Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-06-27
Gelette0 MlisreIIanD.
YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW.
HER SIDE OF THE sTORY-AND A Pref
TY GOOD STORY, TOO.

A good many things, some of them
good, many sharp and occasionally cruel,
have been said of late of mother-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 widow, after a few years of most
unhappy life. ! retired, with my two
children, to asmall town, where | intend
ed to devote myself to the care of their
education.
/ think the enjoyment we have in our
children before they reach the age of ten
is very great. All faults and evil ten
denotes seem so sure to be eradicated with
time. we can scarcely believe the pains
we are taking will ever have any but the
desired result. These early promises
are SO beautiful. Every childish 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 read to
them-how delightful was eur compan-
ionship! How | tried in every way to
SOW the good seed. ] have said that my
means were SMALL but my wants were
few, ard / considered it duty to make
them fewer for my children's sake. ]
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
pleasure.
That my children loved me, respected
me, / need not repeat. Their first thought
always seemed to be of me. At Christ
mas they presented me with horrid little
daubs, which still treasure, tied up in
little packages and dated. All happy,
happy days days when paper of
sweet cake is sufficient for happiness.
The days came when they grew tall
and less dependent on me. James left
school, and, as my means did not admit
of his going to college, / obtained ad-
mttance for him into the place of bust
ness of friend. One day | heard an
acquaintance say that my son admired
Miss Benson. Then first shot into my
heart that acute pang Of jealousy which
! had heard woman feels when another
woman dares to lay claim to her son-a
bitter, unreasoning feeling, but strong
and fierce, trample on it as you may
/ 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 20 and see her. ! went. She
was tall and thin, and stylish looking,
with reddish hair and long, thin hands
and feet She wore great many Aoun-
ces, and great dea, Of jewelry, Of the
pale gold kind. Her manners were very
gracious to me, but somehow or other
there was something about her that
seemed to say she was the one who had
always had right to James, while /
stood out in the new and awkward light
of one whose claims upon him were very
trifing and quite recent.
When | went home [ sat down in my
rocking-chair for about an hour, think
ing. / had understood every kite he had
ever had, fathomed the capacities Of every
toy cannon with which he had ever Just
missed committing suicide, overcome the
mysteries of marbles of every degree,
loved every puppy and kitten he had ever
adopted and taken to his heart-why
could | not at least try to love his red
dish haired girl? People congratulated
me. "Oh yes, | was very much pleased.
of course, not losing a son at all. Oh !!
no-only gaining another daughter =
Delightful, certainly, and early marri-
ages arc, as you say, so very desirable"
a year afterward they were married,
and remained some months with her fam
lily, during which time l saw her often,
and cannot say that / ever had any fault