Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-06-18

A good many things some Of them good,
many sharp, and occasionally cruel, hav-
ing been said of late 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, | retired, with my
two children, to small town, where in
tended to subsist upon my very moderate
means, and to devote myself to the care of
their education.
L think the enjoyment we have in our
children before they reach the age of ten
is very great. All faults and evil tendeu
cies seem so sure to be eradicated with
time, We can scarcely believe the pains We
are taking will ever nave any but the de-
sired result. Every childish liking seems
talent, lacking only opportunity to de-
velop into excellence.
Ny girl and boy went to school in the
morning La the afternoon we walked to-
gether, and we three enjoyed those long
rambling walks. Then our tea table, and
and our evenings, when read to them
how delightful was our companlonship
How tried in every way to SOW the good
seed. L have said that my means were
small, but my wants were few, and | con-
sidered it my duty to make them fewer,
| for my children's sake. | took care that
they were always we'll dressed, often work
ing 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 horrid little daubs,
which still treasure, tied up in little
packages, and dated All happy, happy
days days when paper of sweet cake
is sufficient for happiness.
The days came when they grew tall and
less dependent on me. James left school
and, as my means did not admit of his 60,
ing to college, [ obtained admittance for
him into the place OF business OF friend
One day heard an acquaintance say tina,
my son admired Mss Benson. Then
first shot into my heart that acute pang Of
ealousy which | had heard woman feels
when another woman dares to lay claim tc
her son-a bitter, unreasonable feeling, bu
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 asked me t.
90 aud see her. went. She was tai
and very thin, and stylish looking, with
reddish hair. She wore great many
founces, and great deal Of fjewelry, of th,
pale gold kind. Her manners were yer,
gracious to me, but somehow or othe
there was something about her that seemet
. to say she was the one who had always hat
right to James, while | stood out in tn
queer aud awkward light of one who's
claims upon him were very trifing, an
quite recent.
When l went home sat in my rockin
chair for about an hour, thinking. | ha
understood the formation of every kite
had ever flown, fathomed the capacitie
, for every toy cannon with which he ha
ever just missed committing suicide, over
E come the histories of marbles of every de
: gree, loved every puppy and kitten he ha
t ever adopted and taken to his heart-wh
could not at least t, ,y to love this reddis
haired girl People congratulated. 40
,, yes, was very much pleased, not losin
E a son at all-O! no-only gaining anothe
e daughter" Delightful, certainly, an
! early marriages are, as you say, SO yer.
!. desirable"
A year afterward they were married
;, = and remained some months with her fau
r lily, duriag which time l saw her Otter
q and cannot say that l ever had any fauI
t to fud with her. Then James sought an
Il obtained very good position in tow
u distant about one hundred miles. At fir
, the news were very satisfactory Charm
e ing little house, the perfection of servants
n and then, later, 4" the loveliest little baby,
my grandson. Then some months late