Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-03-05
THE DAUGH HTER.IN-LAW.
CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.

NihSp"oiANSES ALTER CAStS
Mrs. Tompkins'parlors were in apple pie or
Ger-nCt speck of dust on the shining piano
not a stray shred on the velvet carpet not
an atom OF of ashes under the well filed CRATE
For Mrs. Tompkins was one of those thrifty
sonls who keep up appearances in spite OF
everything, and delight in handsomely furnish
ed parlors, while the Kitchen is stinted to the
closest degree of parsimony.
She was flying about, shaking ont chair
covers and arranging the little china ornament
on the mantle, was Mrs. Tompkins, in mans
ner that betokened a considerable amount of
inward disturbance. There was jerk to her
elbow and toss of her head, which foreboded
woe to mebody or other.
al am clear out of patience - calculate
Mrs. Tompkins at last. 81 don't believe there
ever was poor mortal half so badgered as
am with poor relations Why couldn't Harry
have married a rich wife, while he was about
it, instead of Mary Glen, who wasn't worth a
red cent-only governess at that? And
now the poor dear boy is dead and gone and
left his doll baby of wife on my hands
declare, its enough to make woman crazy.
Don't see why / should be obliged to support
her just because she happened to be my SON
wife Why can't she go to work and do some
thing? Too much of fine lady, s'pose.
with her white hands and long curls and pink
and white cheeks. Never brought up to do
any chores about the house-can't wash dish
rs nor make biscuit, nor do anything useful.
| am tired of this sort of business
And just as Mrs. Tompkins made this en-
phatic assertion, the door softly swung open.
and a delicate girl of scarcely more than
eighteen summers, glided in. Her deep
mourning dress gave additional fairness TO a
complexion that was like snowy wax shadow
ed with the softest rose-tint on cheek and lips
and the timid, iuttering glance OF her dark
eyes indicated her position dependant.
"Can l assist you about arranging the par
lors, Mrs. Tompkins 20 she faltered, as if un-
certain how her offer might chance to be re-
ceyed.
mo Mrs. Tompkins, Junior, you can't -
said the old lady, with a toss of her cap-bor-
der. - couldn't thiuk of allowing such fine
lady soil her white fingers about my work
Iben-you needn't go to crying-I don't be-
lleve in people that have such very tender
feelings -
81 did not intend to cry" murmured poor
Mary, 'but indeed could not help it 20
81 tell you what, Mrs. Tompkins, Junior
said the old lady wrathfully, s.we may as well
come 10 an understanding first as last Zeph- !
anlah and me aint rich-and we've big fami- /
ly of our own, and now that poor deer Harry. /
our elder boy has been dead and gone years. /
here Mrs. Tempkins, Sr., mechanically pulled
out red bordered pocket handk erchicf. and
4duC u udD at UtT eyes. 81 don't
that You have any particular claim onps, So
you'd better look out for situation as govern
ess or to do some plain sewing, or something.
as soon as you can, for to speak my mind,
on 1t, you've been speDgin' on US about long
enough 20
Mrs. Tompkins stopped with her mouth shut
together like a steel trap. Her daughter-in-
law had grown very pale.
"And while am about it," continued the
Old lady, 'I may we'll say that Hetty don't
lke it because you insist on stayin' in the par
ioF every time Colonel Redcliffe calls. He's
worth cool half million, ZephaInah says,
and II our Hetty makes catch of him, why
Tue family fortunes good as made. OF
course, when Hetty is Mrs. Col. Radcliffe, you
won't expect her to notice you much-she may
give you some sewin' to do once in while,
pnt-- Ny gracious there's his carriage at
the door this minute! And he was here only
yesterday. Biddy run up and tell Miss Het-
y 10 put on her pink dress, and take her curls
OUT OF the papers-Col. Redclifie's at the door,
lou can sit in the kitchen while he's here,
nary and peel the potatoes for dinner, if it
~, .nt too common work for them lily fingers
tiety don't want you pryin' round when her
Oeau's here Run-quick !"
!, and as Mrs. Tompkins, Jr., disappeared,
tiS' fompkins, ST., opened the door with a
'nupering smile.
Dear me, Colonel Redclifie, who'd have
SI;ought Of seeing you Do walk in-we're
]'ehIy honored. Pm sure 20
ooionel Redciffe was tall, elegant looking
an' whose wealth and station in society fully
slFanted the calm dignity with which he
''"ed TO Mrs. Tomkins' adulaton.
rake seat on the sofa, Colonel 70 chat |.
n1F .,eo Mrs. Tomkins. "Won't you sit little
p,ater - the fire 2 Not cold, eh Well ii amt
freezing like as it was yesterday, to sure
supe You won't get impatient" she giggled, 7
aetty'l III he down In a minute -,