My wife is 52 years old, and has allus sustained a good character.  She's a good cook.  Her mother lived to a vener'ble age, and died while in the act of frying slapjacks for the County Commissioners.  And may no rood hand pluk a flour from her toomstun!  We hain't got any picter of the old lady, because she'd never stand for her ambrotipe, and therefore I can't giv her likeness to the world through the meejum of the illusterated papers; but as she wasn't a brigadier-gin'ral, particlerly, I don't s'pose they'd publish it, any how. It's best to give a woman considerable lee-way.  But not too much.  A naber of mine, Mr. Roofus Minkins, was once very sick with the fever, but his wife moved his bed into the door-yard while she was cleanin' house.  I toald Roofus this wasn't the thing, 'specially as it was rainin' vi'lently; but he said he wanted to giv his wife "a little lee-way."  That was 2 mutch.  I told Mrs. Minkins that her Roofus would die if he staid out there into the rain much longer; when she said, "It shan't be my fault if he dies unprepared," at the same time tossin' him his mother's Bible.  It was orful!  I stood by, however, and nussed him as well's I could, but I was a putty wet-nuss, I tell you. There's varis ways of managin' a wife, friend Wales, but the best and only safe way is to let her do jist about as she wants to.  I 'dopted that there plan sum time ago, and it works like a charm. Remember me kindly to Mrs. Wales, and good luck to you both!  And as years roll by, and accidents begin to happen to you--among which I hope there'll be Twins--you will agree with me that family joys air the only ones a man can bet on with any certinty of winnin'. It may interest you to know that I'm prosperin' in a pecoonery pint of view.  I make 'bout as much in the course of a year as a cab'net offisser does, & I understand my business a good deal better than some of them do. Respecks to St. George & the Dragon. Ever be 'appy    A. Ward ____________________ MOSES THE SASSY; OR, THE DISGUISED DUKE. CHAPTER I.--ELIZY.