Fables for the Fair/Fable 15
THE WOMAN WHO MOURNED HER HUSBAND
THE WOMAN WHO MOURNED HER HUSBAND
THERE was once a Woman who Felt Obliged to Censure an Acquaintance of hers, a Widow like Herself, because she Continued to Play Golf after her Husband's Death.
"It is Most Unseemly," she said, with Severity, "to Show so Little Respect to your Husband's Memory as to Indulge in such Idle Amusements. Recollect that He may be Watching you, for it is my Belief that the Spirits of the Departed have this Privilege, and Consider his Feelings."
"Yet you Yourself attend the Opera Regularly," said the Misguided Friend, "and that is an Amusement, too, although I am Forced to Admit that for Me it would Not be an Idle One. Recollect that Your husband may be Watching you Also."
"That is a very Different Thing," replied the Conscientious Widow. "Wagner is Most Educative, besides Providing great Spiritual Satisfaction to True Music Lovers. It would Never Occur to Me, however, to Feel that I was at all Justified in Chasing a Ball over a Field. Besides, I am Not Fond of Athletics. My Husband Could not but Rejoice that I am Enabled to find such a Suitable Consolation so Easily, and I do not Doubt that he Does."
This teaches us that It's a wise Ghost that Knows its Own Widow.