Southport Telegraph

A GOOD AND Gentle Wife.—The young and pretty Mme. de V—, to whom her own calm and sweet physiognomy, and the joyful countenance of her husband, had given the reputation of being an angel of conjugal goodness, was lately seated at the piano, engrossed in an effort to decipher a new Cavatina of Verdi. While thus employed, some persons of her acquaintance came to the door, who, in order not to interrupt the charming cantatrice, prohibited the servant from announcing them. For some moments they listened with profound silence, then, upon a hint of the ladies, a young cousin of Mme. V— stealthily advances to the seat of his fair cousin, and suddenly clasps his hand over her eyes.

“Mon Dieu! What a beast—you always do come and annoy me when I am alone!” cried impetuously the gentle Mme. V—, exhibiting the most extravagant symptoms of rage. Stupefied, the cousin withdraws his impudent hands. A general burst of laughter in the saloon follows. The young wife turns, and, with one of her sweetest smiles, says:

“Pardon, my dear Charles,” said she, giving her cousin her most winning look. “I thought it was my husband!”—Cour. des Etat Unis.