Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-05-14
ANEOD0TAL LITERATURE.
Contributed to tie Independent
by W, G.

TIE GREY MARE THE BETTER HORSE.
This well-known proverbial say
ing originated from the following
circumstance
An English gentle man having
married young lady of eonsidera-
BILE fortune, and possessed of great
charms, found soon after marriage
that she was of q high and domineer
ing temper-always contending to
be mistres in every respect. He de-
teimined TO part from her, send her
to her father and return every pen.
ny Of her fortune.
The old gentleman, learning the
cause, asked him why he should be-
more disquieted about it than any
other married man, since 1t was the
common case with them all, and no
more than he might have expected
in married life. The young man,
however, did not sgree with the old
gentleman. He thought himself
more unhappy than any other man
as his wife had spirit no way TO be
quelled, and no man who had sense
of right and wrong could ever sub
NIT TO be thus governed by his wife.
Son. said the old man, "you are.
but little acquainted with the world,
if you do not know that all women
govern their husbands, though no
all in the same way. However, to
settle the matter, / will make a test
of it. I have five horses in my sta
BILE you shall harness these to a
cart in which | shall put basket
containing hundred eggs and if,
in passing through the country after
making inquiry, you find the hus-
band is master of his wife and fam.
| lily, you will leave horse, and an
! egg where you find the wife govern
ing the family. You will find, if |
mistake not, that your eggs will be
| gone before your horse, and in that
case you will think your case not
uncommon, but will be contented TO
go home and not consider your wife
vny worse than others. II on the
contrary your horses are gone FIRST
l will take Iy daughter home again,
and you shall keep her fortune.'
This proposal was too just and
advantageous to be declined. Our
young married man therefore set out
with great eagerness, to get rid, as
he thought, of his horses and his
wife.
At the first house he came to he
heard a woman with shrill voice
and angry tone bid her husband to
| go to the door. Here he left an egg,
you may be sure, without any further
inquiry. At the next house, he met
with something OF the same kind, at
the third he overheard an alter
cation between man and wife, at the
fourth he heard the wife. threaten
her husband that she would leave
him If he did not take or send her
to spend her summer at the sea-
shore. In short, at every house he
saw and heard enough to leave an
egg, until they were nearly all gone,
At last he arrived at the seat OF
gentleman of prominence. He
knocked at the door, and inquired
for the master of the house. lie
was told by servant that his mas
ter was not yet stirring, but the lady
would receive him in the parlor.
She received him with great COM
plaisance and desired him to be
seated and she would call her hus
band. "Why, really madam said
he, "my business ID only to ask a
question, which you can answer as
readily as your husband. You
doubtless will think it odd, and il
may be deemed impolite; but as Q
very considerable wager depends
upon it, and it may be of some ad
vantage to you. plead this as an
excuse. 1t is, madam, my desire to
be informed whether you govern
your husband, or he rules over you
'Indeed sir" replied the lady
"this question is somewhat odd; but
as no one ought to be ashamed o.
doing their duty, am proud to say
that ! always obey my husband il
ell things. But here comes my hos
band. He can sanction what have
said" Being made acquainted will
the business; he confirmed every
word his obedient wife had said upon
which be was requested to choose
which horse he liked best, and to &C
cept it as present, in view Of his
wife's perfect obedience.
A beautiful black horse struck th,
fancy Of the gentleman. but the lad
desired he would choose the gree
mare which would be very fit TO
, her side saddle. Her husband CAV
good reasons why the black hors'
! would be most useful TO them, Blu
madam persisted in her claim to th'
grey mare. "What I" said che, aant
, viii you not take her tben But
say you shall, for am sure the gre.
) mare is much the better horse.
well, my DEAR" replied the hus.
band, "if it must be So" Hold
you must take an egg" exclaime,
the gentleman, "and | must take al