SADIK BEG.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7928, 17 December 1887, Page 5

SADIK BEG.

A FUNNY TALE WITH A MORAL. Sadik Beg waa of good family, handgome in person, and poßses3ed of both sense and courage ; but he was poor, heVlng no property but his sword and his horse, with which he sarved as a

gentleman retainer of a nabob. The latter, satisfied of the purity of Sadlk'i descent, and entertaining a reipeot for his character, determined to make him the husband of his daughter Hooseinee, who, though beautiful, as her name implied, was remarkable for her haughty manner and nngorernable temper. .Giving a husbaDd of the' oondition of Sadik Beg to a lady of Hooseinee's rank was, according to usage in such unequal matches, like giving her a slave, and aa she heard a good report of his personal qualities, she offered no objection to the marriage, which was celebrated soon after it was proposed, and appartmeots were assigned to the happy oouple in the nabob's palace. Some of Sadik's friends rejoiced in his good fortune ; as they saw, in the connection he had formed, a sure prospect of his advancement. Others mourned (he fate of so fine and promising a young man, now condemned to boar, through life all the humors of a proud and capriejoas woman ; but one of his friends, a. little, man , Galled filer, dek, who was completely henpecked, was particularly rejoiced, and quite chuckled at the thought of seeing another in the same condition with himself. About a month after the nuptials, Merdek met his friend, and with malicious pleasure, wiahed him joy of his marriage. "Most sincerely do I congratulate you, Sadik," said he, "on this mppy ovent." " Thank you, my good fellow, I am very happy indeed, and rendered more so by the joy I perceive it gives my friends." "Do you really mean to say you are happy P" said Merdek, with a smile. " I really am so," replied Sadik. "Nonsense," said his friend ; '• Do we not all know to what a termagant you are united ? and iha temper and high rank combined, mutt no doubt make her a sweet companion." Here he burst into a loud laugh, and the little man actually strutted with a feeling of fluperiority over the bridegroom. Sadik, who knew his situation and feelings, was amused instead of being angry. "My friend," said he, "I quite understand tho grounds of your apprehension for ray happiness. Before I was married I had heard the same reports as yon have done of ray beloved bride's disposition ; but, I am happy to say, I have found it quite otherwise ; she is a most docile and obedient wife." "But how has this miraculous change been wrought?" "Why," said Sadik, "I believe I have some merit in effecting it ; but you shall hear." "After the ceremonies of our nuptials were. over, I went, in my military dregs, and with my sword by my side, to the apartment of Hooseinee. She was sitting in a moat dignified posture to receive me, and her looks were anything but inviting. As I entered the room a beautiful cat, evidently a great fovorite, came purring up to me. I deliberately drew my sword, struck its bead off, and taking that in one hand and the body in the other, threw them out of the window. I then very unconcernedly turned to the lady, who appeared in some alarm ; she however, made no observations, but was in every way kind and submissive, and has continued so ever since." "Thank you, my dear fellow," said little Merdek, with a significant shake of the head—" a word to the wise," and away he capered, obviously quite rejoiced. It was near evening when this conversation took place ; soon after, when the dark cloak of night had enveloped the bright radienoe of day. Merdek entered the chamber of his spouse, with something of a martial swagger, armed with a scimitar. The unsuspecting cat oatne forward, as usual to welcome the husband of her mistress, but in an instant her head was divided from her body by a blow from the hand which had so often oaressed her. Merdek, having proceeded so far oourageously, Btooped to take up the dissevered members of the cat, but before he could effect this, a blow upon the sido of the head from his incensed lady, laid him sprawling on the floor. J|The tattle and scandal of the day Rpreadajrom zenaneh to zenanoh with surprising rapidity, and the wife of Merdek saw in a moment whose example it waa that he imitated, " Take that," said sheens sho gave him another cutf, "take that, jou paltry wretch. You should," she added, laughing him to scorn, "havo killed the cat on the wedding-day."