The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-04-26
CONJUGAL,.
HISTORY OF A FAMILIAR PROVERB
Origin OF the Grey Mares being the bet
ter Horse.

ter Horse.
A Gentleman of certain County in Eng
land, having married young Lady of con-
siderable Fortune, and with many other
Charms, yet finding, i'll very short Time,
that she was of Il high domineering Spirit,
and always contending to be Mistress of
him and his Family, he was resolved to part
with her. Accordingly, he Went to her
Father, and told him, he found his Daughter
of such a Temper, and was 50 heartily tired
of her that, if he would take her to her
Home again, he would return every Penny
of her Fortune.
The old Gentleman having "nqured into
the Cause of his Complaint, asked him,
why he should be more disluietctl at il
than any ether married Man. since it was
the common Case with them all, and con-
Sequently no more than he ought to have
expected when he entered into the Marriage
State?" The young Gentleman desired to
I've excused, if he said he was 80 far from
giving his Assent to this Assertion, that he
thought himself more unhappy than any
utlier Man, as his Wife had a Spirit no Way
To be quelle,i; and as most certainly no Man
who had Il 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 the World, if you do not
know that all Woman govern their Hus-
bands though not all, indeed, hy the same
Methoa however, to end all dispute be-
this Proof, if You are willing to try it:
have five Horses, or fur HnrSes and Mare,
in my Stainless you shall harness these to IA
Cart in which shall put a Basket contain
ing One Hundred Egg; and if in passing
through the Country. and makng:l strict
Enquiry into the Truth or Falsehood of my
Assertion, and leaving Horse at the House
of every Man who is Master of his Family
himself, and an Egg only where the Wife
governs, you find your Eggs gone before
your Horses, l hope YOU will then think
your own Case not uncommon, but will be
conteuted to 90 Home, and look upon your
own Wife as no worse than her Neghbors.
II OH 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 be
rejected; our young married Man, therefore,
set out with great Eagerness to get rid, ~
he thought, of his Horses and His Wife.
At the the first House he came to, he
heard a Woman, with a shrill an,l angry
Voice, call to har Husband to gn to the
noori Here no left an Egg, you may I've
sure, without making any further Enquiry;
at the next he met with something of the
same Kind: and at every House, in short,
until his Eggs were almost gone; when he
arrived at the Seat Of n Gentleman OF
Family and Figure III the County: He
knocked at the Door, and inquired for the
Master of the House, was told by the Ser
want that his Master was not yet stirring,
but, if he pleased TO walk in, his Lady was
in the parlor. The Lady. with great Com
plaisance, desired him to seat himself, and
said if his Business was very urgent, she
would wake her spouse III let him know it,
lut hlVtH Hot 'iSttl - 'lIH-
" why, really, Madam" said he, my
Business is only to ask Il Question, which
you can resolve Il; well rs your Husband, if
you will be ingenious with me: You will,
doubtless, think it odd, and it may de deem
ed impolte for any one, much more a
Stranger, to ask such a Question, but as Il
very considerabl" Wager depends upon it,
and it may be Of some Advantage IL yourself
to declare the Truth TO NE, | hope these
Considerations will plead my Excuse. 1t is
Madam, my desire to he informed whether
you govern your Husband, or he rules over
ynu?" " Indeed, Sir, (replicd the Laly)
thi.; Question is somewhat odd, but, as
think no one ought TO be ashamed of doing
thar | have been always proud to obey my
Husband iii all Things, but, if a Woman's
own Word is to H. suspected in such Case,
let him answer for me, for here l,e comes
The Gentleman al that moment entering
lii" lsoo,n, and after some Apologies, being
made acquainted with the business, con-
trlncd every Word his ohedient Wife re-
ported in her own Favor; upon which he
was invited to choose which Horse in the
Team he liked best, and to accept of it rs a
Present.
a black Gelding struck the Fancy Of tie
Gentleman MUST, hut the Lady desired he
would choose the gray Mare, which she
thought would I've very tit for the Side sad
die, irr 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, Rut say
YOU shall ,iof / ans sHiH die gray Mre is
ia",h fi.e better Horse. -" Well, my dear,
(rerlied the Husband) if it must be SO -
g You must take an Egg (replyed the Cen
tleman Carter) as must take all my Horses
back again, and rndeavour 10 live happy
with my Wife