Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-04-13
THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAw.

Mrs. Tompkns's parlors were In apple-pie
order---not aspeck Of dust on the shining piano,
not stray shred on the velvet carpet, not an
atom OF ashes under the well-iilled CRATE. Fo.
MIS-. Thompkins was one Of those thrifty souls
who keep up appearance In spite of everything,
and delight In handsomely furnished parlors.
while the kitchen is stinted to the very closest
degree Of parsimony. ~ f'rfE
She was flying about, shaking out chair coyers
and arranging the little china ornaments on the
mantel, In o manner that betokened consider
able amount of inward disturbances. There
was jerk to her elbow and toss of her head,
which foreboded woe to somebody or other.
~ am clear out OF patience!" calculated Mrs.
Tompkins, at last. 81 don't believe there ever
was poor mortal half 90 badgered as I am
with poor relations! Why couldn't Harry have
married q rich wife, while he was about L.. in.
stead of Mary Glenn; who wasn't worth red
cent--oDlv governeas at thRt7 And now the
poor dear boy Is dead and gone, and left his
doll-baby of wife on my hands. declare It's
enough TO make woman crazy. Don't see
why 4 should be obliged 10 support her lust be-
cause she happened to be my sons wife! Why
can't she go to work and do something2 Too
much of q fine lady, 'spose, with her white
hands and long cuFls, and pink and white cheeks.
Never brought, up to do any chores about the
house. can't wash dishes, nor make biscuit.
nor do anything useful. Fam tired Of this sort
of business" zfJ 1s4a r ...3 g.s,-
And just as Mrs. Tompkins made this emphat-
10 assertion, the door softly swung open, and
q 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, Swallowed with the softest
rose-tint on cheek and lips, and the timid, fnt-
tering glances of her dark eye indicated her
position dependent. .rs5.-.sty -
"Can lassist you about arranging the parlorp,
Mrs. Tompkins!" che faltered, as If unce1tain
how her offer might chance to be received. :
emo, Mrs. Tompkins, Junior, you can't ~
said the old lady, with toss of her car, border.
II couldn't think Of allowing such a fine lady
to soil her white fingers about my work. Then
you needn't go to crying-I don't believe in
people that have such tender feelingsr' q b
81 did not intend to CRY" murmured Door
Mary; "but, indeed, could not help itr'
"Itell you what tis, Mrs. Tompkins, Junior. y
said the old lady, wrathlully, Eve may az we'll
come to an understanding first as last. Zepha.
niah and me ain't rich--and we've q big family
of our own, and that poor, dear Henry, our elder
boy, has been dead and gonea year." Here Mrs
Tompkins mechanically pulled out red Dor d.
cred pocket-handk and made q random
dab ct her eyes. II don't see that you have any
particular claims on US! So you'd better look
out for situation as governess or 10 do some
plain sewing, as soon as you can, for to speak
my mind, you'yebeen spOngin' on US about long
| enoughln e 4 p3ieetEG IN. 49, rt s. M
Mrs, TOmpkins stopped, with her mouth shuI
together like steel trap. Her daughterin-IsW
| l"And while j am abo1tlit,n continued th.
4 III tadv NAV all "a Al II n