Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-09
A SMALL LESSON.
Translated from the French.

old wives used TO say-a husband
and wife, who had brought up three
daughters, named respectively ka
ren, MareD and Metty.
They might certainly have beer
reckoned very pretty, had people
not known them to be al three quit,
stubborn and contradictory, and de
sirous of having the last word. Met
" was far the most disasFeeable--
iy dint OF lime, there came twg
woOers for the two eldest daughters
who finished by marrying.
But IL was years before anybody
ventured to make up TO Metty. At
last, however, even She had sweet
heart. IL is true that he came from
a long distance. The banns were %
be published three times, and on
the third day after such publication,
which had been fixed at an out-of-the
way hour by the bridegroom, he and
| Metty met in church in order to be
married. When these particulars
were settled, the man, who was an
odd fellow, at once took his depart
ure.
On the wedding day the old pa
rents had made their appearance al
church with their daughter. But
they had a long time to wait for the
bridegroom. At last he appeared,
mounted on an old gray horse, with
a musket slung across his breast,
and a large dog at his heels.
No sooner was the marriage eere-
mOuy over, than he said 10 his bride,
Jump on to that horse, and place
| yourself before me, that we may re-
turn home"
She did as she was bid, although
her father raised a number of OBJ
| iections. He could have wished
that the newly married pair had en-
/ tered his house, first of all, 10 eat
something. But the new husband
/ would not hear of any such thing,
and they went their ways.
| When they had gone tOlerably far,
the husband let fall one of his
| gloves.
"Pick il up" said he TO the dog;
but the animal letitlie, for anything
he cared.
''Piek it up, instantlyw repeated
he; but again the dog did not stir.
Alter having commanded him a
third time to do what he bid him,
but with no better success, and with
out the dogs seeming TO care far
thing for his commands, the man
took up his gun and shot him dead
on the spot.
They went their ways and reached
a wood. where the husband had a
! mind TO take some rest. Our trav-
ellers accordingly got of their
horse, and put the bride on his neck.
| When the man thought they were
/ sufficiently rested, he called his
horse. three times; but the horse
/ took no notice of his masters voice
and went on grazing. On seeing
this, the husband took up his gun
once more and killed the disobedi-
ent horse. On witnessing this sight
the wife felt strangely uneasy; and
while continuing her road, deter
mined, come what might, never TO
contradict her husband.
Shortly after, he took up a green
twig, and folded IL so that the Two
ends would meet, aud presented il
TO his wife, bidding her TO keep il
! till he asked TO have IL back. The
/ newly married pair then followed
/ heir road on foOt, and arrived with
out further accident az their farm
I house.
Here they lived very happily, for
! Metty had not forgotten the resO-
! luton she had taken in the woods
never TO contradict her husband
She always appeared so gentle and
dOcile, that nobody could have sus-
pected that she was the untractable
Metty. Now this is what her hus-
band said 10 her one day: should
we not 20 and see your father, Met
ty, TO ascertain how he and Your
good old mother are by this time?"
The wife declared that nothing
could please her better; accordingly,
the husband ordered the horses TO
be harnessed. and Off they went
Toward evening they had overtalIen
n flock OF storks all jOurneying to-
gether. --...-..5
,"What a quaniity OF crowsl" said
the man.
-ssFhey are not crows but storks,"
said the woman.
srnrn the chaisc round, and take
us back home," was the order of
the husband
They accordingly returned from
whence they came
Some time after, the husband
again asked his wife If She did not
long TO see her aged parents.
or course Metty wished it heart
ily- On the road they met = flock
OF sheep.
"What a large flock Of wolvesp'
cried the husband.
'.They are not wolves" observed
the wife, "but sheep"
"Turm round the cart and take us
home,' ordered the husband Of the
servant. And this was accordingly
done.
A third time the farmer asked his
wife if they ought not to pay visit
10 her old parents, and as she ac-
! quiesced eagerly, the horses were
I once more harnessed- They had
gone over a deal of ground, when
/ they met a flock OF hens.
"What a number of owls" OBJ
served the husband.
"Ouite true" said the wife.
This time they did not turn back,
and when they reached the dwelling
of the old folks, there were great
rejoioings. Karen and Maren like
wise came with their husbands. The
mother took her three daughters
into the room, for she was very Gu
rious TO question Metty as to her
mode of living, and to know wheth-
er she was satisfied with her hus-
band. During this interval, the
| father kept filling large jar full of
! silver coins, which he placed on the
table before his sons-in-laW, saving
il would belong with its contents TO
the woman who was most Obedient.
On hearing this, the eldest began
TO cry out, 'Karen, my beloved,
come hither for q moment-come,
my dearest Karen" But all his ap-
peals were lost upon Karen. Even
when he went into their bedroom,
and began to urge her with kind
of gentle violence, he could not
make her stir.
The second husband Jared no bet
ter with his Maren.
1t was now the third husbands
turn He merely went to the door.
knocked, and said: ''Come here,
Metty."
Out she came in a moment, and
enquired whether he wanted any
thing.
He answered, ''Merely the sprig
/ gave into your keeping when we
were in the wood on our wedding
day"
She gave it to him at once, as She
always carried il in her pocket.-
Then the husband showed it Il the
others, saying, tBehoIdl l bent this
branch while il was yet green-vou
ought to have done the samer'
Ia the long run tried and proved
character for truth, honor and hon