The Nevada Democrat., 1859-10-19
DIV wIFE,s nIoTHER.

Nv esteemed wife,s esteemed mother has been
favarin0 me with niece of her mind. In the
first place sae thlnks u was extremely disre-
spectful to write as did concerning her in my
Fourth Of July sketch. The allusion to claret
punch 10 connection with my venerable moth
er-in-law was. to say the least, she thought, in
bad taste. Allowing that she did occasionally,
through the day. indulge in glass of this
we'll concocted beverage, was the fact one of
sufficient interest TO the public for me to chron-
icle She did not believe 1t was. Her neigh
bors who dwell 10 the village "Near the lakes
where droops the willow" will be the only
ones interested in the matter. They will gossip
about it over their tea-cups and at the meet
ings Of the sewing society, and bc anything but
charitable 10 their language. She trusted that
would never thereafter allude to her in my
published sketches Again, she wished to know
why |, an old married nan, who actually was
becoming bald, and whose whiskers we're
streaked with gray, had written such juvenile
illusions as the Musidora sketches? Who was
Musidora, she should like to know and who
the southern maid about whom had said 20
muchf Were she-that is, my esteemed moth
er.in-law--my wife, she would insist on ny
writing invariably. upon some other sub
jects than those. II was very we'll for me, she
said, 10 tell my deuded wife that each was an
imaginary being but for her own part, she
". y
Musidora and q southern maid and she believ-
ed that was naughty man, and hirted with
each. endeavored to convince my estimable
mother-in-law that If not ideal personages they
we're al least, only beings whom many long
years ago had known, and perhaps loved, and
of whom I. minging the past with the present.
had written. Sometimes, when | am walking
with my mother-in.law, If bow to a lady pass
ing, she Immediately desires to know II 1t be
Musidora or the southern maid. When reply
neither, she says, "Then ID is some western
love - aud /, knowing how useless any attempt
to convince her of the falsity Of this, remain
silent.
think the old lady Is enjoying her visit ex-
ceedingly. She finds much to occupy her time.
She does not, of course, visit the theaters She
has conscientious scruples which deter her.
Only the gay, the giddy, and the unregenerated
she says, ever go TO such places. She is salts
fed with Niblo's Garden. 1t is orthodox in its
tendencies, and deserves the patronage of the
entire community. A gentleman named Burton
who is officiating there under various characters
she thinks, is most excellent man. He must
be very good, or he would not be able to rep
resent Aminidad Sleek so successfully, who, for
all the world, Is just like Deacon Smith, who
carries around contribution box in the little
meeting house in the village where my wifes
mother lives. Next to visiting Niblo's, my
mother-in.law enjoys going to Washington
Market, whittier she goes each morning, ac-
Ecompanying me on my ride down town. The
amount Of meat and vegetables which she daily
purchases is astonishing. She lays in enough
to supply large dinner party, and her reason
for 30 doing is because everything Is 80 cheap.
Butter, though, she acknowledge is, might be
lower; and not lose bit of its strength either;
but vegetables are fresher and cheaper than
any to be had in the country. When Saturday
night came, expected that my wife would show
quite large market bill against me but, TO
my surprise, the sum total was smaller than
usual. Upon inquiring the reason. / found
that my esteemed motherln-law paid the mar
ketings herself | expostulated with her for SO
doing but she preferred, che said to do II, as
che then felt at liberty to select her favorte
dishes, which otherwise she would not. Besides
she supplied twenty beggars, who came regu-
larly TO Mansfield Place, with cold victuals
which would not perhaps, be willing TO do
confessed that would not, and advised her
to discontinue the practice. But she said some.
thing about casting her bread upon the water,
which, although did not clearly understand
its relevancy to this particular case, would
prove, know, powerful weapon and success
ful argument with my wfe's mother I; aud one
which it would be useless ia me to combat.
think 1t would be we'll for me to get up some
the parts of Lady Bountiful and sister of char
ity. The other day she took ten little beggars
aud match girls TO the Museum, where they en-
joyed themselves very greatly. Afterwards she
treated them each to three glasses Of ice cream
at a stand in The square near the Museum and
to cup of lemonade, from the one-legged mar
who leans against tho Park rallngs.
; When my matter-of.fact wife said to heI
mother that she thought u pair of shoes fol
each of these little girls would have been bet
ter Investment for her money, she requested
my wife to be silent, and said that for her par
she was certain the little ragged ones had en-
joyed their afternoon more than If they hat
been clothed in new habliments from head tc
feet. And she. the old lady, actually believed
that that afternoon would have blessed infu
ence upon their future life. amusement, my
daughter, is to the young what sunshine is t
the ilowers--t quickens and expands theil
hearts and. II l am not greatly mistaken, Il
better for them than musty advice"
am not confident but that the old lady L
correct in what she says; and am certain tina
these children will remember aud bless hel
through life.-[ Barry Graz
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