LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2203, 18 March 1881, Page 3

LITERATURE.

NATHAN Af\ DLEBY ' S MABBIAGE. {Ceu e lw&ed-) 'And yet yon pe» evered in your inten. tions, Nathan V « Truly I did ; and he*. "? her "ay. " I hate a man, great, stupid, ill-i. ,e gotten things." Then her father replied, *.* fear you will never have opportunity to Ao . %n gM but hate a man;' To this she said— "l\ would have been well for my mother had she v ,0 * favored yon If I had a man, ©h! but TA .."uake him me the day I" ' ' And hearing that, yon did not tans. away, Nathan I'

' What I heard only satisfied me, ray AuO* Charity, that I should find the tribulation 1 do greatly need, Mr Prentiss came to me, and I spoke my mind to him without delay. I said that I desired his daughter in marriage.' ' And what did he reply V 'He answered that Eunice' was a wellfavored girl, and that he could not deny her to me if she choose to take me. I said that not Eunice, but Mistress Polly I desired, and I confess he seemed amazed and did stare at me with a certain fixed expression that was painful to look npon. Then he approached me and said that he never heard that I was imprudent in my drink, and I had trouble to persuade him that his suspicion wronged me. Then he looked at me again, and even hinted that my reason had lift me At last I persuaded him to send his daughter Polly to me. As he quitted the room he seized my hand and said—- " Nathan, I pray that she may drive you from the house. It would be a blessing to you."' ' Mistress Polly came into the best room, my Aunt Charity, and as the door closed, she stood with her baok against it and smiled, and I confess that the smile had naught of humor, but only scorn in it. I trembled at that smile, fearing that she would drive me thence.

' Speak up, Nathan Appleby. Never since your mother bore you did you speak louder than a cat mews.'

'Jf Z now remember right, I answered her nothing, for my thoughts were in confusion.'

« Art dumb ?' she said. ' Might as well be for aught you can say. Your face is like a jaok-'o-lantern, and your tongue as full of speech. What's now, I say.' ' I asked her if her father did not tell her.' ' Had he told me,' aaid she, ' you would not see me here. Curiosity, not he, brought me. I would like to know what you, whose spunk is less than a worm's, oould have to ■ay to me from your own lips. Not to give advioe, I'll venture. You're no such idiot as to try that. Come, I'll have it out of you. Belike you would marry me.' 'She said this, my Aunt Charity, as in sarcasm ; yet lam glai she said it, for my spirit seemed to melt like an April snow bank, and had I not taken her words on the echo, I fear I oould not have made known my errand. Her glance as I said this was terrible, so that 1 turned my eyes to the window as for a chance to escape violenoe. I cannot recall all she said, but I do bear in mind that she termed me a beetle, that she said my legs were spindle shanks, which is untrue; that she remarked contemptuously upon the palenei ■of my face, and likened me to Sandy Sam, the idiot. I perceived, however, that her violence was only of the tongue, though that is enough for one person. She called me a padora. whatever that may be, and said that I should marry her, and light away, and a sad day would it be for me, too. She warned me to have no delay, to oanse the banni to be published next 1 ord's day, and as soon thereafter as the law permits to come for her, and she warned me to keep out of her sight till then. Other painful words she (aid, which I will not repeat, my aunt Charity, and thus has she promised me.' ' What think you all neighbors, of such a wooing as that, Mr Good wing inquired. ' That your spouse did say rightly when ahe called him a stupid fool,' said Mr Pantry. 'That it passes all comprehension,' said Squire Whytynge. * Well, I say,' remarked Mr Purchas, whose domestic experience -was sad, ' that he who knowingly puts his head in such a noose deserves to wear it always. Vinegary women are wont to be smooth-tongued during courtship and to make amends afterward.'

' Well, tell ns the rest, neighbor,' said Mr Blumfield. 'They were married, on the Lord's day three weeks, and those who saw them, as they quitted her father's house, say that she berated him all the way to his home.'

* And did he soon with he were dead V asked Mr Purchas in such suggestive tone that Mr Blumfield again slyly nudged Mr Good wing, ' He bore her shrewishness uncomplainingly for six months or more, though he did grow pale and lose flesh greatly; and he did confess to me upon one occasion that he did not bear in mind when he married that death only parted hnsband and wife. His silence enraged her; but never did he speak a word Id temper to her. Now I will narrate to yon that which la the most marvellous as well as amusing of all of it. My spoueo happened to fall In with Nathan's wife about a year ago, and I will say, neighbors, that my spouse, though usually smooth spoken, can say a thing sharply, if she so desires. She did tell Polly Appleby that it was a grievous shame for her to belabor that patient man, Nathan.' ' Man 1' Nathan's wife replied. ' Man I Being of your blood it's no wonder he's no man, He moans like a calf and he purrs like a est, and hath less Bpunk than either. A "calf will bunt and a kitten will scratch !'

' Well, as to that, Madame Appleby, sharp speech never made a oalf to bunt nor a cat to scratoh. Your speech is of no more account to him than it would be to them,' said my spouse. ' With that Mrs Appleby became very wroth, and did call my spouse a padora, ' Humph,' says my spouse, ' I oould tell you that which would make you angry for cause. Do -you not know that the sharper speech you use the better does he like it ?' 'At this Mrs Appleby did open wide her eyes, and, neighbors, as I sit here, for the first time in her life she answered not one word.'

'Do you know why he married you ? Are you so stupid that you have not discovered that? my spouse asked. I know,for he made a confident of me previous to the wedding. He married you because he had no trials - these were his words—and he feared he could not reach heaven unless he had his share. Therefore he wedded you * ' Aha, a good one,' said Mr Pantry, as be tremblingly shook his he?d with laughter. 'And what t aid she to that,' asked 'Squire Whytynge. '.Never did she speak so quietly, and for some time made no response ; at last she said :

'So that was his reason, was it ? Well — I'll—disappoint—him. I'll—be—even —with him. I'll make him another sort of a wife from this hour, for I will not be a pack-horse to oarry my husband to heaven I' Here Moses Butler snuffed both candles, and when the laughter of the geDtlem-n had in a measure subsided, Mr Goodwing cod tinned :

' When Nathan came in, soon a'ter, what did bis wife do but approach him and kiss him; and Nathan trembled, for never had the done that. And she said, ' dear Nathan,' and she did lovingly caress him, so that he was as one in a trance.

* Neighbor*,' continued Mr Goodwing, * I have eeen their babe, as I remarked ; and I eaw Nathan gently stroking his sponge's brow, and he did say soft words to ner, to which she made loving response ; and as she looked coyly over his shoulder to my spouse and me sho said, "My Aunt Charity, youßoe wh*t your words have driven me to I am not any pack horse, am I husband ?' and Nathan did even in our presence kiss her, and if she returned not the kiss of love, th n 1 never gavo one myself,' ' Would that I had known that thus fhe could havo been conquered. For the wai the comelieat lass in all these parts, and I would have put up with six months of gall for a lifetime of sweetness. Had I kown what I know now, her namo w< u'd be Blumfield, not Appleby,' said Mr ilun-fiuld, eadly. 'Aha, neighbor Blumfield, we have your secret now,' said Mr Kirchwood. ' No, yon have not, neighbor*.' ' I toll ycu you did betray vourfel'.' Here the tall clock struck eight, and Moses Butler, rising and snuffing a_ candle, said : 'Now, gentlemen, all of you, it Is time to be in yonr bedo. Go home find ti.ll your epjuaiis Ihis tale. I'll venture

light to hear It.* And with bia tuna! authority he eent them all away. The members of the Seven Coppers most have taken Moses at his word, for of all the gossiping in Hartford town, thore never waa such gossip among the matrons as there was the next day over Nathan Appleby's mnri riage and the result of it. THE WOLF AKD THE SHEPHERD_ A FABltf. Once npon a time a wolf observed a lamb feeding out of sight of the shepherd lie charge, and it determined to have a dinner of mutton. While skulking along towardsits victim tho wolf fell over a cliff and war badly injured. The shepherd heard its yell* I of pain and came running up to despatch j the animal with a club. 'Hold on I hold on I I want to argoe this? cv'se, cried the wolf. •' But you are a philosopher, and I am only a, shepherd,' was the reply. *lt was your lamb who pushed me over' this cliff,' said the brszen wo'f as he sat upv and by the use of big words, wise looks and 1 arguments based on ' ifs,' he convinced the shepherd that it was his duty to take him home and heal his injuries. When the wolf was able to walk he demanded a lamb as compensation for hit bodily suffering and loss of time. The shepherd demurred, but the wolf quoted an old law by which any person harboring a wolf should be fined and imprisoned, and he declared he would go before the nearest official and make complaint. This bronght the shepherd to time, and the wolf had lamb for dinner. To get rid of him the peasantreduced his fare to blaok bread and water, but the wolf ate what was given him and explained—- ' I shall not gain strength and be able to leave you until I have better food.' The peasant then changed his fare to the best, and the wolf ate his full and observed— 'As long as yon can afford such fare yo» cannot grumble at my staying.' In a few days he demanded a fall-grown sheep to soften the pangs of parting, and when the shepherd complained, the wolf cried out — ' IVhy, I am working for your interest, not mine. The less sheep you have to mind the less care you will have.' This sophistry silenced the shepherd, and the sheep was killed. Wbile eating It the wolf got a bone in his throat, and called out for help, adding ' It will be much easier for yon to removes tliia bone than to dig a ho'e and bury me,' * By falsehood you gained my sympathy,*' replied the peasant. ' by philosophy yon got into my house; by logio you ate a lamb ; • bysubtlety you beat me out of a aheep; byProvidence you have a bone in your throat; and now by thunder you must help yonrsoJf, for I won't!' Mobal.—Don't feel yourself entitled to awsshtub because somebody gives you a> clothespin.