Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-08-20
Your Mother-in-Iaw.
HER SIDE OF THE STORY-AND A
PRETTY Coon STORY, TuO.


A good many things, some Of them
good, many sharp, and occasionally
cruel, having been said of late of moth
ers-in-law, and now comes one of this
much-taled-of class, and tells her side
of the story. That she tells it well will
be admitted by all who read it
Left widow, alter a few years of
with my two children, to small town,
where intended to subsist upon my
very moderate means, and to devote
myself to the care of their education.
I thipk 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 Grad
icated with time, we can scarcely be-
lieve the pains we are taking will ever
have any but the desired result. These
early promises are so beautiful! Every
childish liking seems talent, lacking
only opportunity to develop into ex-
cellence.
My girl and boy went to school in the
morning. In the afternoon we walked
together, and We three enjoyed those
long rambling walks. Then our tea
table, and our evenings, when l read
to them-how delightful was our COM
panionship! How l tried every way
to sow the good seed. / have said that
my means were small, but my wants
were few, and considered it my duty
to make them fewer, for my children's
sake. I took care that they were al
ways well dressed, often working until
late at night at their clothes-my own
were plain enough. They never knew,
of conrse, the sacrifices l made that
they might have pleasure.
That nay children loved me-, respect
ed me, ! need not repeat. Their first
thoughts always seemed to be of me.
AT Christmas they presented me with
horrid little daubs, which 1 still treas
ure, tied up in little packages, and da.
ted. All! happy, happy days!-days
when paper Ofsweet 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 adj
NIT of his going TO college, obtained
admittance for him into the place .oi
business of friend. One day heard
an acquaintance say that my sOn ad.
mired Miss Benson. Then first shot
into my heart that acu:e pang Of jeal.
ousy which had heard woman feels
when another woman dares to lay
claim to her sOu--a bitter, unreasona.
BILE 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 go and see her. went. She
was tall and very thin, and stylish
looking, with redish hair. She wIre a
great many flounces, and a great deal
of jewelry, of the pale gold kind kind.
Her manners were very gracious TO
me, but some how or other there was
something about her that seemed to
she was the one who had always had a
right to James, while stood out in the
queer and awkward light of one whose
claims upon him were very tritiing,
and quite recent.
When went home sat i'm my rock
ing chair for about an hour, thinking.
had understood the formation of ev-
cry kite he had ever flown, fathomed
tine capacities for every toy cannon
with which he had ever just missed
committing suicide, overcome the
mysteries of marbles of every degree,
loved every puppy and kitten he had
ever adopted and taken to his heart
why could not at least try to love this
reddish-haired girls? People congrat-
ulated. %! yes, / WAS very much
pleased, not losing son at all--O! no.
only gaining another daughter' De
lightful, certainly, and early. marriages
are, as you say, so very deSirble,'
A year afteward they were married,
and remained some months with her
family, during which time saw her
often, and cannot say that ever had
any fault to find with her. Then James
sought and obtained very good posi-
ton in town distant about one hun
dred miles. AT first the ne ws was very
satisfactory. Charming little house,
the perfection of servants;' and then,
later. the loveliest little baby my
grandson. Then, some months later,
things were not quite so bright. The
baby had the Group, my son himself
a touch Of the intermittent fever, SER
wants were great plaques, hOuse-keep-
ing dreadful trouble. Disturbed be-
yond measure at the reiteration of these
lamentations, 1 decided to go and see
AOI III ocil uOW tHey hCiS CiiCuLuStdi-
ced, and be of what assistance l might
for short time. So one winter morn
ing, leaving Fanny with an intimate
friend, and trusting my house and all
it contained to the care of one servant,
I left home alone. Arriving after dark
at my destination, l found the two
young servants enjoying a very CON-
Portable meal in the kitchen, and the
baby asleep alone in chilly nursery.
My son and his wife were out spend
ing the evening, with some friends.
Their surprise and pleasure at seeing
me upon their return home appeared
great. Upon conversing with Maria
the next day, found her to be very
ignorant as regarded baby's require
ments. He does cry so dreadfully,'
she said. 1 stayed there a whole