The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-04-30
THE CANTANKEROUs WIFE.
\ Foll.-taic from the Russian of Alan
sief.

sief
In old times, in the government of
Novgorod, there lived wife on such
bad terms with her husband that she
became proverb in her neighborhood.
No matter what he said she was sure to
take the opposite ground. If 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. its time for you
to go TO sleep" She would stay awake,
talking all the while, till daybreak.
Once, when the poor man ventured to
ask her TO make some pancakes, she
flew into rage. and cried:
Pancakes, you thief You don't de-
serve pancake"
''All right, my love; don't make pam
cakes. then, if don't deserve them," he
answered, oh! so meekly.
I'D like to know who is TO keep me
from cooking what please in my own
house, she screamed Mt this. PAN
cakes I'm going to make, and 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 EAST 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 appease his
hunger, he pushed aside bush appar-
emily bottomless. An idea came to him.
If he were to put his wife into the pit
might it not teach her lessonp So, re-
turning home, he plucked up courage to
address her in pleasant tone:
"If were you, wife, l wouldn't 90 in
to the woods TO pick berries. 1t really Is
not safe there"
safe, you bugbear! What is that to
You? / can take care of myself,
think. I'll 60 into the woods this very
day."
''Well, go if you must. my love; but
on no account go near the 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 captious 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 currant bush
marked with white stone ut the root.
As she picked the last bunch the greedy
creature leaned over to see il none re-
NAMED 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: ''Oh, when / get out, wont
II
The rest he fortunately could not I'M
derstand, owing to the rapidity of the
lady's disappearance. Returning home
joyfully, he made a feast of every good
thing to eat he could discover in the
cupboard. Climbing up on the stove, he
stretched his legs out for comfortable
nap, but not until after he had enjoyed
grand smoke, the like of,which he had
not known since the day his honeymoon
set in. After three days of rest that
seemed like heaven; the man resolved to
60 out and find how things were pro-
crossing in the pit. Taking long cord.
he let.it down into the aperature, and
by and by he felt something Juggling at
the end of il.
There she is! the poor, dear creature
--sprightly as ever! | recognize her
vicious way of jerking. thought she
could stand three days of it."
In high spirits he 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 wcpt bitterly, cntreating
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 she made her appearance. Three
days ago scolding woman 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 n GOOD