A WIFE'S STRATAGEM.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1882, 8 May 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

A WIFE'S STRATAGEM.

There was a certain well known gentleman, a resident of Ward One, who not long ngo was the hero of a little episode which is altogether too good to be allowed to sink into newspaperless obscurity. He had been passing the evening nt a friend's, making one of a merry euohre party, and when he reached his own residence it was qui-te hte, in fact, past twelve o'clock. Cn entering his sleeping room ho no&eles9lj undressed and crept into bed v^y quietly in order not to awaken his wife, who was apparently calmly sleoing, wrapped in pleasing dreams 'he geutleman was glad to think his btter half, instead of sitting up for him as was her usual custom, though aginst his repeated requests had retired and bo took^especial pains not to distirb her repose, and in a few minutes w.s himself fast asleep. It was toad daylight wheu ho awoke the next norning, and the motionless figure beside him showed that his wife, usually aquiot early riser, had not yet got up. He thought it strange she should nc yet be up, and strangor still that she nould be so soundly sleeping ; but feel iu; still too sleepy to say anything, h again consigned himself to slumber. The sunlight was streaming into the room when the again awoke, and stilhis wifo wa9 s/eeping beside him. Btting his hand on her head and plaVully catching hold of a lock of hair, wbt was his surprise to find a whole bad yield to his gentle pull, while arndden burst of laughter from a lady >oking into the room through j the paily-opened door, told the gentleman tlit there was something wrong somewerc, and rising on his elbow ho soon that instead of sleeping with b wife the paßt night he had been iposing by theaidoof a " dummy," whiclthe partner of his bosom had •kilfuy decked out in all the parapherrlia of a sleeping Venus. How t the sry got abroad is a mystery ; but one ting is certain, the gentleman who sleptvith the " dummy" never told it. — Pctund, Me., Argus.