THE DEACON'S WIFE
HERE was once a deacon who had the bad luck of being married to a very ill-natured woman. As he was famous for his singing, the church-members of his parish would often invite him to attend weddings and other festivities, which he did. The woman was, however, very seldom included in these invitations, and the deacon grudged, whenever he returned home, to tell her of the good company he enjoyed. At length he grew tired of her angry words and sullen demeanor, and one night, returning from a feast in one of the villages in the neighborhood, he invited two other deacons to step into his house before they went home, as he wished to see if his wife would preserve her disagreeable manners in the presence of strangers.
Upon entering the house the deacons pulled off their caps and greeted the lady civilly. Her husband gave her many good words, and asked her to wait upon their guests. But she seemed possessed of a mute spirit, and never opened her mouth to say a word. The deacon pleaded long in vain, but
292
