Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-05-08
YOUR
Her Side of the Story-And u Pretty Goo,
story, Too.

Her Side of the StOry-And u Pretty Good
Story, Too.
A good many things, some of them
good, many sharp and occasionally cru
ell, have been said of late of mothers-in-
law, and now comes one of this much
talked of class and tells her side of the
story. That she tells it well, will be
admitted by all who read it
Left a widow, after a few years of
most unhappy married life, I retired, with
my two children, to a small town, where
[ intended to devote myself to the care
of their education.
[ think the enjoyment we have in u
children before they reach the age of
ten is very great. All faults and evil
tendencies seem so sure TO be eradicated
with time, we can scarcely believe the
pains we are taking will ever have n
but the desired result. These early
promises are so beautiful ! Every child
ish liking seems a talent, lacking only
opportunity to develop into excellence.
My girl and boy went to school in the
morning. In the afternoon we walked
together, and we all three enjoyed those
long, rambling walks. Then our tea
table, and our evenings, when I read to
them-how delightful was our compan-
ionship (! How l tried in every way to
sow the good seed. I have said that nv
means were small, but my wants were
few, and [ considered it a duty to make
them fewer, for my children's sakes. [
took care that they were always well
dressed, often working until late at
night at their clothes-my own were
plain enough. They never knew, of
course, the sacrifices [ made that they
might have pleasures.
That my children loved me, respected
me, 1 need not repeat. Their first
thoughts always seemed to be of me.
At Christmas they presented me with
horrid little daubs, which I still treas
ure. tied up in little packages. and
dated. All happy, happy days days
hen a paper of sweet cake is sufficient
for happiness.
The days came when they grew tall,
aRd less dependent on me. James left
school, and, as my means did not admit
of his going to college, I obtained adj
mlttance for him into the place of bust
ness of a friend. One day I heard an
acquaintance say that my son admired
a Miss Benson. Then first shot into
my heart that acute pang of jealousy
which / had heard a woman feels when
another dares to lay claim to her
soma bitter, ~unreasoning feeling, but
strong and fierce, trample on it as you
may. I asked James about it !; he
laughed at the idea.
A year later he announced that he was
engaged to this very girl, and asked me
to go and see her. j vent. She was
tall and very thin, and stylish looking
with reddish hair, and long, thin hands
and feet. She wore a great many foun-
ces, and a great deal of jewelry, of the
pale gold kind. Her manners were very
gracious to me, but somehow OF other
there was something about her that
seemed to say she was the n who had
always had a right to James, while
stood out In the new and awkward light
of n whose claims upon him were
very trifing, and quite recent.
When / went home I sat in my rock
ing-chair for about an hour, thinking.
I had understood every kite he had
ever had, fathomed the capacities OF
every toy canno with which he hao
ever just missed committing suicide,
overcome the mysteries of marbles Of
every degree, loved every puppy and