A PRUDENT HUSBAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3242, 27 June 1872, Page 3

A PRUDENT HUSBAND.

{Pall Mall: Gazette. J

I Prudence,, says Milton, is that virtue ;by which we discern what is proper to be ; done under the various circumstances of : time and place.. The truth of this aphorism is exemplified, by the conduct of Mr Byrne, ..of. .Brooklyn-,., under ..very distreßß'ihg circumstances,, related by the New York Times. Mr Byrne, it seems, about .; a month agos on entering his house, was shocked to find Mrs Byrne hanging by ;■ the neck on. a rope r and perfectly inanimate.. Domestic difficulties, combined with gin,, had caused that lady to commit suicide; Had. Mr Byrne been an impulsive man, he would have immediately cut her down.. Mr Byrne, however, possesses that invaluable quality of prudence, and ,calmly reviewed his position. "If," said he, "L sever the rope and find that she, for whom alone I live, is past recovery, our neighbours will surely suspect that I have had some hand in her death-; and how shall I, without her cvi- , dence, refute the calumny ?" He therefore felt her pulse, and having assured himself that she was perfectly dead, leisurely called in the neighbours to witneas the sad spectacle. When asked by them why he had not cut her down at once, he : replied that he could not bear to endure for one moment the suspicion of having killed her. The neighbours were obliged fco admit that by not giving way to Ms feelings he had evinced unusual forethought, and he now is not only the object of their sympathy, but stands higher if possible in their opinion than ever.