Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-30
CLEVELAND MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY 80, 1860

venture this time. To her surprise Mrs. CIin.
ton took it very we'll.
"oh! know what you mean, Sophy," 81,
replied. Il don't care, l'm sure, II You can
Only mlnageit, bat it's just ike truItinR chi,
However, 60 Orwell see how you ca mat
! age. But ex ieet Budget will get SO high
aud sauey tbeTell be no living with her You
never will have any authority over her; you
wouldn't dare to open your mOalh, no matter
what she did. You have TO teach such folks
their place"
Bridget is always very good sith ms, said
SOphy.
because you never have any occasion to in.
teriere with her. You should hear how she
mutteIs sometimes when I'm talking with her!
And then fyOu have her do so many extra
things, she'll be wanting her wages raised, and
ten shillings,"
"0h don't think Bridget will have 80 very
much to do" said SOphy cheerfully. 1--WE
will systematizs our work afer awhile, and !
hope we shall 90 on smoothly"
Not to weary the readers patience, Sopby
succeeded nOby. She found it pretty hard at
times; occasionally she almost wished she had
never undertaken to disturb mothers" soy
ereign away. Sometimes Mrs Clinton let
things 20 on quietly;. then agaia she would
make very provoking and cOntemptous remarks
She had begun life on narrow meens. and it
was only through close economy that she and
her husband had been able TO bring up their
family and lay by 3 comfortable property
She thought SOPhy was awfully eEtravagant,
and predicted that Alfred would be completely
ruined; also she made numerous observations
about people that were such great "ladies, +" that
she did not feel herself tit company for them;
abe thought such folks had better have staid
where they were, and not have come among
those were beneath 'em. These things tried
SoPhy awfully. Many a time she ran up to her
own room and shut the door. for fear Of say
ing something she would be sorry for afterwSrd.
And then she would feel as if there was DO use
in trying; buta good cry generally relieved her,
and she would start Rfresh, comfoTtcd always
by the remembrance of Alfred's promise. One
thing was very strange; was thore magic in III
The little blood mark on her cheek always varied
with her feelings Was shs quiet and happy,
it was pale and slight but when her anger was
aroused against the offending mother it glowed
like spark Of fire. Sophy had an uneasy fancy
that it was token Of guilt, something like the
brand of Cain
But by -and-by Mrs Clinton found that moth
ing went to wreck and ruin, though the best
they had was used in common; she found that
all the household machinery worked well, though
she did not step into the kitchen; and that spite
Of his wile's extravaganza, Alfred was hnot
bankrupt nor likely to be. She grew to inter
fere less; to say fewer sharp things even to
admit that SOphy was a better hOusekeeper than
she had ever been! Having once been relieved
of care she found it very pleasant; she had her
time to herself; she read aud made visits, and
rode out frequently, and enjoyed it all. Her
feelings toward her daughter-in-aW softened a
good deal; she said to Alfred that Sophy had
/ grown much prettier latterly and that she was
an excellent wife for him, although she played
the piano so well, and never mopped a floor in
her life. And when there was prospect of an
addition 10 the family she grew really tender; so
careful Of SOphy's health so interested in all the
little skirts and dresses, and tiny preparations.
She even revived her long-forgOtten skill in
embroidery, and worked blanket for the stran-
ger, which was the envy of all the mothers in
the neighbOrhoOd. And Sophy, as they sat
together, often looked at the old lady's still
handsome face, now bright with kindly feeling,
and felt her heart 60 out to her as she never
would have thought possible. She realized that
mother had known many troubles; she had
buried the husband Of her youth and four dear
children; she was aged, she lad few pleasures,
little to look forward to in life, Sophy was
glad to made her declining years easier and
happier. Day by day the little mark grew pa
Ter.
At last the baby was born: a plump. rosy
boy, hailed by none more delightedly than his
| grandmother; she cried with Joy that SOphy s
snfieIings were over; she laughed with JOY
that the baby was a son. that he had his fathers
eyes and his mothers smile
Alfred sat at his wifss side one morning
"Why, darling" be said, ''yOur currant jelly
mark is gone entirely your cheek is clear as
ever it was"
Sure enough it was so; and better yet, the
last touch of rancOr had disappeared with it
from Sophy's heart.