The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-05-02
YOUR MOTHER.IN-LAW.
Ber Side OF the StOry-And n Pretty Good
story. Too.

her Side OF the StOry-And n 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 il well, will be
admitted by all who read it
Left widow, after n few years OF
most unhappy married life, ] retired, with
my two children, to small town, where
i intended 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
tendencies 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 child
ish liking seems 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 our compan-
lonship How | tried in every way TO
sow the good seed l have said that my
means were small, but my wants were
few, and | considered it duty to make
them fewer, for my children's sakes. |
took care that they were always well
dressed, often working until late mt
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, | need not repeat. Their first
thoughts always seemed TO be of me.
At Christmas they presented me with
hOrrid little daubs, which l still treas
ure, 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,
asd less dependent on me. James left
school, and, as my means did not admit
OF his going to college, / obtained adj
mlttance 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
winch L had heard a woman feels when
another woman dares to lay claim to her
son-a bitter, unreasoning feeling, but
strong and fierce, trample on il as Won
may. | asked James about it he
laughed at the idea.
year later he announced that no was
engaged to this very girl, and asked me
to go and see her. went. She was
tall and very thin, and stylish LOOKING
with reddish hair, and long, thin hands
and feet. She wore great many floun.
ces, and great deal of iewelrv. of the
pale gold kind. Her manners were very
gracious to me, but somehow or otbcy
there was something about her that
seemed to say she was the one who had
always had right to James. while 7
stood out in the new and awkward liobt
of one whose claims upon him were
very trifing, and quite recent
When went home sat in NV rock.
ing-chair for about an hour. THINKING
/ 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