Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-08-15
'TpE GRAY MARETHE BETTER House.

"THE GRAY MARETHE BETTER HORSE"
This well-known proverbial saying orig
mated from the following circumstances
A gentleman of a certain county in Eng
land having married young lady of con-
siderable fortune, and at the same time
possessed of many other charms, he found,
not long after marriage, that she was Of
high, domineering temper, and always
contending to be mistress both of him and
his family; therefore he formed the resolu
ton of parting from her. Accordingly lie
waited upon her father, and told him that
he found his daughter of such temper
that he was heartily tired of her, and if he
would take her home again he would re-
turn every penny of her fortune.
The old gentleman, having inquired into
the cause of his complaint, ask ed him why
he should be more disquieted at it than
any other married man, since 1t was the
common case with them all, and conse-
quently no more than he might have ex-
pected when he entered into the married
state. The young gentleman desired to be
eAtustu u ut Sdiu Ht WAS 81 uOul XIV
ing his assent to this assertion that he
thought himself more unhappy than any
other man, as his wife had spirit no way
to be queted, and most certainly no man
who had a sense of right or wrong could
ever submit to be governed by his wife.
"Son," said the old man, 'you are but lit
tie acquainted with the world if you do not
l., hat THAR bttq.
| bands, though not all indeed by the same
method however, 10 end all disputes be-
tween us, I will put what have said upon
this TO proof, if you are willing TO try it.
I have five horses in my stable you
shall harness these to a cart, in which
shall put basket containing 100 eggs and
| il, in passing through the country and
making strict inquiry into the truth oil
falsehood of my assertion, and leaving n
horse at the house Of every man who was
mast err of his family himself, and an egg
where the wife governs, you shall find
| 70 ur eggs gone before your horses, hope
that yuo will then think your own case moi
uncommon, but will lie contented TO &C
home and look upon your own wife rs ne
worse than her neighbors. If, on the other
hand, your horses are gone first, will
take my daughter home again and you
shall keep her fortune"
This proposal was too advantageous to bt
rejected. Our young married man there.
fore set out with great eaeerness.to get rid
as he thought of his horses and his wife
AT the first house be came 10 he heard 1
woman with shrill and angry voice cal
| to her husband to go TO the door. Here hi
left a n egg, you may be sure, without any
further inquiry. At the next house he me
with something of the same kind, ami a
every house, in short, until his eggs wer,
almost gone, when he arrived at the seat o
gentleman of family and figure in th,
country. He knocked at the door, and in
quiring for the master of the house, wa
told by servant that his master was no
yet stirring, but if he pleased to walk II
his lady was in the parlor.
The lady with great complaisance desir
ed him to be seated, and said if his bust
ness was urgent she would wake her hus
band but had much rather not disturb
him. "Why really, madam" said he
"my business is only TO ask question
which y on can resolve as well as your hus
band, if you will be ingenious with me
you will doubtless think ii odd, and !
may be impolite for any one, much more
stranger, TO ask such n question but as
wager depends upon it, and it may be som'
advantage TO yourself to declare the truth t
me, hope these considerations will plead
my excuse. 1t is, madam, my desire to bC
informed whether you govern your hus
band, or he rules over you.' "Indeed
SIR" replied the lady, this question /:
somewhat odd; but as l think no ont
ought to be ashamed of doing their duty
shall make no scruple to say that am al
ways proud TO obey my husband in al
things but if woman's word is TO b.
suspected in such a case, let him answer
for me, for here he comes"
The gentleman at this time entered th,
room, and after some apologies, being
made acquainted with the business, con
tirmed every word his obedient wife hat
reported in her own favor, upon which h
was requested 10 choose which horse in th'
team he liked BEST and to accept of it as
present.
A black gelding struck the fancy of thu
gentleman most, but the lady desired h'
would choose the gray mare, which sh'
thought would be very fit for her sidesad
die; her husband gave substantial reason
why the black horse would be the mos
useful to them, but madam still persisted
in her claim TO Il gray mare. "What,
sa id she, land will you not take her, then
But say you shall, for am sure the gray
mare is much The better horse" "WeIl
my DEAR" replied the husband, "lf 1t mus
be so" ''You must take an egg" re
piled the gentleman caller, "and mus
take all my horses back again, and endeav
or TO live happily with my wiie.-Neu
York Observer.
LAKE OKEECHoBEE.-This is the IndiaI