The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-22
Your MOtRleF-iAsLaW.
HER SIDE OF THE sTORY-AND A PRETTY
GOOD STORY, TOO.

GOOD STORY, TOO.
A good many things, some of them
good, many sharp and occasionally
cruel, have been said of mOthers-in-laW
and now comes one 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 widow, after few years of
most unhappy married life, I 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 a 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
table, and our evenings, when | read to
them-hOw delightful was our cOmpan-
ionship! How I tried in every way to
SOW the good seed. have said that my
means were small, but my wants were
few, and considered it duty to make
them fewer, for my chsldren's sakes. l
took care that they were always we'll
| dressed, often working until late at
night at their clotheS-my own were
plain enough. They never knew, of
course, the sacrifices |, made that they
might have pleasure.
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
ho1rid little daubs, which still treasure,
tied up in little packages, and dated.
All! happy, happy days days when a
paper OF sweet cake is sufficient for hap
piness.
The day came when they grey tall and
less dependent on me. James left school,
and, as my means did not admit of his
going to college, obtained admittance
for him into the place of business of a
friend. One day Iheard an acquaintance
say that my son admired Miss Benson
Then first shot into my heart that acute
pang of jealousy which had heard a
woman feels when another woman dares
to lay claim to her sOn-a bitter unreas-
oning feeling, but strong and fierce
trample on it as you may. l asked
James about it; he laughed at the
idea.
A wear later he announced that he
was engaged to this very girl, and asked
me to 60 and see her. Invent. She was
very tall and very thin, and stylish look
hands and feet. She wore a great many
f1ounces, anda great deal of fjeWelry of the
pale gold kind. Her manners were very
gracious to me, but some how or Other
there was something about her tha
seemed to say she was the one who haC
always had q right to James, while
stood out in the new and awkward ligh
of one whose claims upon him were very
trifing and quite recent.
When I went home [ sat in my rock
ing chair for about an hour, thinking
had understood every kite he had eve
had, fathOmed the capacity of ever,
toy cannon with which he had eve
missed committing suicide, overcome
the MYSTERIES of marbles of every degree
loved every puppy and kitten he had eve
. adopted and taken to his heart-wh,
could not at least try to love this red
me. 90! yes, [ was very much pleased
of course, not losing a son at all-O n
I-only gaining another daughterw De
lightful, certainly, and early marriage
are, as you say, so very desirable.
A year afterWard they were married
and remained some months with he
family, during which time saw her of
ten, and cannot say that / ever had an
fault to find with her. Then jaime
sought and obtained very good pOsi
| ton in a town distant about one hun
dred miles. At first the news was yer
T. satisfactory. Charming little hous'
the perfection of servants ;" and the
: later, "the lovliest little baby" m
grandson. Then, some months late
things were not so bright. The bah
had the Group, my son himself tOuc
, of the intermittent fever, servants wei
great pleagues, hOusekeepers a dreaC
I. full trouble. Disturbed beyond meas
tions, / decided to go and see for my
self how they were circumstanced, an
be of what assistance might for
short time.
So one winter morning, leaving Fam
with an intimate friend, and intrustin
house and all it contained to one Sc
want, [ left home alone. Arriving aft
dark at my destination, I found the tW
younger servants enjoying comfOrtab
O. meal in the kitchen, and the baby aslet
alone in chilly nursery. My son al
his wife we're out spending the evenir
with some friends. Their surprise al
pleasure at seeing me on their retul
home was very great. Upon conversiI
with Maria next day | found her to
very ignorant as regarded baby7s r
quirements. HE does cry SO dreadfully
she said. / stayed there whole montl
lo perhaps it was too long, but there g
ways seemed something for me to
r j. r1f hn Ta +TV
IN whenever his mother wanted to spe1
:, an evening in company, which was n
~ seldom. Many and many lonely no
" [ spent in that dinly lighted rool
rather than trust him to the aWkwar
y ness of the young girl who profess
to fulfill the duties of chi1d's nurs
I did a great deal of sewing for Mar
~ of whom / became fOnder than | hi
ever expected to be.
- James had relapse of his Intern
r. tentfever His wife knew nothing abo
nd sickness, nursed him-I who had new
a,s as known fatigue when he needed an
thing in former years, would surely n
:. fail him now. sat up with him mig
after night, and showed the cook hC
- to prepare nice little dishes for hi
A. such as I knew he liked-that is to say
on on prepared them while the cook look
- on, Whatever was needed now,
stairs or down, was the one to pl
and do it. At last / began TO think
sE ought to return to Fanny and seei
by James fairly eonvalescent, [ sought t
el en- train for my journey homeward. S
- ting in the railroad car, party of You
!. people had places in front of me, laue
= ing and talking with eager animate
principally about persons knew not
ing of, except by name. Presently Q