Poor Gontran! Maltreated by his wife and worried sick by an irascible mother-in-law, he led a very miserable existence. Happening to see a young lady charming a serpent by the aid of the sweet strains of a flute, a bright idea entered his mind. If "music" charms serpents, why wouldn't it tame his mother-in-law? Inquiring of the young snake charmer what method, she employed to tame her serpent, and what melody she used, he went forth and purchased an enormous musical instrument. The experiment proved a grand success and, at the conclusion of our story, the former nagging wife and the ferocious mother-in-law were completely subdued and Gontran reigned once more as master of his home.
