Year: 1872

We ARE not sure that We shall "soape
whipping" for publishing the following
little village romance with a moral


There was once upon a time-as old
wives used To say---a husband and wife,
who had brought up three daugh,ors.
respectively named Karen, Maren and
Metty.


They might certainly have been reck-
oned very pretty, had people not known
them 10 he all three quite a. stubborn
and contradictory and dcsirous of having
the last word. Metiy was far the most
disagreeable. By dint OF time, there
came two wooers for the two eldest
daughters, who finished by marrying.


Bat It was years before anybody ven
tured To make up To Metty. At last,
however, even she had a sweetheart. 1t
is true that he came from a long distance.
The bans were to he published three
times, and On the thirl day after such
publication, which had been fixed at an
out-oi.the.way hour by the bridegroom.
he and Metty met in church, in order 10
be married. When these particulars
were settled. the man, who was an odd
fellow at once took his departure.


On the wedding day, the old parents
had made their appearance at church
with their daughter, Bet they had u
long time to wait for the bridegroom.
At las; he appeared, mounted on an old
gray horse. with musket slung a cross
his breast. pair Of wonted gloves on
ms hands, and large Dog at his heels.


No sooner, was the marriage ceremony
over, than he said 10 his bride, Jump
ON to that horse, and place yourself be-
fore me, that we may return home.


She did rs she was bid, although her
father raised number of objections. lie
could have wished that the newly made
pair had entered his house, first of all,
to eat something. Bot 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 gloycs.>


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


"Pick it up, Instantly" repeated he;
but again the dog did not stir.


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


They then went their ways and reach
ed wood, where the husbad had mind
10 take some rest. Our travellers accord
ingly 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 of his masters voice
and went on grazing. Oa seeing this,
the husband took up his gun once more
and killed the disobedient horse. On
witnessing this sight the wife felt strange,
ly uneasy; and while continuing her road, |
determined, come what might, never to
her husband


Shortly after, he took up a green twig,
and folded il so that the two ends would
meet, and presented it to his wife, bid
ding her to keep it till he asked TO have
it back. The neyly married pair then
followed their road on foot, and arrived
without further accident at their farm.
house.


Here they lived very happily, for
Metty had not forgotten the resolution
she had taken in the woods-never to
her husband, She always APP
peared so gentle and docile, that nobody
could have suspected that she was the
untractable Metty. Now this is what
her husband said to her one day
"should we not go and see your father,
Metty, to ascertain how he and your
good old mother are by this timer"


The wife declared that nothing could
please her better accordingly the hus-
band ordered the horses u be harnessed,