Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-04-26
zeohariah Hodsson and His Wife.

Zechariah Hodgson was not natur-
ally an ill-natured man. 1t was want
of reflection more than corrupt and
ungenerous heart that led him TO con-
slider his wife in the light of an in
ferior being, and to treat her more
like 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 whatever the
poor woman did to please him was
sure to have a contrary effect. She
bore his ill-humor in silence for long
time, but finding it to increase, she
adopted a method of feproving him
for his unreasonable conduct, which
had the happiest effect.
One day, as Zechariah was going to
his daily avocation after breakfast, he
purchased large Goldfish and sent it
home, with directions to his wife to
have it cooked for dinner. As no par
ticular mode of cooking was described
the good woman well knew that wheth-
er she boiled it, or fried it, or made
it into stew, her husband would scold
her when he came home. But she re-
solved to please him for once, if pos
sible, and therefore cooked portions OF
it in several different ways. She also,
with some little difficulty, procured
an amphibious animal from a brook
at the back of the house and put it
into the pot, In due time her hus-
band came home-sOme covered dish
es were placed on the table, and with
frowning, fault finding look the
moody man commenced the converse
ton.
"Well, wife, did you get the fish |
bought"
eyes, my dear"
81 should like to know how you
have cooked it will bet anything
that you have spoiled it for my eating.
Taking off the cover.) Thought so.
Why in the world did you fry it? |
would as lief eat a boiled frog"
"Why, my dear, l thought you
loved it best fried"
"You did not think any snch thing.
You know better. / never loved fried
fsh-why didn't you boil it,"
"My dear, the last time we had fish
you know | boiled it, and you said you
liked it better fried. / did it merely
to please you; but l have boiled some
also" So saying, she lifted cover,
and 10! the shoulders of the cod, nice
ly boiled, were neatly deposited on a
dish; a sight which would have made
an epicure rejoice, but which only now
added to the i'll nature of her husband.
GA pretty dish this" exclaimed he.
''Boiled fish! Chips and porridge! If
you had not been one Of the most stu
pid of womankind you would have
made it into a stew"
His patient wife, with smile, inn
mediately placed a tureen before him
containing an excellent stew.
"My DEAR" said she, 81 was resell
we'd to please you. There is your
favorite dish"
"Favorite dish, indeed" grumbled
the disconsolate husband; 81 dare say
it is an unpalatable, wishy washy mess.
| would rather have had a boiled frog
than the whole of it.
This was a common expression of
his, and had been anticipated by his
wife, who as soon as the preference
was expressed, uncovered large dish
at her husbands right arm, and there
was a bull-frog Of portentous dimen-
sions and pugnacious aspect stretched
out at full length! Zechariah sprung
from his chair not little frightened
at the unexpected apparition.
"My DEAR" said his wife, in kind,
entreating manner, 81 hope you will
at length be able to make dinner"
Zechariah could not stand this.
His surly mood was overcome and he
burst into a hearty laugh. He ac-
knowledged his wife was right, de-
clared she should not again have rea-
son to complain Of him and kept his
word.
For the delicate and aged and all in whom
the vital current is impoverished and slug
glish, Ayers Sarsaparilla is the very best
tonic. 1t restores the waste tissues, and i'm
parts to the system surprising elasticity and
vigor Price ST. Worth S. bottle.