Bue-Beard

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 203, 14 May 1887, Page 2

Bue - Beard

Thkuk onoo lived a gentleman ot gicat wealth, but remarkable alike for the strangeness of his appearance and the unmerited misfortune of his domestic circumstances. He had line houses both in town and country, and a deal of silver and gold plute, and embroidered furniture, and coaches gilded all over with gold. But he hud also a BlueBeard, and he had buried, in the most lavish style, no less than thirty-seven wives. Such a man, you may think, did not easily find a wife, a'; his beard proved unattractive, and it was considered that his town and country houses must be inadequately provided with sanitary appliances. In spite of these drawbacks, Blue- Beard (as the gentleman w;us called) was' led, for the thirty-eighth time, to the altar, by a young lady of great beauty and prudence, but of scanty dower. About a month after the marriage, BlueBeard said to his Avife, " My dear, business affairs call me abroad. Make good cheer in my absence. Here are the keys of all my great wardrobes, my plate chests, and my safe-rooms ! But, for this little key here, it is the key of the closet at the end of the groat gallery on the ground floor. Open all except that little closet, in which I forbid you to look.'' He then embraced her, and went on his journey. His wife now very carefully locked up the little key of the secret closet in her jewelcase, and passed the time of her husband's absence in longing for his return and reading good books. When Blue-Beard came back, before lie was expected, he asked for his keys. " What !' said he, '* is not the key of my closet among the rest ?" "Indeed," she said, "I thought it much safer in my jewel-box.'' And, immediately bringing it, he closely examined it, and found it had not been u-=ed. " Best of wives !" said Blue-Beard, "with you I may hope to live long and happily, secure in the affections of n woman who despises curiosity. My system is at last successful !" Nor were Blue-Beard's hopes disappointed. They lived, envied and admired, till the extreme limit of human existence, and it was not till the house was being repan cd, after their death in each other's arms, that the mortal remains of thirtyseven previous wives were discovered in the clo«:t at the end of the gallery on the end floor. Moral — Do as you are bid, and don't ask questions. — " Punch."