The New York Journal, And Weekly Register

The BARGAIN,—A TRUE STORY.

The wife of a Col. H. of New-Hampshire, now an absentee in Nova-Scotia, from the coldness of his conduct towards her, was led to suspect that his affections were directed to another object—and soon discovered that she had cause for suspicion, and that a rich, young widow enjoyed what she thought was due to her alone. Full of indignation, the injured wife repairs to the house of the inamorata, and demanded to know whether her husband was there, "a worthless fellow."—"He is not a worthless fellow," replied the widow, "but an amiable man." The wife continued her epithets, and concluded with a "well, well, I'll dispose of him."—"You will," said the widow, pray what is your price?" "A guinea a pound." "Done!" exclaimed the widow, "I take you at your word—it is a bargain."—Without more words the Col. was produced, and after a short eclaircissement with his wife, agreed to the bargain, got into the scales, and weighed to the tune of two hundred and forty weight. The widow not at all checked by the ponderancy of the Col's corpus, paid down the shiners—and the Col. in consideration of the attention he had heretofore received from his quondam wife, added 300l. to the purchase money.

Thus ended this, perhaps, first instance, of a woman's disposing of her husband (although we have frequently heard of men's selling their wives) and to the satisfaction, it is said, of both parties.