The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-05-02

congratulated me. ~ yes, Il was very
much pleased, of course, not losing a
son at all-O no-only gaining another
daughter p Delightful, certainly, and
early marriages are, as you say. so very
desirable"
A year afterward they were married,
and remained some months with her
family, during which time L saw her
often, and cannot say that / ever had
any fault to find with her. Then James
sought and obtained very good posi-
tion in n town distant about one hun
bred miles. At first the news was very
satisfactory. Charming little house,
the perfection of servants :" and then
later, the loveliest little baby" my
grandson. Then, some months later,
things were not SO bright. The baby
had had the group, my son himself a
touch of the intermittent fever, servants
were great plaques, housekeeping a
dreadful trouble Disturbed beyond
measure mt the reiteration of these Ia
mentations, | decided to go and see for
myself how they were circumstanced,
and be of what assistance L might for
short time. So one winter morning,
leaving Fanny with an intimate friend,
and intrusting my house and all it con-
tanned to the care of one servant, L left
home alone. Arriving after dark mt my
destination, l found the two younger
servants enjoying very comfortable
meal in the kitchen, and the baby asleep
alone in n chilly nursery My son and
his wife were out spending the evening
with some friends. Their surprise and
pleasure at seeing me upon their return
home appeared great. Uponsconvers-
ing with Maria the next day, | found
her to be very ignorant as regarded
baby's requirements. "He does cry so
dreadfully,' she said. / stayed there a
whole month perhaps it was too long,
but there always seemed something for
me to do. | took charge of the little
creature whenever his mother wanted to
spend an evening in company, which
was not seldom. Many and many lone
ly hour did spend in that dimly light
ed room, listening TO that low breath
ing, rather than trust him to the awkard-
ness of the young girl who professed to
fulfill the duties of child's nurse. L
did great deal of sewing for Maria, of
whom [ became fonder than / had ever
expected to be.
James had relapse of his intermit
tent fever. His wife knew nothing about
sickness. | nursed him-I who had new
er known fatigue when he needed any
thing in former years, would surely not
fail him now. / sat up with linn night
after night, and showed the cook how to
prepare nice little dishes for him, such
as l knew he liked-that is TO say, l
prepared them while the cook looked on.
Whatever was needed now, up stairs or
down, was the one to plan and TO do.
At last | began to think | ought TO re-
turn to Fanny and seeing James fairly
convalescent, | sought the train for my
journey homeward Sitting in the rail
road car, party of young people took
places in front of me, laughing and
talking with eager animation, principal
ly about persons | knew nothing of, ex-
cept by name Presently one of them
began to speak of my sons wife.
Z" L used to see great deal of them
at one time" she said, "but-"
" Oh well, you know how they have
had a mother-in-law raging round late
ly, so l have kept away"
" SO have L. +"
Here followed laugh of derision.
"A mother-in-law - exclaimed an
other; THAT is hard l do pity them,
indeed.
&" But hear she is off now, luckily"
"Glad to hear it. Have You heard
the new opera ?"
/ was the mother-in-law on whose ac-
count friends kept away. l remembered
the weary nights in that sick room the
weary days when, suffering from the loss
of sleep, / struggled to keep my eyes
open that / might attend to various little
household duties. i remembered the
nice little dishes, the neatly arranged
rooms, the carefully tended baby.
Which of all this was the Raging
round" which excited the risible mus
Giles of those young people? thought
of Fanny, her good looks, her intelli-
gence, her atfectionate nature, and
found myself wandering what her ma
ture was to be. But here we are. There
she was waiting to meet me, dear child
most insignificant looking individual,
with very prominent eyes and large
whiskers. Why did my heart sink with
a melancholy foreboding
How glad she was to see me again
She introduced her companion to me as
Mr.. Jenkins ; and whereas l was all
anxiety to be alone with her, Mr.. Jen-
kins, with a great flourish of politeness,
walked all the way home with us. Be
fore l could unite the strings of my
bonnet he told me that Fanny had
promised to marry him was thun-
derstruck, having in the annoyance of
his presence forgotten my forebodings
of half an hour before. i had read
with much attention, in various highly
Landed books, of the great and impera-
tive duty of bringing up n girl to be a
helpmeet for noble man. Was this
my Fanny's noble man-this dapper
little maniken? He seemed amiable,
but so utterly insignificant He had
parents, and weak, plain
sisters, all of whom made a perpetual
of the engagement. My
parlor was given up to them-that is, to
him and his sisters. | seemed always
50 de trop" when / entered, Judging by
the sudden silence which followed the
animated talk. My coming was an in
terruption. / begon to sit up stairs
always walked alone.