Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-03-28
MY HUSBANDS MOTHER.
"NIy dear!''
BY MRS. NJ. L. ROBINSON.

"My dear!"
This was a remonstrance, not an endearment,
and it lid not awaken those little thrills Of
pleasure that have experienced when called
pet names by loving lips; consequently, 1t fail
ed to provoke a tenderer reply than;
"Well?"
"TPonf you put down that detcstable stuff,
and listen TO me a few moments !"
Although it was not pleasant to hear my pret-
tv German woods thus irreverently designated,
laid aside my needles Il was knitting a mat
for somebody's cigar-case to stand on,) and pre-
pared to give my entire attention to what was
coming.
81 have been talking with mother to-day"
"Ahw
"She is not satisfied with you"
Indeed"
My husband (has the apt reader suspected
the relationship p frowned, and looked cross.
at is my wish, Ellen, that you should stop
letting off those Short explosive exclamations,
when l am conversing with you. 1t is annoy
ing and disrespectful."
My forms of speech were not liked; it would
not do to treat this remark with entire inditter-
ence, so | smiled Unlucky woman that was.
Arthur Burney, my husband of two years, eyed
me as though l was guilty of high treason.
THAT smile, Mrs. Burney, is particularly dis
agreeable; more so, | think, than your explo-
sions. Mother has spoken Of it many times"
Whenever Arthur addressed me as "Mrs.
Burney," knew that he was decidedly vexed,
and that it would be policy to humor him; so
said, quite humbly for me:
"What did you wish to say to me, my dear P''
"l-that is-my mother intimates that you
are eXtravagant"
ais that your opinion ?" | asked quietly.
oil mot al, Int ,nt
er should"
"Your mother should not come between US
Arthur. She has no right whatever to inter
fere with me. If you would fault me- | vii
bear what you have to say" | answered, some
what warmly
81 differ with you. My mother is more thai
twice your age, she has had large experience
and her superior sense makes her by far tn
best Judge in matters of expenditure. You ar
nothing but child, Ellen"
That exceedingly complimentary remark wa
/ a favorite with my husbands mother, and he
. son had lattery adopted it. | am not at a
amiablej and it ruiiled my temper.
"Thank you My twenty-three years sit bu
lightly upon me, but they have given me wi
: enough to know kindly advice from insolent as
, sumption and arrogant interference"
o Now | confess to your thousands of readers
= that if had said "Yes, dear, l suppose | ar
f a child" it would have been more mertoriou
in me. But hadn't bit Of the non-resistan
principle about me at that moment. | al
afraid don't yield pretlily to a command 1
r any time. am highly pcrsuadablei but when
v get glimpse of the rod that is to drive me,
! grow refractory, and am quite apt to go tn
,e wrong way.
d "Elen-Mrs. Burney! will not allow eve
my wife to insult my motherW
, There was no mistaking that tone from ben
> slightly out of temper, Arthur had become 81
riousy angry, and as was not many degree
from the catastrophe myself, am sure it WI
the most fortunate thing in the world, when Il
lr lr door opened, and in walked my married siste
at Fannie, some five years my senior. Prudenc
good breeding, and her presence, put an end
~ our matrimonial tete-d-tete, and gave Arth
and myself chance to get good-natured befo
N dinner; for nothing can be more inapropos, al
- worse for digestion, than ill-temper at the di
es ner-table. 1t is phiosophically, an entire was
e Of food.
81 am come, good people," saluted Fam
: "to dine with you, after which | am going
Ie- take Ellen out shopping with me. lisa love
day, and Strong has elegant autumn goods"
n Arthur bowed politely though stifiy, to Il
or- latter intimation, and | motioned her slyly
ro, talk about something else But whenever
fate resist an opportunity to do something u
;. handsome? Fannie went on as she had begr
Inn, "Did you know, Nellie, that silks were neN
so low-priced before? Brown has beauti