Litchfield enquirer., 1872-10-24
A LiTTLE STORY FOR GENTLE
 MEM


 his family were spending social evening. "Al talk, my dear madam, mere talk: the women don't believe it themselves. Ask my wife, ask my daughters, who they are that rule in my house" .. ....
 ':In ,chose house?" said the soft voice o1 Mrs. Ponderit
 "A mere figure of speech, ma'am-a form of convenience for tax-collectors, landlords, etc Say their house, if you'd d rather: know didn't dare to take it till I brought them all down from the country to look at 1t Here, Betty, my duck, come over here: Julia, Annie, come here and testify that you're not the vast ing victims of tyrannical husband and father. "
 Mrs. c. arose with smile; the young ladies shook their naughty curls and re- mained at the other end of the room. Oi course they did, for we all know now pro- found and absorbing thing is parlor cro- quet when you are playing itwith Mir. Til linghurst and young Mir. Ponderit.
 Do you hear me? 'roared Mr. Corporal, swelling with triumph at this opportune disobedlence. -fsE a-
 "Yes, pa, to morrow, "said Julia, smi- ling placidly at him oyerher gauze-coveFed shoulder.
 ''Go it alone, papa, suggested the skit- tish young Annie. .-.....-. ....5
 Do you hear that, ma'am? There's a specimen of slavish subserviency! Now, Mrs. Corporal, want you to answer as if you were under oath: Am I severe husband?" . ...-..... .s-.. ..-.....t- ''No."
 "Am I selfish husband?" 7''l.
 "No."
 "Am I an ungeneroqs hpsband?" "No."
 ''It seems to me, Mrs Ponderit, that you are answered." @
 ''I should like to remark, ''said that lady, ''that when I expressed my opinion on the abstract question, I had no idea of making personal application. z.E1 "Ohi I don't like distractions. Put your theories to the test, say I, and see ii they stand or fall.'
 ''But haven't finished my answers. said Mrs. Corporal, looking at her hus- band.
 It was a loving, half-troubled, yet de. termined look that she gave him as she went on to say:
 Firstly, you are not severe, but you are overbearing: taking for granted that the head of the family carries the brains Oi the family, 1t seldom occurs to you to con ! suit me in matters of mutual interest, and so your very skindness takes the form o ! tyranny; the very thing may want to dc or have is less acceptable to me for beine imposed upon me at the decision of anoth er" ..Elt {ssF..essr s-1=s-
 "Reallyr'exclaimed MT. Corporal, taker all aback: s'I oyefbearing! Well!s'
 Secondly, "continued his wife, ssyor I are not by nature selfish, and yet you are inconsiderate-that is to say, there are some things that you have never beer taught to consider. You have been brought up to look upon women's tastes women's plans, and women's household l theories OF rules, as whimsies to be in duiged out of kindness, but never takel into serious. account in deciding you l movements. ..
 'Well well. we'll sighed the bewilderet husband: sIinconsideratel" 1esfse | Thirdly, you are not ungenerous, bu you are unjust: you will buy me sill dress that..I do not need, or a set of jewel I " that I would rather not have; in fact you are continually wasting money upo1 me: and yet in all the years of our mar ried life I have never had dollar that dit not come in the shape of gift. !"
 ''Good Heavens!' cried Mr. Corporal rising vehemently, then sinking back, over come, into his chair: sI an unjust husband when she knows that I never in all my Tiff refused to open my purse at her deslrel
 Whose purse2' again insinuated tn musical voice of Mrs. Ponderit. g
 ''Oh, poh, pohlLhe,. purse, if she like it better; the little receptacle which m, wife and daughters find 1t convenient fo me to keep filed-in my pocket Besides, Elizabeth, if you have harbore, this sense of wrong for so many years, wh, conceal ita Why cherish af secret resent