THE SQUIRE'S BRIDE

A little joke of a tale from Norwegian tradition, illustrated with suitable reserve by the artist who did so well with Master of All Masters (KR, 1972). The squire, if he had his way, would make the neighboring farmer's independent daughter his bride, and as her father owes the squire money the two men plan a wedding without her consent. However, when the time comes and the squire sends his boy to fetch ""what his neighbor promised,"" the girl catches on and sends the bay mare in her place. And so it ensues that a horse is dressed by the servants in wedding finery and sent into the parlor to the grinning and tittering of all assembled. Obviously nonessential, though Sewell's black and white sketched cast abounds in sauce and country slyness.