Year: 1866

A new act of the old comedy Of "The


Serious Family" was performed, with


variations, in a neat little villa located


in the very pleasant suburb of South


Memphis on Saturday afternoon, which


has been provocative of much merri-


ment among a certain class who are al


ways ready to enjoy good laugh at


the expense of their neighbOrs. In


the locality referred to, resides a nice,


gay widow, who had the misfortune to


lose her husband about a couple of


years ago, but as she was left compe-


tency, the loss WAS not considered 80


great as if she had been both bereft of
a husband and consigned to abject
poverty at one and the same time.


The widow in question is very fond
of promenade through the streets of
the city, and little mud or even the
quantity Of that material with which
Memphis was blessed few days ago,
will not deter her from making her
usual rounds among the stores. While
attempting to cross Main street at one
of the intersections of that thorough
fare, the other day, she fairly stuck in
the mud, and stood helpless, until
gentleman went to her assistance. He
quickly rescued her from her awkward
position, placed her softly on the side
walk, and received the heartfelt thanks
of the lady. The gentleman, who oc-
cupies good position, was completely
oVerpoWered, and, although he has q
wife and an interesting family resident
-, fLa o1fu ha .0Iunfaapad 20 aa,o~s
the lively widow to her home. The Of
fer was accepted, and the pair walked
quietly along, evidently enjoying each
others society. When the door of the
lady's residence was reached, the gen
tlemsn took his departure, promising
10 make call on the following day.
All this time he had said nothing about
being married man, and the widow
fondly imagined that she had got q
suitor.


The call was made, and followed by
others but the gentleman was not
aware that he was watched by lynx
eyed member of the fair sex, who oc-
cupied the dwelling opposite This
lady knew all about him, and was also
slightly acquainted with his wife, and
came to the virtuous conclusion to in
form the lady of what was going on. She
accordingly made q pilgrimage to the
house Of what she considered the much
lll-used wife, and related in touching
accents all she had seen.


Measures were promptly taken to
expose the husband and chastise the
srtful widow. The wife possessed her
self with heavy riding switch, and
she and her friend repaired to the
dwelling of the latter, 10 watch events.
Ensconced behind the blind OF the
window, the wife could see all that
went on in the house opposite. In
few minutes the husband came march
ing along, and the door of the widows
dwelling was opened at his approach,
and he was received with a smile as he
entered


This was too much for the wife, and
she hastily ran down stairs, rushed
across the street, knocked Justify ON
the widows door, and, on being opened,
she demanded her husband. The wi
low stood aghast, and before she
could utter a word, the riding switch
vas applied rather sharply to her
shoulders Hearing a scream, the hus-
band ran out of the parlor into the hall,
md was dumbfounded when he beheld |
ais own wife. He rushed between the
aides, and, like all meddlers, ne came
n for q fair share of the blows With
considerable difficulty he got his wife out
lf the house The wife talked loudly
IF q separation, but on receiving assu-
'ance that he had only visited the
widow twice, and that nothing impro
per had passed between them, she
agreed to return home to her children. !
The husband has now received a lesson !
which will prevent him from paying
attentions to lively widows in the iu-
.ure.-Benphis Bulletin.