Smyrna times., 1866-04-04
SONS-IN-LAW,

A great deal of fault has been found with
mOthers-in-law. Much wit has been lavished
upon them. Young husbands have been pitied
for not being able to achieve the wife without
this unpleasant consequence. They (the hus-
bands) will grow wiser in time. At present
they resent the slightest word or look of the
mOther-ln-law which asserts any right or inter
est III those charming new treasures of which
they have taken complete possession. 1t is
true that '0OnlGa gave existence to the beauti-
tul girl who makes so lovely bride she gave
birth to her In sorrow, watched over her DUR
ing sccpless nights of infancy and sickness,
moulded her mind, formed her manners, spent
time, love and money upon those pretty ac-
cOmpshments-gave her heart, her life, her
soul, to rearing that child, whom now stran-
ger, after but a few months of acquaintance,
has taken from her. A stranger-a man Ia
man, who does not know or dream of the re-
qulrements OF a woman's nature. The moth
er-in-law knows, only too we'll that if the SON
in law be all that could be hoped for, if he tru-
ly loves her daughter, and is gentle, consider
ate, and not too SELFISH still the bride will shed
many and bitter tears during the first years Of
! her marriage.
! She knows, by experience, the trials in the
path of young wife-the pangs she will suf-
! fer mentally because her husband does not un-
dcrstand her as her mother does, and the pangs
she will suffer bodily because she is woman,
and it is her lot to suffer. If the man were as
conslderate and just as it behOoves him to be,
he would realize the fears and distress of the
mother heart, her anxiety for the happiness
of her child, and the sense of dissolution which
OverpOwers her when that child for whom she
would lay down her life leaves her protection,
her love and control, to trust herself to hus-
band.
Instead of thus refeting upon her loss and
striving to make it up to her by giving her the
assurance that she has gained a son, not lost
daughter, 1t Is a very common thing for the
; sOn-in-law to betray Il foolish and cruel leal
Ousy. HIS WiJe must not be intcrlcred with
The parent who has watched over every hOul
of that wife being cannot give her up too en-
tirely to suit his will. 'She is mine p lie
the mOtherin-law keep her love and her advice
to herself. Yet there will come a time whel
she will be welcome, because useful. Whel
; the bride becomes mother, i'll, suffering, ant
worn with the novelty Of her cares and duties
how eagerly the experience and the tircles
taithfulneSS of the mother-in-law is sought at
ter by the perplexed husband Yet let he
even then be very cautious not to cross the vii
of the lord of her chid-let her not say tina
catnip is good for the babe if he has read in
book that anise is better or that Annie ha
cried all day because he went off withOu
speaking to her, and she is so i'll and nervous
, and wan always so sensitive from her infancy
: Let her not hint that she knows Annie bette
than he can possibly be supposed to do, or tina
he is fallible in any of his actions. Let her b.
very discreet, or she will not be allowed eve
the privilege of managing an impertinen
household. and sitting up nights with her sic
r darling.
Reflect upon it, young man! Does it nc
seem like a thankless task, to raise, with inf
: mite toll and love, these precious and delicat
= young creatures, only to lose them in their fail
1 est bloom? DO you suppose it is remuner;
tive, this privilege of becoming your mother
Y in-law? And can you not anticipate tim
t when yOu too, shall have sweet and lovel
G daughters, who have twined themselves abou
a your heartstrings, and who are carried off sue
denly by young fellows whom you secretly r,
, gard as egotistical impertinent boys? If yo
1 shrink at such a prospect for yourself, no
1 much more deeply will your girls mother fe
f it? If you look at the matter in this ligh
perhaps you will be able to show more consiC
: Grafton to your wife's mother and to remen
!, Der that there are duties devolving even upO
n sons-in-law.