William Elliot Griffis
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 192
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ...shamed air, and made their excuses as well as they were able. She rebuked them gently, and exhorted them to show themselves more scrupulous in the accomplishment of their duties. She then gave different orders in her quality as mistress of the house. Some hours after, seeing that neither of the men appeared, she called a slave to her, and said to him: " My two sons are surely not absent on such a day as this. See if they are in the men's apartments, and bid them come here." The sons presented themselves before her, much embarrassed, and blundered out some excuses. "How?" said she, "you have heard of my arrival for several hours and have not come to salute me? With such bad bringing up, and an equal ignorance of principles of action, how will you make your way in the world? I have pardoned my slaves and my daughters-in-law for their want of politeness, but for you who are men I cannot let this fault pass unpunished." With this she called a slave and bade him give them some strokes on the legs with a rod. Then she added, " For your father, the minister, I am his servant, and I have not had orders to yield to him; but, as for you, henceforth do you act so as not to forget proprieties." Finally the minister himself, thoroughly astonished at all that had passed, was obliged to come to terms and to salute his wife. Three days after, the festivities being ended, he returned to the palace. The king asked familiarly if all had passed off happily. The minister narrated in detail the history of his marriage, the unexpected arrival of his wife, and how she had conducted herself. The king, who was a man of sense, replied: "You have acted unjustly toward your wife. She appears to me to be a woman of spirit and extraordinary tact. Her behavior is...