The daily gazette., 1876-01-24
THE GRAY MARE.

|
said of a woman who governs her hus-
band. The origin of this phrase is
given as follows in Addison's Anec-
dotes, 1904:
"a gentleman in a certain county
in England, having married young
lady of considerable fortune, and many
other charms, yet finding in a very
short time, that she was of a high
domineering spirit, and always con-
tending to be mi1tress of himself and
his family, he was resolved to part
with her. Accordingly, he went to
her father and tod him he found his
daughter of such temper, and was so
heartily tired of her, that if he would
take her home again, he would cheer
fully return every penny OF her for
tune.
The old gentleman having inquired
into the the cause of the complaint,
asked him, why he should be more dis.
gusted at it than any other married
man, since it was TIE common case
with them all, and consequently, no
more than he ought to have expected
when he entered into the married
state. The young gentleman desired
to be excused, ii he said he was so far
from giving his assent to this asser-
tion, that he thought himself more
unhappy than any other man, as his
wife had spirit no way to be quelled;
and as most certainly no man, who
had sense of right and wrong, could
ever submit to be governed by his
wife. Son, said the old man, you
are but little acquainted with tie
world, ii you do not know that all
women govern their husbands, though
not all indeed by the same method; /;
however, to end all disputes between
US, will put what have said to this
proof, if you are willing to try it.
,have five horses in my stable, you
shall harness these to cart, in which
| will put basket containing one
hundred eggs; and if, in passing
through the country, and making a
strict inquiry into the truth or false
hood of my assertion, and leaving a
horse at the house of every man who
is master OF his family himself. and
an egg where the wife governs, you
. will find your eggs gone before your
Q horses, l hope you will then think
your own case not uncommon, but
will be contented to go home, anc
look upon your own wife as no worse
than her neighborg. If on the othe;
hand, your holses are gone first,
will take my daughter home again
and you shall keep her fortune
The proposal was too adv n geou
to be rejected; our young married
: man, therefore, set out with grea
is cagerness to get rid, as he thought, o.
10 his horses and wife,
n At the first house he come to, Ii,
10 heard woman withla shrill and angr,
g voice, call to her husband to 20 1,
n the door. Here he left an egg, yo,
IF may be sure, without making any fur
> ther inquiry; at the next he met will
7. something of the same kind; and q
le every house in short, until his egg
10 were almost gone, when he arrived a
N the house of gentleman of famil,
and figure in the country, he kaocket
al at the door and inquired for the mas
" yv ter OF the house, and was told by tn,
" servant that his master was not We
stirring, but if he pleased 10 walk in
his lady was in the parlor. The lad)
with much complaisance, desired hin
8 to seat himself, and said if his busines
le was very urgent, she would wake he
=, husband and let him know it, but haC
/. much rather not disturb him. Why
really, madam, said he, my business
is only to ask question, which yo,
can solve as well as your husband, i
you will be ingenious with me. Yol
will doubtless think it odd, and
may be deemed impolite for any one
much more stranger, to ask such
IS question; bat as very considerable
! wager depends upon it, and it may b.
= some advantage to yourself to declare
e the truth to me. hope these consider
= ations will plead my excuse. 1t is
l. madam, L desire to be informed
= whether you govern your husband, o.
e he rules over your Indeed, sir, re-
!, piled the lady, this question is some
r what odd, but as think no one ought
G to be ashamed OF doing their duty,
G shall make no scruple to say that
a have been always proud to obey my
n husband in all things; but if a woman's
: own word is to be suspected IN such q
4 case, let him answer for me, for lerl
i. he comes
The gentleman at that moment en-
tering the room, and, after some apollo
gies, being made acquainted with the
| bueiuCSot COHuTnCu every WOIQ HIS
:. obedient wife had reported in her own
II favor, upon which he was invited tc
choose which horse in the team he
liked best, and to accept of it as apres
ent.
A black gliding struck the fancy OF
the gentleman most, but his wife de.
sired he would choose the gray mare.
which she thought would be very fit
for her side saddle; her husband gave
substantial reasons why the black
horse would be most useful to them,
but madam still persisted in her claim
to the gray mare. What, said she,
'and will you not take her then? But l
say you shall, for am sure the gray
mare is much the better horse We'll,
my dear, replied the husband, if it
must be So You must take an
egg replied the gentleman carter,
and | must take all my horses back
again, and endeavor to live happy
with my Wife
| A TnntnnnU Ia, Na..,