e poor damsels. You
would do much better to marry them both.'

'You are out of your senses!' exclaimed Alf, angrily. 'How can I sin
against the commandments of God?'

'First point out to me one passage in the bible which prohibits
polygamy,' said Hanslein; 'and what is not prohibited is allowed! The
old beards, the patriarchs, always indulged themselves in that way. To
be sure, when the wives come directly in each other's way, it may be a
little stormy in the house, as father Abraham learned long ago to his
sorrow; but, after all, you are the man to seize and hold the reins of
government firmly, and to interfere decidedly, if your wives should
show a disposition to kick out of the traces.'

Alf could not refrain from laughing at the chatterer, and finally said,
'I know not how you came by the conceit of advocating double marriages,
but to a poacher like you, I should suppose it would be pleasanter to
beat up game in the preserves of others.'

'There will remain enough for me on both sides of the hedge,' said
Hanslein; 'and a handsome young man like you must be the first to
follow any new fashion, especially so pleasant a one as this.'

'The chief prophet might disapprove of the new fashion,' said Alf;
'even according to our old laws, there is a heavy penalty against
polygamy.'

'The chief prophet!' laughed Hanslein. 'The doctrine which I have just
now been preaching to you came from his own mouth. How else could I
have conversed so learnedly upon the subject?'

'The chief prophet!' cried Alf in amazement.

'Just so,' answered Hanslein. 'When he saw that I recognized him, he
beckoned me to approach, and presented a purse of ducats to me, giving
me at the same time an excellent lecture upon the duty of every
christian to take more than one wife; it is a prerogative, said he,
which God reserves for his holy children; and he intimated his
determination to explain the matter to the community, and moreover that
he would himself take fifteen wives, on account of the good example
which he was bound to set the people.'

'This can never prosper!' thought Alf, shaking his head.

'What can be impossible to the godly tailor?' exclaimed Hanslein,
swallowing the last glass. 'Farewell brother! I must now to the parade,
and relieve the early morning watch. When I am at liberty, if you
should indeed conclude to marry both of the damsels, then I ask it as a
particular favor that I may be invited to the marriage feast.'

He b