When Matti married Ana he thought she was wonderful. She was a pretty girl and of course that was very important to young Matti. In a very short time, however, he began to see Ana's real character. He saw that she had to have her way in everything, all the time.
Matti thought that a wife should obey her husband, so he tried to tell her how to act and what to do. But the more he tried, the more contrary she became.
Young Matti finally became very patient with his wife. even
though it was difficult at times. It was especially hard for him when his friend made fun of him when he gave in to her. He took their ridicule, however, because he knew what he had to live with.
Matti was a farmer and he had a good farm. One year while he
was bringing in a good harvest, he thought to himself. Wouldn't it
be good to have a pleasant wife who would like to have a good time.Then I would be able to celebrate sometimes with my friends. But it's no use. If I suggest that we have a feast, she will insist that we have a fast!"
Suddenly, a brilliant idea came to him. "Maybe if I tell her that I
want one thing. she will insist that I have another." he thought. "It is worth a try !"He slept soundly that night and had pleasant dreams. In the morning. while he was doing his chores. he was thinking of how he was going to try to trick her into letting him have his way for a change
Later, at the breakfast table he said to her, "I know the harvest
days are almost over. Ana dear, but, please don't make any sweet
cakes or anything like that."
And why not ? she snapped. We have a good harvest. don't
we ? I'm going to bake a big cake. And Il invite our neighbors in to
eat with us!
"It's working! It's working!" thought Matti to himself. All he
said to her, though, was. "All right, you can invite some of the
neighbors, but don't get an idea that we can kill a pig for the
occasion."
"We'll kill our best pig !" she demanded. And don't let me hear
anymore about it!"
But, wine,Ana, my dear - promise me that you will not open a
single bottle. If we serve wine to our guests. We won't have enough for ourselves to last through the winter."
best we have!
"Well I won't drink any. Then maybe guests won't take much either,"
Ana was furious. "You wil drink with your guests, you fool!
And what's more, you'll sit at the head of the table ! Now eat your
breakfast and be quiet !"
The day arrived and the guests came. And they all ate, drank
sang around the table to their hearts content. Matti ate, drank and sang with them. Then Ana noticed that Matti was enjoying the feast too much and was making more noise than his friends. She began to suspect that maybe he tricked her into all of this. It made her furious to see him so jolly: but, of course, she said nothing
As time went on. Ana became more and more difficult to live
with. Poor Matti did his best, but it was impossible at times to know what to do.
One day in the spring, when the streams were high, Matti and
Ana were crossing a river on an old wooden footbridge on their
home from the village. Matti was walking ahead. Suddenly he
noticed a broken board. He stepped over the board, but without
thinking called back to his wife, "Look out, Ana ! Don't put your
weight on that board ! Step lightly or you'lI break through !"
"Step lightly. you say? Don't tell me what to.. "
For once, though. Ana didn't finish what she had to say. She stomped down with all her weight and fell through into the rushing water.
Matti crossed quickly to the other side. At first be stood on the bank and scratched his head. Then he ran upstream as fast as he could.
Two men who were fishing along the bank saw him and asked,
"What's the matter, fellow? Why are you running so fast?"
"My wife fell in the river from the bridge down there! " Matti panted. And I'm afraid she'll down!"
But my good man." one of them, said. Anyone in his right mind
would search downstream, not upstream. A person who falls into a rushing river doesn't go against the current!"
"But you don't know my wife!" said Matti, "I do believe she would" And he ran off.
Questions for Discussion
1) Answer these questions with complete sentences.
a) Why did Matti marry Ana ?
b) Why didn't he see her real character until after he
married her ?
c) Why did Matti become so patient with his wife ?
d) What made a "brilliant idea" come to him ?
e) What was Matti's "brilliant idea ?"
f) Why did his idea work ?
g) Why did it make Ana furious to see her husband so jolly?
h) Why didn't Ana say anything when she suspected that Matti tricked her?
i) What makes stream high in the springtime in northern countries?
For More Discussion
i) Discuss the meaning of the saying "Love is blind."
2) Do you think Matti's love for Ana was "blind" before he
married her ? If so, why ?
3) Do you think love is less "blind" when people marry when
they are older? Give a reason for your answer.
4) what way may love sometimes be "blind to someone.
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