A GENTLE REPROOF.-Br $. SLEEPER.
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One day, as Lacharlah Hodgson was going to
his daily vocation after breakfast, he purchased
fine large Goldfish, and sent it home, with drec-
tlons to his wife to have il cooked for dinner.
As no particular mode of cooking it was pre-
scrlbed, the good woman we'll knew that, whether
she boiled 1t or made it into chowder, her hus-
band would scod her when he came home. But
she resolved to please him for once, if possible,
and therefore cooked portions Of it in several diff
ferent ways She also, with some little difficulty,
procured an amphibious animal from brook back
OF the house, and pumped it into the pot In
due time her husband came home-saw some
covered dishes placed on the table, and, with a
frowning, faut-iinding look, the moody man COM
menced the conversation.


'Well wife, did you get the fish ! bought"


"Yes, my DEAR


81 should like to know how you have cooked it.
| will bet any thing you have spoiled it for my
eating, (taking off the cover.) thought so.
What in creation possessed you to fry it? |
would as leave eat boiled frog"
'Why, my dear, thought you loved it best
fried"


'.You didn't think any such thing; yon knew
better. | never loved fried fish; why did mt YOU
boil it,"


"My dear, the last time we had fresh fish, you
know boiled it, and you said you liked it best
fried But have boiled some ALSO


So saying, she lifted cover, and 10! the
shoulders Of the cod, nicely boiled. were neatly
deposited in dish-a sight of which would have
made an eplcure rejoice, but which only added
TO the ill-nature of her husband.


ga pretty dish, this!'' exclaimed he; ''boled
fish, chips, and porridge. Irv YOU had not been
one of the most stupid of wonankind you would
have made it into chowder.'


His patient wife, with smile, Immediately
placed tureen before him containing an excellent
chowder.


my dear said she, 81 was resolved to please
you. There is your favorite DISH


"Favorite dish, ndeed!'' grlmbled the discom-
flied husband; 81 dare say it is an unpalaable,
wishy-washy mess. | would rather have boiled
frog than the whole of it,


This was common expression of his, and had
been anticipated by his wife. AS soon as the
preference expressed, she uncovered large
dish near her husband; there was a large bull
frog, Of portentous dimensions and pugnacous
aspect, stretched out at full length! Zachariah
sprung from his chair not little frightened at the
unexpected apparition.


"My DEAR" said his wife, in kind, entreating
tone, 81 hope you will at length be able to make
a dinner"


Zachariah could not stand this His surly
mood was finally overcome, and he burst into
hearty laugh. He acknowledged that his wife
was right, and that he was wrong, and declared
that she should never again have occasion to read
him such another lesson; and he was as good as
his word.