few
minutes, the other complained ,ha, did
! not speak to her. was no, able to lie
stow on orr he least attention, or kind
mss, hv decd. word, or even Ly look.
without suffering from the o.her's jeal"usv
Thus lost AL peace at home, and was
! quite miserable wherever bad weather or
any Other cause obliged me to stav in
doors, and at night had no sleep: Il 7
tried to sleep with nv face towards ore
wife, the other compla:ned; il | slept
with my face to the ground. both com.
planned. ! was hsrrassed in this manner
until | lost NV patience: and told.them
,hsro was only one ding. to he done, and
that WAS, they must.tske me each bv a,
leg and pull away till they divided me
between them: | had no sooner spoken
!. Than thew took me at my word. They
se'z"G m" hy the feet and bscan to pull
away with all their strength, each trying
to ou,pull the other, Ia this extremity,
| could only scresm for help. The u.igh.
h"rs rushed in. aud wa.-exrricateG bu,
such 30 laughing, jeering and hoo
ing At the s'mp'e,on who had thus given
himself up to his wives. that had to flv
from NV country, and now | amr here
heCgar. Nv countrvmen have ever since
spoken Of me as the Great Simple,on."
This story having been told, the third
man, a, rl's request Of the Judge, related
the following -
"I married, At about tho age Of twenty.
a rich young woman but instead ofaid.
ing to her wealth. bv trading. or fIlor
ing some lucrative course Of life, | did
no'hing until our money va. alI pone.-
Then, hsing compelled bv hunger. And
touched bv the position and ertreaties Of
NV wife, fwent to work. I labored all
t'm' day in a rich mans garden, and with
my earnings bought small quantity oi
rice and returned home. Nv wife TAXED
three cakssof the rice, and we sat down
to ea' them. when dispute arose between
us as 20 which had right',o two. Issid
that ! ought TO get two, as | had toiIed
all dav and earned them all my wife
maintained that DIE ought to get two, a.
she had brought with her so much money.
aud had fed me so long, and had, besides,
TO mike and bake he csSes. Both Of u.
were obstinate, and would By no means
consent TO 40 equal disisiop. At length,
my wife hit upon plan. Shs proposed
that We should sit hy The cakes, and who.
ever spoke first should only get one. 7
ser"sd, and so we sat up all night with
out speaking. About daybreak I fell
asleep, quite wearied, MD so did nv wife
but We rose soon, and looked 1T onrcakss
and remained silent. We did no, 81,
much longer in ,his manner. but both
tainted. Shortly after this, oar ne,hbor.
seeing our door closed, and hearing no
voice or sound Of stirring within. came
and knocked. As they received no an
swer, they broke open the door, and found
US lying apparently dead, but warm. So,