The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-06-06
ZECHARIAH HODGDON AND HIS


Zechariah Hodgdon was not naturally
an ill natured man. 1t was want of re-
Election more than corrupt and ungen-
erous heart that led him to consider his
wife in the light of an inferior being,
and to treat her more like a slave than
an equal. If he met with anything
abroad to ruffie his temper, his wife was
sure to suffer when he came home. His
meals were always i'll cooked and what.
ever the poor woman did to please him
was sure to have a contrary effect. She
bore his ill-humor in silence for a long
time, but finding it to increase. she
adopted method of reproving him for
his unreasonable conduct which had the
happiest effect.
One day, as Zechariah was going to
his daily avocation after breakfast, be
purchased large Goldfish and sent it
home, with directions to his wife to
it cooked for dinner. AS no particular
mode of cooking was described the good
woman well knew that whether she
boiled it or fried it or made it into stew,
her husband would scold her when he
came home. But she resolved to please
him for once, if possible, and therefore
cooked portions of it in several ways.
She also, with some little difficulty, pro-
cured an amphibious animal from a
brook at the back of the house and put
II into the pot. In due time her hus-
band came home-some covered dishes
were placed on the table. and with a
frowning, fault-finding look the moody
man commenced the conversation.
"Well. wife, did you get the fish l
bought ?"
"Yes, my dear"
81 should like to know how you have
cooked it-I will bet anything that you
have spoiled it for my eating (Taking
off the cover.) l thought so. Why in
the world did you fry il ? | would as
lief eat boiled frog"
why, my dear, thought you loyed
il best fried"
"You did not think any such thing.
| You know better. | never loved fried
fish-why didn't you boil it p
my dear, the last time we had fish
you know boiled it, and you said you
liked it better fried. l did it merely to
please you; but have boiled some also. "
So saying, she lifted a cover, and 10
the shoulders OF the cod, nicely boiled,
we're neatly deposited on dish; a sight
which would have made an epicure re-
joice, but which only now added to the
Immature of her husband.
"a pretty dish this - exclaimed he.
"Boilded fish Chips and porridge ! II
you had not been one of the most stupid
of womankind you would have made it
into stew"
His patient wife, with a smile, imme-
diately placed tureen before him con-
tanning an excellent stew.
my dear" said she, Il was resolved
to please you There is your favorte
dish"
"Favorite dish. indeed r. grumbled
the disconsolate husband: 81 dare say it
Is an unpSlatablr, wishy- washy mess. |
would rather have had boiled frog
than the whole of it,"
This was common EXPIRE sslOn OF his,
and had been anticipated by his wife,
pressed, uncovered large dish at her
husbands right arm, and there was a
bull-frog Of portentious dimensions and
pugnaciOus aspect stretched out at
full length. Zachariah sprang from biz
chair not little frightened at the unex'
pected appari'ion.
my dear" said his wife, in a kind,
entreating manner, II hope you will at
length be able 10 make dinner"
Zechariah could not stand this. His
surly mood was overcome and he burst
into hearty laugh. He acknowledge
his wife was right, declared she should
not again have reason to complain of
him, and kept bis word. The S,rOrd and
| TrOUeI.