The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-09-19


STORY, TOO.
A good many things, some of them
good, many Of them sharp, aud oc.
casionally cruel, have been said Of late
of mothers-in-law, and now comes on,
of this much-talked-of class and tell,
her side Of the story. That she tells 4
well viii be admitted by all who reaC
it:
Left widow, after a few years o
most unhappy married life, / retired
with my two children, TO a small town
where l intended to devote myself e
TO the care of their education.
/ think the enjoyment we have i'm ou
children before they reach the age o
ten is very great. All faults and evi
tendencies seem so sure TO be eradicatec
with time, We can scarcely believe the
pains We are taking will over have any
but the desired result. These early
promises are so beautiful Every child.
ish liking seems a talent, lacking only
opportunity to develop into excellence
My boy and girl 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-
iOnship! How / tried in every way 10
SOW the good seedi / have said that my
means were small; but my wants were
few, and / considered it a duty to make
them fewer, for my childrens 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
la.n 4 l. 10
might have pleasure.
That my children loved me, respected
me, / need not repeat. Their first
thoughts always seemed to be of me. Al
Christmas they presented me with hor-
rid little daubs, which l still treasure,
tied up in little packages, and dated.
Ah!-happy, happy days!-days when q
paper Of sweet cake is sufficient for hap
piness.
The day came when they grew tall
and less dependent on me. James left
school, and, as my means did not admit
oi his going TO college, 1 obtained ad.
mittance for him into the place Of busi-
ness of a friend. One day / heard Q
friend say that my son admired Miss
Benson. Then shot into nv heart tn,
acute pang Of jealousy which had hearC
woman feels when another woman
dares to lay claim TO her SOFA bitter, un.
reasoning feeling, but strong and fierce
trample on it as you NAV. | asked
james about il; he laughed at the idea
A year later he announced that he
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 a great
many iounces and great deal Of Jew
elry Of the pale gold kind. Her man.
ners were very gracious To me, but
somehow or other there was something
about her that seemed 10 say she was
the one who had always had right 10
James, while stood out in the new and
awkward light of one whose claims
upon him were very trifling and quite
recent
When / went home, / sat in my rock
ing chair for about an hour, thinking.
l had understood every kite he had ever
hadi fathomed the capacity of every toy
cannon with which lac had ever missed
committing suicide, overcome the mys-
teries Of marbles of every degree, loved
every puppy and kitten he had ever
adopted and taken TO his heart-why
could not at least love this reddish
haired girl? People congratulated me-
70, yes, / was very much pleased, Of
course, not losing son at all-O! no
only gaining another daughter! De
hghtful, 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 / saw her
often, and cannot say that ever had
any iauit TO find with her. Then James
sought and obtained a very good posi-
tion m town distant about one hundred
miles At first the news were very sat
lslaetory. Charming little house, the
perfection OF servants" and then later,
the i0veliest little baby" my grand !
son. Ineh' some months later, things
" Were not so bright. The baby had had
tle Group, my son himself touch Of the
intermittent fever, servants were great
plaques, hOuse-keepers a dreadful
trouble. Disturbed beyond measure AT
tue recitation of these lamentations.
decided to go and see for myself how
llley Were circumstanced, and be Of
Whal assistance / might for a short
time
30 one winter morning, leaving
fahiy wlth an Intimate friend, and in
trusting house and all it contained to
one servant, / left home alone Arriv-
ing after dark at my destination T
found the two younger servants eniov-
ing n comfortable meal in the kitchen.
and the baby asleep alone in a 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 was very great.
Upon conversing with Maria next day,
found her 10 be very ignorant as re-
garded baby's requirements. ale does
cry so dreadfully," she said. / STAYED
there whole month. Perhaps it was
too long; but there always seemed
for me to do. ] took charge
OF the little creature whenever his
mother wanted to spend an evening i'm
company, which was not seldom. Many
and many a lonely hour | spent i'm that
uimly lighted room, rather than trust
MN TO the awkwardness of the Young
giri VINO professed TO fulfill the duties OF |
d chlius nurse. | did great deal of /
fs,'.i iOI maria, OF whom / became |
ioi1eiel Il til9h had ever expected to be.
JAMES had relapse Of his intermit- |
IN I'm ieiGI. Ills wife knew nothing
IaD1"I I.o,, sicAhess. l nursed him-I who
needed anything i'm former year, S,, ,,i,,,ig ne
surely not fail him now. / saf M, iii,
him night after night, and shovel ti,a
cook how TO prepare nice LITTLE d;.i'Ie
for him, such as l knew he likedNfhet
Is TO say, l prepared them wbila tbo
cook looked on. Whatever was needed |
now, up stairs or down, / was the ono 10 |
plan and do it. At last began to thinE
of returning TO Fanny; and seeing James |
fairly convalescent, / sought the train
for my journey hOmeward. Sitting i'm