Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-12-06


with respect to our second daughter Jane, |
aud 'to hear was to obey as they say at
Bussora.
"Mv dear Simpson," said l, as we were
cracking our walnuts together after little
dinner under my own roof, 81 often wonder
why II man like you, with large income and
a fine house, as you describe your home TO oe
in Bussorn, has never married 1t must be
rather wretched living out there all alone"
"Well it would be, no doubt, said Simp-
son in his quiet way. "But Lord bless you!
I've been married these twenty years.
You might have knocked me down with a
feather. Married these twenty years You
astound me. Why, how was it you never
spoke about it p
"Oh, don't know; 1 thought it wouldn't
interest you. She was a Persian, you know.
II she had been European, then l should
have told you"
"a Persian wife! Dear me-" said l. chow
funny it seems." l said funny" but at the
same time all the suspicious that entertain
ed Cand now entertain more than ever re-
spesting travellers and persons who nbjure
civilization crowded into my mind. Now,
what color, my dear Simpson, if may put
the question without impertinence, are your
children z"
well we've got no children" said Simp-
son. in his usual imperturbable tone. We
| never had any
don't know why, but somehow or other
| l thought this creditable to Simpson. 1t was
very wrong in him to have married a Persian,
perhaps a fire-worshipper, or at Lest Mo
! hammedan, but it was a comfort to think
that the evil had so to speak, stopped there.
| To think of Simpson with a heap of part-
colored children, protesting, perhaps their
mothers outlandish faith as they grew up,
would have been painful to me in connection
! with the fact that Simpson was at that no
| ment under my roof, the same roof with my
wife aud daughters, and that was the
church warden Of our district church. for
sook at once the particular subject Of Simp-
sons wife to discuss the general subject OF
poygamy.
THE Persians have more wives than one
have they not?' inquired l.
.'Those who can afford it have" said he (;
'but it is not 10 usual rs you may imagine.
Il need not ask how profigate "A syst'-m
must needs work, l said. 1T is dom's
| failure of course y
.sYou need not ask the question, II, you
say" replied Simpson, cracking walnut
.'But if You do ak, am bound to say il is
so far like marriage in this country-it Is
sometimes domestic failure and sometimes
not Perhaps it requires more Judgment in
selection; you have not only to please yonr-
sclf, you know, but to please your other
wives"
Goodness gracons :" said I, ''how eoOlly
You talk about it. l hope no European who
happens to be resident in this strange com
muuity ever gives in to the custom Z:
"Some do and some don't" was the reply
of Simpson II lived in Persia with one
wife fifteen years be fore gave in
what You married second wife, your
first wife being alive
.'Just So" was the unabashed rrjonder.
Simpson swept the walnut shells into cor
ner Of his plate, and helped himself to sher-
nv. Il have now four wives.
BLESS my soul and body y said l. -Four
wives -
"Ycs. The story of my little Rta1ge may
seem in your ears rather curious. If 1t vii
not bore yoa, I'll tell you about it"
had no words to decline the offer, even Il
I wished it. My breath was fairly taken away
by Simpsons four wives. The traveller tia
had liked his food uncooked had given m'
rather n turn, but that was nothing to thu
revelation of my present companion man VI
, had always considered of the highest I''spec
liability, and who my wife had even though
would have suited our Jane.
. "Well, it was at n picnic party ON TN
plains near Bussora that the thing first cani
about Ny wife and | were both present a
+ it and my European notions preventing IL.
believing there could be the least misunder
standing about it since was already married
| | made myself very agreeable to Il certaii
, Persian lady She was neither young no
pretty-just what my wife herself, indeed
had grown to be by this time-and no NOR
thought of making her my number two tha
dear me -ofembracing Mohammedanism
, | NV attentions. however, were misconstrued
= and. her brother, being a violent man in tn
. Shah's cavalry, and knowing l had fairs
= income. insisted upon my becoming hi
= brother-in-law | believe Irish marriage
| are often brought about in the same way, b
a there was nothing in that the peculiarly {
= the case lay in my having a wife already, AN
II | one who was very resOlute indeed to preVel
my having another. | spare you the trout
- les that ensued. Between my number on
!. ! wife Oh the one hand, and her sharp tongue
a aud the officer of Spahis ON the other, Wit
- his sharp sword, | was placed in very III
= pleasant position, l promise you but in Il
~ | end | married Khaleda. l am sorry to s'
p, | the two ladies got on extremely Ill togethe
\, 1t was said by n great English wit that whe
t, ones wife gets to be forty, one ought to be a
Ia lowed to change her for two twenties, ike
, forty-pound note but, unhappily, had no
~ two wives, each forty, if they were da
and there was no prospect OF getting the
-, changed or parting from them in any way
- "Pironzc and Khaleda led me Il most III
=, happy life. They quarrelled from morniI
-. till night, and so far from being able to pl'
;, of one against the other, as l had secret
M hoped l was treated with great unkindne
ar hy both of them. They were matter
m very considerable expense, of course, al
81 very little satisfaction. My position, IN ta'
i, became intolerable and as l could plea
NV neither of them, l resolved to please mys'
a. by marrying number three"
ar "A twenty. l suppose 7" said interested
~ spte of myself in this remarkable narratio
10 s'Wen, yes that is, she would have be
w. a twenty in England, but in Persia young
dies marry Il good deal earlier. She was
"a charming or, ature and cost me
ms What did you buy her" cried l, IN
IS touishment and horror
rs ''Well, no. not exactly; her father howe
ay er, insisted upon something handsome, a
~ there were heavyish fees to be paid to
10 mother and sisters, and TO the Governor
'in Bussora. The custom of the country is Gu
49, 49, GUS in that respect After ones second W
~ n considerable tax is levied by the govei
va ment upon marrying men. However, BadC
mo- IA was worth all the money; she sang, s
or played divinely; that is, she would la
i. done so if she had not always been cryiI
Pirouze and Khaleda made her life utte
ma miserable Hitherto they had been at di
Tvs gers drawn with one another, but now IL
-, united together to persecute the unhap
lnr Radoura. Her very life was scarcely 8
In with them. Wretched as my former lot /
- been. il was now become uncomfortable,
are one can bear ones own misery better IL
ian that of those we love"
cai Here Simpson took out his handkerchief
emit a beautiful Persian pattern, and pressed II
md his eyes. Eyes, my dear friend, they led
of Badoura "a dogs life-did those two wom
ned l felt myself powerless to protect her, 10
nv was never physically strong; and thoug
fnr did not understand one-hah of the epith
ala- showered upon her, l could see by the eff
ey, they had upon her that they were most IL
re-. rions-what / have no doubt would in
S a country be considered aetionable. For
IRA. however, there was no remedy, and tn
and she would have sunk under their perseeut
ALL had not married Aobelde. ,cr,
Ty- Number four Grleu aShas''
tri | Ou earth did YOU do tlat 1Of