Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-01-22
MISCELLANEOUS,
TIE DAUGHTER IN LAW.
Circumstances alter Gases.
BY Lucy A. RANDALL.

Mrs Tompkins' parIors were in apple pie
order-not speck Of dust on the shining
plano-not stray shred on the velvet car
pet, not an atom Of ashes under the we'll
filled CRATE. For Mrs. Tompkins was one
of those thrifty souls who keep up appear
ances in spite of everything, and delight in
handsomely furnished parlors, while the
kitchen is stnted to the very closest degree
of parsimony.
She was flying about, shaking out chair
covers and arranging the little china orna-
ments cn the mantel, was Mrs Tomrkins, in
manner that betok cned q considerable
amount of inward disturbances There
was a jerk to her eItow and toss of her
head, which foreboded woe to somebody or
other.
l am clear out Of patience" calculated
Mrs. Tomkpins at last. | don't believe
there ever was poor mortal half SO bad
gercd as am, with poor relations Why
couldn't Harry have married rich wife,
while he was about it, instead Of Mary
Glenn, who wasn't worth led ccnt-only
governess at that? And now the poor
dear hoy is dead aud gone, aud left his doll
baby Of wife on my hands. | declare,
its cnouih to make Il woman crazy Don
see why | should he obliged 10 support her
just because she happened to be my sons
wife. Why cant she go to work and do
something? Too much Of fine lady, l
spose, with her white hands and long curs,
and pink and white checks. Never brought
up to DO any cares about the house-can't
wash dishes, nor make biscuit, nor do any
thing useful. I'm tired of this sort of busi-
ness
And Just rs Mrs Tompkins made this
emphatic assertion, the door softly swung
open, and delicate girl of scarcely more
than eighteen summers, glided in Her
deep mourniEg-d gave additional fairness
to a complexion that was like snowy wax,
shadowed with the soltest rose tint on cheek
and lips, and the timid, futtering glance
Of her dark eyes indicated her position de-
pendent.
Cant | assist yon about arranging the
parlors, Mrs. Tompkins?' she faltered, as
if uncertain how her offer might chance to
be received.
No, Mrs Tompkins, Junior, you cant ?
said the old lady, with toss of her cap
border 4 couldn't think of allowing
such fine lady to soil her white fingers
about my wor&. Then-you needn't go to
crying-I don't believe in people that have
such very tender feelingsp
l did not intend to cry murmured
poor Mary, but indeed, | could not help
it.
4 tell you what, Mrs. Tompkins, Jun
said the old lady, wrathfully, we may as
we'll come to an understanding first as last.
Zephaniah and me amt rich-and we've a
big family of our own, and now that poor,
dear Henry, our elder boy, has been dead
aud gone year, here Mrs. Tompkins,
mechanically, pulled out a red bordered
pocket handkerchief, and made random
dab at her eyes, i don't sec that you have
any very particular claim on US So you'd
better look out for situation as governess
or to do some plain sewing, or something,
as soon as you can, for to speak my mind,
you've been spongin' on us about long
enough =
Mrs Tompkins stopped, with her mouth
shut together like q steel trap. Her daugh-
ter-in-law had grown very pale.
And while | ana about it, continued
! the old lady, / may az we'll say that Het-
ty don't like it because you insist on stay
in in the parlor every time Col .Redclitfe
calls. He's worth cool half million,