Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-06-27

servants y 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 touch of the intermittent fever,
servants were great plaques, housekeep-
ers dreadful trouble. Disturbed be-
yond measure at the reiteration of these
lamentations, l decided to go and see for
myself how they were circumstanced, and
be of what assistance might for a short
time.
So one winter morning, leaving Fanny
with an intimate friend, and intrusting
my house and all it contained to the care
of one servant, l left home alone. Ar
irving after night at my destination, I
found the two younger servants enjoying
a very comfortable meal in the kitchen,
and baby asleep alone in chilly nursery
My son and his wife were out spending
the evening with some friends. Their
surprise and pleasure at seeing me on
their return home seemed great. Upon
conversation with Maria the next day, |
found her to be very ignorant as regard
ed baby's requirements. "IIe does cry
so drcadfully," 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 lonely
hour | spent in that dimly lighted room,
| rot thor Than truut hin, IN Tho \, ,rI,xr.n1 NO,
of a young girl who protested to fulfill
the duties of child's nurse. / did a
great deal of sewing for Maria, of whom
| became fondcr than had ever expected
to be.
James had relapse of his intermit-
tent fever. His wife knew nothing about
sickness. ! nursed him-I, who lad new
er known fatigue when he needed any
thing in former years, would surely not
fail him now. | sat up with him night
after night, and showed the cook how to
prepare nice little dishes for him, such as
| knew he liked-that is to say, ! pre-
pared them while the cook looked on
Whatever was needed now, up stairs or
down, l was the one to plan and do it.
At last ! began to think ought to return
to Fanny, and seeing James fairly con-
valescent, sought the train for my jour-
ney homeward. Sitting in the railroad
car, party of young people took places
in front of me, laughing and talking with
eager animation, principally about per-
sons | knew nothing of, except by name.
Presently one of them began to speak of
my sons wife.
81 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 around late
ly, 50 | have kept away"
$50 have l."
Here followed laugh of derision
"a mother-in-law !" exclaimed an
other; " that is hard; do pity them,
indeed"
:" But understood she is OFF now,
luckily"
"Glad to hear it. Have you heard
the new opera 2"
/ was the mother-in-law on whose ac-
count friends kept away. remember
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. / remembered the
nice little dishes, the neatly arranged
rooms, the carefully tended baby. Which
of all this was the ''raging round" which
excited the rsiblc muscles Of those young
people? | thought of Fanny, her good
looks, her intelligence, her affectionate
nature, and found myself wondering
what her nature was to be. But here
we are. There she was waiting to meet
me, dear child, but there was some one
with her, a. most Insignificant looking
individual, with very prominent eyes and
large wbiskers. Why did my heart sink
with melancholy foreboding?
How glad she was to see me again
She introduced her companion to me as
Mr.. jenkins; and whereas / was all
anxiety to be alone with her, Jenkins,
with great flourish of politoness, walked
all the way home with us. Before ]
could unite the strings of my bonnet he
told me that Fanny had promised to mar
ry him was thunderstruck, having in
the annoyance of his presence forgotten
my forcbodings of half an hour before.
| had read with much attention, in vari-
Gus high lauded books, Of the great and
imperative duty of bringing up girl to
be helpmeet for noble man. Was
this my Fanny's noble man--this dapper
little maniken? He seemed amiable, but
so utterly insignificant He had uninter-
estlng parents, and weak, plain sisters,
all Of whom made a perpetual amusement
of the engagement. My parlor was Civ
en- up to them-that is, to him and his
sisters. seemed always do trop" !
when I entered, judging by the sudden
silence which followed the animated task.
My coming was an interruption. / be-
gan to sit up stairs; | always walked
alone.
Having avoided all society and all ac-
quaintanceship when my children were
young, that might devote my whole
time to them, l found myself now desc
late and fricndless. Friends, like plants,
must be cultivated. l found no congo
niality in either of the two families with |
which my families we're connecting them
selves.
After two years they we're married
and after year Of boarding aspired to
the dignity Of keeping house. After
looking at many dwellings one was Sc