The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-06-27
A GOLDFISH FOR DINNER.

L1Sbdiidli llouSSOu was HOt hdtuId>
lily an ilnatured man. 1t was want of
reflection, more than a corrupt or un-
generous heart that led him TO consi-
der his wife in the light of an inferior
being, and TO treat her more like
slave than an equal. If he met with
anything abroad to ruffle his temper,
his wife was sure to suffer when he
came home. His meals were always
i'll cooked, and whatever the poor wo-
man did to please him was sure to have
a contrary effect. She bore his i'll
humor in silence for long time, but,
finding ii increasing, she adopted a
method. OF. reproving him which had
the happiest effect.
One day, as Zachariah was gong to
his daily avocation after breakfast,
he purchased large Goldfish and S
it home, with directions to his wife >.
have it cooked for dinner. AS no
particular mode of cooking was de-
scribed, the good woman 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 tor once, if
possible, and therefore cooked portions
of 1t in several ways. She also, with
some difficulty, procured an amphibi-
Gus animal from brook at the back of
the house and put it into the pot.
In due time her husband came home.
Some covered dishes were paced on
the table, and with a frowning, fault
finding look, the moody man COM
menced the conversation
Well, wife, did you get the fish ]
boughtp
Yes, my dear.
should like to know how you have
cooked it. / will bet anything that
you have spoiled it for my eating.
(taking of the cover). l thought so.
Why in the world did you fry it. l
would as lief eat boiled frog.
Why, my dear, l thought you liked
it best fred.
You did not think any such thing.
You knew better. never liked fried
fish. Why didn'tyou boil it'
My dear, the last time we had fish
you know | boiled it, and you said
YOU liked it better fred. l did 1t
merely to please you but have boil.
ed some also" So saying, she lifted a
cover, and 10 the shoulders of the
cod, nicely boiled, were neatly depo-
sited on a dish ; sight which would
have made an epicure rejoice, but
which now only 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
stupid of womankind you would have
made it into stew"
His patient wife, with smile, i'm.
mediately placed before him a tureen
containing an excellent stew.
My dear, l was resolved to please
you. There is your favorite dish.
"Favorlte dish, indeed !" grumbled
the discomfited husband | dare say it
is an unpalatable, wishy washy mess.
l would rather have boiled frog than
the whole of it.
This was a common expression OF
bis and had been anticipated Ey his
wife, who, as soon as the preference
was expressed, uncovered large dish
at her husbands right arm, and there
was bull frog of portentious dimen-
sions and pugnacious aspect. stretched
out at full length Zachariah sprang
from his chair not a little startled al
the unexpected apparitior.
"My DEAR" said his wife, in kind,
entreating manner, 81 hope you will be
able to make dinner at last"
Zachariah could not stand this. His
surly mood was overcome, and he burst
mic a hearty laugh. He acknowledged
his wife was right, declarreedd t4at that s. she
should not again have reason to COM
plain of him, and kept his word.