Year: 1872

Small Lesson.


Translated from the French.


We Gre not sure that we shall
escape whipping" for publishing the
following little village romance, with
q moral


There was oncs upon a time-as
old wives used to say-a husband
and wife. who had brought up three
daughters, respectively named Ka
rem, Maren and Metty.


They might certainly have been
reckoned very pretty, had people
not known them to be all three quite
as stubborn and contradictory, and
desirous of having the last word.
Metty was far the most disagreeable.
By dint of time, there came two
wooers for the two eldest daughters,
who finished by marrying.


But it was years before anybody
ventured to make up to Metty. At
last, however, even she had sweet
heart. 1t is true that he came from
a long distance. The banns were to
be published three times, and on the
third pay after such publication,
which had been fixed at an out-of-the
way hour by the bridegroom, he and
Metty met in church, in order to be
married. When these particulars
we're settled, the man, who was
an odd fellow, at once took his de-
parture.


On the wedding day, the old par
ents had made their appearance at
church with their daughter. But
they had long time to wait for the
bridegroom. At last he appeared,
mounted on an old gray horse, with
musket slung across his breast,
and large dog at his heels.


No sooner was the marriage cere-
mony over, than he said to his bride
Jump on to that horse. and place
yourself before me, that we may re-
turn home


She did as she was bid, although
her father raised number of OBJ
jections. He could have wished that
the newly made pair had entered his
house, first of all, to eat something.
But the new husband would not
hear of any such thing, and they
went their ways.


When they had gone tolerably far,
the husband let fall one of his
gloves.


"Pick it up" said he to the dog;
but the animal let it lie, for anything
he cared.


Pick it up, instantly p repeated
he; but again the dog did not stir.


After having commanded him a
third time to do what he had bid
him, but with no better success, and
without the dogs seeming to care a
farthing for his commands, the man
took up his gun and shot him dead
on the spot.


They went their ways and reached
wood, where the husband had a
mind to take some rest. Our trav-
ellers accordingly got off their horse,
and put the bride on his neck.
When the man thought they were
sufficiently rested, he called his horse
three times; but the horse took no
notice ofihis masters voice and went
on grazing. On seeing this, the
husband took up his gun once more
and killed the disobedient horse. On
witnessing this sight the wife felt
strangely uneasy; and while continu-
ing her road, determined, come
what might, never to contradict her
husband.


Shortly after, he took up a green
twig, and folded it so that the two
ends would meet, and presented it
to his wife, bidding her to keep it
TIL ne asked to have it back. The
newly married pair then followed
their road on foot, and arrived with
out further accident at their farm
house.


Here they-ll 1plaappily, for
Metty had not forgotten the resolu-
ton she had taken in the woods
never to contradict her husband.
She always appeared so gentle and
docile, that nobody could have sus-
pected that she was the untractable
| Metty. Now this is what her hus-
band said TO her one day: Should
We not 60 and see your father, Met
ty, to ascertain how he and your
good old mother are by this time %


The wife declared that nothing
could please her better; according
| ly, the husband ordered the horses
to be harnessed, and off they won't.
Toward evening they had overtaken
a flock of storks all journeying to-
gether.


"What quantity of crowsl" said
/ the man.


"They are not crows, but storks, y
said the woman.


"Turn the chaise round, and take
us back home" was the order of the
husband.


They accordingly turned from
whence they came.


Some time after, the husband
again asked his wife if she did not
long to see her aged parents.


Of course Metty wished it hearth
ly. On the road they met flock of
sheep.


"What large flock of wolves !"
cried the husband


"They are not wolves" observed
the wife, but sheep"


Turn round the cart, and take
us home ordered the husband of the
servant. And this was accordingly
done.


A third time the farmer asked his
wife if they ought not to pay visit
to her old parents, ard as she ac-
quiesced eagearly, the horses were
once more harnessed. They had