The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-02-06
THE MOTHER-IN-L1W.

a gooo many things, some of them good,
many sharp and occasionally cruel, having
of late been said of mothers in-law, now
comes one of this much talked about class,
and tells her side of the story. That she
tells it well will be admitted by all who
read it:
Left a widow, after few years of most
unhappy married life, l retired, with my
two children, to small town, where l in
tended to subsist upon my very moderate
means, and to devote myself to their care
and education.
| think the enjoyment we have in our
children before they reach the age of ten
is very great. All faults and even tenden-
cies seem so sure to be eradicated with
time, we can scarcely believe the pains we
are taking will ever have any but the de-
sired result. These early promises are so
beautiful Every childish liking seems
talent, lacking only opportunity to devel-
op into excellence.
My girl and my boy went to school in
the morning. In the afternoon we walked
together and we all three enjoyed these
long, rambling walks. Then our tea table
and our evenings, when l read to them
how delightful was our companionship
How l tried III every way to sow the good
seed. | have said that my means were
small, but my wants were few, and l con-
sidered it my duty to make them fewer,
for my children's sake. l took care that
they were always well dressed, often work
ing until late at night on their clothes
my own were plain enough. They never
knew, of course, the sacrifices l 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 Christ
mas they presented me with hOTrid little
daubs, which 1 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 mo. James left school,
and, as my means did not admit of his
going to college, obtained admittance for
him into tie place of business of a friend.
! One day l heard an acquaintance say that
/ nv son admired a Miss Benson. Then
first shot into my heart that acute pang of
jealousy which l had heard a woman feels
when another woman dares 20 lay claim to
hers son-a bitter, unreasonable feeling but
strong and fierce, trample on it as you
may. l 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 to
90 and see her. went. She was tall,
and very thin and stylish-looking, with
reddish hair. She wore a great many
fiounces, and great deal of jewelry, of
the pale good kind. Her manners were
very gracious to me, but somehow or other
there was something about her that seemed
to saw she was the one who had always had
a right to James, while l stood out in the
queer and awkward light Of one whose
claims upon him were very tritling, and
quite recent.
When went home 1 sat in my rocking
chair for about one hour, thinking. / haG
understood every kite he had, fathOmet
the capacities for every toy cannon with
which he had ever just missed committing
suicide, overcome the mysteries of mar
bles of every degree, loved every PUPPY