The story
“Her parents were humble peasants and were fond of her when she was a baby, for they believed she would grow up to be a beautiful woman and make a good match. The trouble was she didn’t grow up. When she was 19 she was no bigger than a child of six, and the parents bitterly lamented the fact. Naturally they were overjoyed when an offer for their daughter’s hand was made by another midget who lived in the same little village. To their astonishment and anger, the girl refused to entertain it, declaring the husband she chose would have to be a man of whom she could be proud. Her home life was most unhappy after that, and the entire family rejoiced when a showman from the United States arrived and offered what seemed to be big money if she would join his ‘Congress of Freaks,’ which was quite an institution in America. And the girl went gladly. In a strange new life, she found many things to wonder at, and one object to admire, to wit, the loveliest, biggest, jolliest giant she had ever dreamed of. Naturally she fell deeply in love with him, but he never even suspected it. The reason was that his giantly affections were all expended on the glorious snake charmer, whom he hoped to make his bride some day. The midget, who thought her affections were returned, was disillusioned, and her romance shattered. Then the little man from across the sea crossed to America, and renewed his suit. She was won by his devotion, and accepted him, realizing that they would be happy, far happier than she would have been with the giant. It is hard enough for a woman to manage an ordinary man, but how can she hope to control a big hulking husband, when one snort of disapproval by him would blow her and her orders to the four winds of Heaven?”
Summary from The Moving Picture News · 23 March 1912
