The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-05-03
YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW
Her Side Of the Story-And "a Pretty
Good Story, TOO.

1UUR MU1 HEk-IN-LAV.
Her Side of the Story-And "a Pretty
Good story, Too.
A good many things, some of them
good, many sharp and occasionally
cruel, having been said f.late of mother.
in-laws, and now comes ole 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 few years OF
most unhappy married life, / retired,
with my two children. to small town,
where / intended to subsist upon my
very moderate means, and 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 childish hiking seems a talent,
lacking only opportunity to devote in
to excellence.
My girl and boy went to school in
the morning. Ia the afternoon we
walked together, and we all three en-.
| loyed those long, rambling walks.
Then our tea table. and our evenings.
when read TO them -how delightful
was our oompanionship How | tried
IN every way to sow the good seed.
have said that my means were small
but my wants were few, and | consid
cred 1T my duty to make them fewer
for my chlldTen's sakes. | took care
that they were always well dressed
often working until late at night al
their clothes-my own were plalr
enough. They never knew, of course
the sacrifices | made that they might
have pleasure.
That my children loved me, respect
ed me, L need not repeat. Their frs
thoughts always seemed to be of me
At Christmas they presented me will
horrld little daubs, which | still treas
ure, tied up IN little packages, ant
dated. All happy, happy days day,
when paper of sweet cake is sufficient
for happiness.
The days came when they grew tai
and less dependent on me James ief
school, and, as my means did not ad
NIT OF his going to college, [ obtained
admlttance for HIM into the place O
business Of a friend. One day | hear6
an acquaintance say that my sol
admired a Miss Benson. Then first
shot into my heart that acute papc O
jealousy which | had heard a woman
feels when another woman dares 10 la,
claim to her SOMA bitter, unreason
able 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 ask.
ed me to go and see her. [ went. She
was tall and very thin, and stylis}
looking, with reddish hair. She wore
a great many hounces, and a great dea
of jewelry, of the pale gold KIND. Hel
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 tc
James, while ] stood ont in the duee,
and awkward light of one whose claims
upon him were very trifiing, and quite
recent.
When l went home I sat in nv rock
ing chair for about an hour. thinking
had understood every kite he had
fathomed the capacities for every toy
cannon with which he bad ever lust
missed committing suicide, overcome
the mysteries of marbles of every de-
gree, loved every puppy and kitten he
had ever adopted and taken to his heart
why could | not at least t.y to love
this reddish haired girl PEOPLE con-
graduated me, "Oi yes, [ was very
much pleased, not losing a son at all
VI no-only gaining another dauch-
ter y Delightful, certainly, and early
marriages are, as you say, so very de.
sirable."
Agar afterward they were married.
and remained some months with her
family, during which time | saw her
often, and cannot say that [ ever had
any fault to find with her. Then James
sought and obtained very good posi-
ton In town distant about one hun
dred miles. At first the news was very
satisfactory, Charming little house.
the perfection of servants: " and then
later, the loveliest little baby" nv
grandson. Then, some months later.
things were not quite SO bright. The
baby had had the Group, my son him
self touch of the intermittent fever.
servants were great plaques, house
keeping dreadful trouble. Disturbed
beyond measure at the reiteration of
these lamentations, | decided to 90 and
see for myself how they were circum-
and 6s-6f what assistance L
might Tor short time. So one~wlnter
morning, leaving Fanny with an ihsl-
mate friend, and intrusting my house
and all 1T contained to the care of one
servant, l left home alone. Arriving
after dark at my destination, found