, 1874-09-27
A MODEL S0k-lN-lA}V.

A MODEL S0K-lN-LAW.
"When my children arrive to manhood and
womauhood. they will repay me for my care and
| trouble III raising them; and I often look for
| ward to the time when they will all. be married
aud settled, and I can enjoy their society with
out the responsibilities that are now rosting &C
heavily upon mo."
Thus solloQulzeB many care-worn mother
who has hard task in raising Lcr family, and
who looks with fond anticipation to the time
when they will enjoy better homes than the one
over which she presides, in whose comforts she
expects share, aud dreaming Bweetly Of the
good time coming, she atrugsles brayely and per-
forms her duty nobiy.
Poor, de}udod mother to slight the blessing rs
she now possesses for those she knows not of.
She takes more real comfort with her children
now. dressing them, playing With them, soothing
them when sick or ir1itasea. rocking them to
sleep. or tncking them away in their little beds.
than .she will after they hAve arrived at adult
age.
When q sou or daughter whom an anxious
mother has sedulously watched over, aud guard
ed as far as possible from all the ills OF life, en-
ters the marrage-state, the mother is then no
longer a mother, but becomes the despised
mother-in-1aw. The newly-made wife il not now
her daughter, but the husband is her son~in-law; +;
or the newly-made husband is no longer her son,
but his wife il her daughtor-in-law.
Do men never think how deeply their cruel
jests thrown out against the mother in-law sone-
times sink into loving mothers hearth Have
men any right thus 10 tra1nple on the holest
love on earth.-the love OF mother for her
child? Why do We never hear OF the fntner-in-
law? Docs the father alNays reserve d right to
his child which the mother does not?
But wo will look on the other side Of the pic
ture, aud imagine mcdel son-in-law. 4 nice
young mau falls in lore with young lady, the
only child of widow Lie m1r1ies her, and
takes her to bis home, to the joy OF his existence.
He feels exceedingly grateful to Lis mother-in-
law for providing hun with such household
divinity. and holds her, in his regard, next to
his wife. So thankful ia he that he is always
planning sono pleasant surprise, not only for
his cherished wife. hut also for bis dear mother
in-law for lie feels that be cannot show hor too
much love and respect for giving to hun her
daughter. whom she gave birth to, and carefully
1aised for his especial benefit.
II there is any pleasufe-e1curson to bo taken,
his mother-n-law is the first to be thought Of.
and her comfort consulted For you know"
can never repay her for her gift; besides we
are young aad can put up with anything, while
she has passed through iie Of care aud aor-
ROW, and trouble, and ought to have little en-
joyment now. and thon, my dear, you owe
tiliai love to your mother, with which not even
I, your husband, ouSh Sht to interfere. So We will
60 by the instead OF tho boat, Is mother is
afraid of water. OF conrso tho boat would be
more pleasant for us, but TIC should never lot
our feelings stand IN the way OF dear mother.
know that, many times when you were young,
she WAS frequently obliged to forcgo some pleas
ure your account, and it is but due to hor that
we should try to repay her in aome small degree.
should feel myaof q monster OF ingratltude If
for her. And, Mary, why d1d you have her
things taken into shat back-room? Why did
you not give her tho best apartment in the
house?"
"John, you are too nonsonsical now. Mother
would not want it. Il is kept especially for
company, and mother is one OF the family, and
would not like TO be considered company. Do
give her credit for little common SENSE
Ny dear, did you ever hear me say she WAS
Wanting in common sense No, indeed. think
she is one OF the most eensbe women in the |
world, and if sho prefers tho back room, have
not word TO cay against it.'
In tile reelection Of the different dishes on the
table, dear mothers taste must be consulted;
aiso, in tho cLoico Of carpets. furniture &c;
and to euch al extent was this carried. that |
Mary began to be considerably annoyed; and, |
on ona occasion, feeling little moro irritated !
than usual at being constantly thrust into the I
she said:
''I think yon had better have married mother |
instead of me-"
My dear, how horribly you tali! What do !
you mean Z"
II mean that you pay fnr moro attention to
another than you do to me, and you Ind better
have married her"
Did ever fail in attention to you2 Did l
ever neglect you in the least: 90 asked John.
''I do not know that you ever did. hut you
sometimes make 80 much fuss about mothor T
that 1t IL really troublesome, sud sometimes very
things; and l know sl1o THINKS it il
Ill affectation, and that you would rather not
lare her in your home"
''My dear, did ever give her reason for a
moment to think did not want her i? Why.
rhat would she do if sne wero not heres" said
John.
''.Ah! that is whero the shoe pinches. You
lre, BY your fussness, continually making her
eel that slleis dependent upon you"
Is My dear Mary, feel that it is pleasure to
larc her dependent upon me- :. but. If she does
lot like it, l will soon make her indelendont-"
WlAt model soa-in-law !" said the women.
''What a spooney." cried the men.
10" days afterwards, John haudcd bank
'ook to his mother-ln-law, in which was credited
IS, 900 to her account in tue bank.
Now" she said to her daughter, II shall
lire room and live on the interest of that
money"
why not etay with US, mother"
1T will be much better for all parties it live
else, John is . model son-in-law,
'ut his fussineas is rather disagreeable to me,
nd very much 60 to you, while the dear fellow
|epriTes both you and himself Of many pleasures
n my accouur We sl4all be happier apart I
ill take room near you, whese1 I can see sou
very day If necessary"
The comments Of the neighbors we're amusing.
he women remarked: III all men were Like
i'm, the marriage Of daughter would not
eem so much like = funeral"
The men said; HE has got lid Of his mother
n-law 1t last, although It cost him considerable
0 do it; but, considering nllat he is worth. her
bsenca from his hona ;e cheaply purchased"
Mas. u. d. TFSEooP.