THE MAGIC MOUTHFUL
The Story of a Woman Who Quarreled
Once upon a time there was a woman who lived a most unhappy life. She and her husband were always quarreling. Every day when he came home from work he was cross, and said harsh words to her. She would respond with bitter words, and things would go from bad to worse until at last he would beat her.
One day the woman took her water jar and went to the fountain to fill it as usual. She was so unhappy that great tears were rolling down her cheeks.
There was a little old woman standing by the fountain.
"What is the matter, my daughter?" she asked as she saw the tears upon the poor woman's cheeks.
When she had heard all the story, the little old woman took the water jar and filled it at the fountain.
"Go home, my daughter," she said. "Keep this water in the jar. The moment your husband says a cross word to you, fill your mouth with the water."
The sad woman thanked her and went to her own house.