Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-30
THE CANTANKEROUS WIFE.


a FOlk-Tale from the Russian,
In old times, in the government OF Novgo-
rod, there lived wife on such bad terms
with her husband that she became a proverb
in her neighborhood. No matter what he
said, she was sure to take the opposite
ground. II he told her to get up early and
prepare his breakfast, she would lie in bed
without stirring for three long days. if he
said, "COme, now, my dear, it's time for you
to go to sleep" she would stay awake, talk
ing all the while, till daybreak. Once, when
the poor ventured to ask her to make
some pancakes, she few into rage, and
cried,
Pancakes, you thief you don't deserve
pancake"
can right, my love don't make pancakes,
then, il don't deserve them" he answered.
oh so meekly.
I'D like to know who is 10 keep me from
cooking what please in my own house, she
screamed at this. Pancakes I'm going TO
make, q good two-gallon potful, and you
shall eat them every one"
So for once the poor husband got his fill of
pancakes, but luck was not always on his
side.
Things went from bad to worse, until at
last the man took to wandering in the woods,
afraid to set his foot upon the threshold of
his home. One day, while picking few
berries to sppease his hunger, he pushed
aside bush. and there beneath it saw pit
apparently bottomless An idea came to
| him. 1t he we're to put his wife into the pit,
might not it teach her good lesson 2 SO,
returning home, he plucked up courage
enough to address her in pleasant tone:
| 'If l we're you, wife, l wouldn't go into
the wood to pick berries. 1t really is not
safe there"
''Safe, you bugbear What is that to you?
l can take care of myself, 1 think. I'll go
into the wood this very day"
"Well, CO. if you must my love; but on
no account go near the great big currant
bush I've marked with white stone at the
root"
You want to keep all the currants for
yourself, you greedy brute, cried the cap
tious wife. "Be sure I'll have my share"
So saying, she ran out into the woods like
mad creature, never resting until she had
picked and eaten all the fruit from the cur
rant bush marked with white stone at the
| root. AS she picked the last bunch the greedy
creature leaned over to see if none remained
on the far side of the bush. Over she went,
headlong into the pit, and the last words her
husband heard from her were these "On,
when get out, won't /"
The rest he fortunately could not under
stand, owing to the rapidity of the lady's
disappearance Returning home jOyfully,
he made feast of every good thing to eat
he could discover in the cupboard. Climb
ing up on the stove he stretched his legs out
for a comfortable nap, but not until after he
had enjoyed a grand smoke, the like of which
he had not known since the day his honey
moon set in. After three days of rest that
seemed like heaven, the man resolved to go
and find out how matters were progressing
in the pit. Taking long cord, he let it
down into the aperture, and by and-by he
felt something tugging at the end of it.
There she is the poor dear creature
sprghtly as ever l recognize her vicious
way of jerking. thought she could stand
three days of it."
In high spirits, be began hauling in the
line and soon brought to view, not his
spouse, but little black demon. wriggling
tremendously. frightened out of his wits,
the peasant was about to cast the imp back
where it came from, but the creature wept
bitterly, entreating him not to do so.
Don't send me home again, peasant; let
me out, if you have any mercy. Home is no
longer home down yonder since size made her
appearance. Three days ago a scoldng wom-
an fell down there and since then we are all
! utterly worn out with her. Only let me stay
on EARTH and I'll promise to do you good
turn"
"Then she's no better?" cried the alarmed
man.
"worse. if possible, said the imp. ''she
does nothing but talk of what she will do
when she catches you again"
perhaps it is as we'll not to disturb her"
answered the husband, Fastening away from
the mouth of the pit. The imp, well pleased,
trotted at his heels and as they walked, pro-
posed to his benefactor a business partner
: ship.
Suppose we go together to the town of
Vologda. I'll take to tormerting folks, and
you shall cure them. Whet say you, peas =
:, ant? Can't you see money in the scheme ? ,
The peasant, after cogtating awhile agreed
: to the proposition. When they reached a
. fine house belonging to merchant who had
u a wife and several daughters, the imp insin-
. uated himself through the key-hole of the
" door, and fell to playing tricks upon the
= women, which fairly drove them crazy. The
y y doctor of the village came, and all the old
. gossips gathered around the house. But
. nothing could be thought of to relieve the
a possessed women, till finally our friend the
u u peasant dressed like a venerable man, pre-
. sented himself upon the threshold, offering
y to drive away the evil spirit In despair, the
J. people allowed him to see the patients when
. 10 at the first sound of the new conner 8
= voice the afflicted ones became quiet and sub
% missive. In the end he succeeded in curing
y them entirely so effectuslly putting to flight
u the fend that his grateful hosts loaded him
10 with money, and fed him on pies and beer
This enterprise, repeated from house to
a. house, soon filed the pockets of the partners.
They were obliged to hide away the gold that
% came to them in bsgfuls At last, one day,
70 the imp who was getting little uppish, re-
marked to his friend the peasant;
ID ''It seems to me that you've made money
enough by this time I've about made up
,p my mind to leave the firm, and give up busi
], ness altogether. Now I'll agree to let you
q have all the gold, If you'll promise not tc
ID drive me away from the next person l take
possession of. It's time was having little
he fun upon my own account"
be The next thing that was heard of was the
u illness of the Boyar's daughter, the beauty
s- of the town. She was quite out of her mind
'al they said, threatening to eat everybody who
came into her presence.
BY 80 that's what you are up to, my lad,
le said the peasant, suspectiug the absent imp
He went to the Boyar's house, where he wa
greeted joyfully.
"Can you cure my poor daughter ?" asked
the unhappy Boyar. Promising to do his
T. best, the pretended physician told the Boya
Of to assemble all the towns people together will
o. the coachmen of the place, in the street out
,ss side the house. Moreover, he gave order
Ie that at a given signal from the window of tn
~ sick room the coachmen should all crack thei
- whips aud the people should cry out as b
lis directed. This done, he went into room
"; where the Boyar's beautiful daughter flew a
h him, biting and swapping. Opening the win
y dow, he gave the signal, when instantly aros
T. tumult of shouts and cries from without
|
Aid cantankerous wife has come!"
err On hearing this, the imp rushed out of th
nd Boyar's daughter, and appeared before th
a." peasant, with his hair standing straight upo
his head, his eyes staring wide with terror.
nee ut can't te true, peasant She hasn't n
lief ally come here?'
his Louder and louder arose the cries, 18th
a." eantankerous wife has come !"
the "Where can l take refuge, peasant
It," screamed the imp, now thoroughly overcon
ere with fear.
''Alas, my poor friend, know not, unle
lille you go back TO the pitt" said the peasan
oy, 'It is certain she won't wish to return there
low 'Good-by," cried the imp, aud was OF Ill
Re a flash to the pit, and to the company OF Il
ter oantankerous wife also since she never can
use back to the earth, not even when the peasa
ing welded the Boyar's pretty daughter. -Ha
pers Bazar.