Year: 1859

before the eggs are exhausted, you are at liber-
ty to return my daughter; and l will receive
her according to your wish; but if the eggs
should first be disposed of, you must return the
remaining horses to me and keep your wife,
treating her well, satisfied that you are only
sharing the lot of nearly all men who have en-
tered the married state.


This proposition seemed so highly favorable
that it was at once accepted by the dissatisfied
son-in-aw, and the horses and eggs were forth
with consigned to his charge, when he commen-
ced his tower of investigation concerning mat
rimonial rule


At the first house at which he called, he heard
the wife ordering her husband to open the door
to see what was wanted. He gave the obedient
man an egg for his trouble, and without waiting
to explain the transaction, took his departure
for the next house. Here upon making inqui-
ry for the husband, the wife said =


81 sent him to the grocery for some articles,
but if you will sit down and wait few minutes
he will be in, for ! told him not to stay talking
with any one by the way, but to hurry back as
fast as he could. The inquirer, however, de-
clned waiting, and left with the astonished
woman an egg.


At the next place he found the gentleman a.
bout leaving home, and his wife in no very dull
Get tones instructing him not to bring any one
home to dinner, as she expected her milliner to
call and receive directions regarding her new
bonnet, and could not give attention to company.
No further investigation was made, but an egg
was laid at her door.


At each succeeding house the result was the
same and more than half the eggs were gone,
and as yet no opportunity had occurred for leav
ing horse, when brighter prospect appeared
about to open.


Arriving at respectable mansion, he was in
fnrn, n1 that tho Upp "a ont but wa py-
pected to return momentarily; and he was in
vited to await his return with so much affability
by the lady, that he took the liberty of stating
to her that he hoped she would excuse what
might appear to be an impertincnt inquiry, but
he was desirous of ascertaining whether she or
her husband exercised the prerogative of gov
ernment in the house and in their relations as
husband and wife, assuring her that cogent rea-
sons alone prompted the inquiry, and that in
answering it they might be benefited, but
would not suffer any detriment or injury.


The lady blushed and expressed surprise at
such an inquiry, but stated that it had always
pecn her pleasure to defer to the wishes of her
husband, and to give her consent and concur
renee to his acts; and she was happy to say that
he never exacted any compliances from her
which she could not freely accord with, as she
always respected the superiority Of his judg.
ment and was governed by it. The husband
arriving about the same time, fully corroborated
the statement of his wife; and such was the ap.
parent amiability of their sentiments regarding
each other as to lead the young gentleman into
an explanation of the nature and object of hi:
visit, ending in inviting them out to look at hi'
horses, any one of which they were at libert,
to select as free gift. After some hesitation
on their part and solicitation on his, they con
sented to make the selection, and proceeded t
view the stock. The gentleman selected fin,
black horse, and asked the lady's appreciation
of his choice; but she was captivated with tn,
appearance of grey mare which consequent,
claimed her preference Each seemed unwillin,
to abandon the object severally chosen, and af
ter protracted discussion the lady said yer,
| decidedly =


"Well, my dear you may do as you please
but am confident the grey mare is the bette
| horse"


81 cannot concur in your view, my dear,
said the husband, "but nevertheless, in order t.
oblige you, will take the grey"


Permit me to say" observed the disappoint
ed purveyor of horses and eggs, that you can
| not have either the black or the grey, since yo,
have demonstrated that you are not entitled t
either, but must accept an egg; whilst shal
return the horses and the balance of the egg
to my worthy and discreet father-in-law, ant
conform to the requirments of my condition b.
keeping my wife, as | am fully satisfied, iron
the observations already made, that, should
continue my enquiries until doomsday, shoul
still find that the grey mare is the better horse.