Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1873-09-11
YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW.
Her side Of the SsOry-And q Pretty
Good StsrY, Too.

cruel, have been said of late of moth
ers-in-law, and now comes one of this
ch-talked of class and tells her side
of the story. That she tells it we'll
will be admitted by all who read it.
Left a widow, after few years OF
most unhappy life. / retired, with my
two children, to a small town, where /
intended to subsist upon my very mod
crate means, and 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 eradicat-
ed with time, We can scarcely believe
the pains We are taking will ever have
any but the desired result. These ear
ly promises are so beautiful! Every
childish liking seems a talent, lacking
opportunity to devote into excellence.
My girl and boy went to school in
the morning. Ia the afternoon we
walked together, and we all three en-
joyed those long, rambling walks
Then our tea table, and our evenings,
when l read to them-how delightful
was our eompanionship! How I tried
in every way to SOW. the good seed. /
have said that my means were small,
but my wants were few, and consid-
cred it my duty to make them fewer
for my children's sakes. Itook 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 cared for loved and
respected me, l need not repeat. Their
first thought always seemed to be of
me. At Christmas they presented me
with with borrid little daubs, which l
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 ad
NIT of his going to college, / obtained
admittance for him into the place of
business of friend. One day / heard
an acquaintance say that my son admir-
ed Miss Benson. Then first shot
into my heart that acute pang of jeal-
ousy which l had heard a woman feels
when another woman dares to lay
claim to her son-a bitter, unreasohs-
ole feeling, but strong and fierce, tram
pie 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 ask
ed me to 60 and see her. l went
She was tall and very thin, and stylish
| looking, with redish hair. She wore
great many founces, and a great
deal of jewelry, of the pale gold kind.
Her manners were very gracious to
me, but somehow or other there was
something about her that seemed to
say she was the one who had always
had right to James, while / stood
out in the queer and awkward light o
one whose claims upon him were very
trifing and quire recent.
When went home sat in my rock
ing chair for about an hour, thinking
| had understood every kite he had
fathomed the capacities for every to!
cannon with which he had ever jus
missed committing suicide, overcom
by mysteries of marble of every de
gree, loved every puppy and kitten ht
had ever adopted and taken to hi
heart-W Why could not at least try t.
love this reddish-haire'i girl? Peopl
congratulated me- "O!I was yer,
much pleased, not losing son at all
O no-Only getting another daagh
) terr' Delightful. certainly, and ear
ly marriges are, as you say, very de
sirable.'
A year afterward they were married
and remained some months with be
family, during which time saw lie
often, and cannot say that / ever ha
, any fault to find with her. Then Jane
sought and obtained very good pos
ton in a town distant about one hun
dred miles. AT first the news was yer
satisfactory. 'Charming little house
the perfection of servants" and ther
later, 'the leveliest little baby" m
, grandson. Then some months late
things were not quite so bright. Th
) baby had had the Group, my son hin
self touch of the intermittent feve
!! servants were great plaques, house
7 ed beyond measure at the reiteratio
of these lamentations, declined to 9
and see for myself how they were ci
cumstanced, and be of what assistanC
3 ] might for a short time. So one VIII
! ter morning, leaving Fanny with a
intimate friend and intrusting m
house and all it contained to the cal
of one servant left home alone. A
riYing after dark at my destination
!, found the two young servants enjo,
ing a very comfortable meal in Il
kitchen, and the baby asleep alone
= the chilly nursery. My son and h
wife were out spending the evenir
= with some friends. Their surprise ar
pleasure at seeing me upon their retu
home appeared great Upon conver
ing with Maria the next day, l four
her to be very ignorant as regard,
baby's requirements. "He does G.
so dreadfully," she said. / stay,
there whole month perhaps it W
too long, but there always seemed
be something for me to do. / to,
charge of the little creature wheneV
his mother wanted to spend an eve
ing in company, which was not s.
Z! dom. Many and many lonely no
did ] spend in dimly lighted roo
listening to that low breathing, rath
- than trust him to the awkwardness
+ the young girl who professed to full
the duties of child's nurse. did
great deal of sewing for Maria,
whom / became fonder than | ever c
pected to be.
James had relapse of his Int
mittent fever. His wife knew nothi
=, about sickness; 1 nursed him-I W