The Van Buren press., 1875-06-22


heard about his mother.in law now force
themselves vividly before his minds
eye.
1t takes but a few days mere to con
vince him perfectly in regard to her char
actcr; she is naughty, dominecrng, pre-
sumptuous and touchy. She alone wish
cs to rule in the house, and considers 1t
matter of course that Simpson owes her
especial gratitude and fealty for having
bestowed her daughter upon him.
Hostilities begin before the honeymoon
is fairly over. Simpson wishes to spare
his wife rs much NJ possible, but the en-
croachments of the old lady are getting
too strong, and he is not disposed to
yield to them.
In consideration to Charlotte, they did
not come to open words. AS soon as
Simpson had noticed that his mother.in'
law left the sitting.room every evening
precisely at ten, he advanced The hands
Of the clock an hour; she is soon aware
of this. and now remains until eleven.
Simpson begins to smoke; the old lady
gives him furious looks and stimulates
coughing, Simpson pre,cnds not to OBJ
serve either, and pulTs on until his own
eyes ache.
The old lady accustoms herselfto this.
She knows that her son in law is averse
To her presence in the room every eve.
ning--for which reason she is so much
the more inclined to remain. He places
the furniture as it stood at iirst--evcrJ
day, at noon, when he comes home to
dinner, the chairs stand against the wall
like squad of grenadiers.
Within month Mrs Bayard has the
domestic regimen completely in her hand
and the servant maid dares obey only her
while Chaalottc is treated as mere child,
The old lady decides what is to be cook
cd, and how it is to be cooked, for she
knows everything best.
The young couple may indulge in no
persurcs without her. II Simpson wish
cs to take Charlotte to the thea,er, nam
ma always goes, uncalled for and uDn
vted; should he intend to go afoot she
calls hack, and all ride, and-Simpson
pays When he goes out walking with
Charlotte, on a fine day, sho likewise
sails along, either alongside or behind
them. All hope Of JOY or confinement
for the young Benedict has now fled the
sight of his mother n.law, nay. the very
thought of her, eXciies his gall; for It his
conviction that it is this woman's pur
pose to subjugatc him and to cmbittcr bis
life AS soon AS he sits down to his
: meals, his appetite is gone; for she al
ways sits directly opposite him. When
ever she fastens her big, rigid eyes or
his, it appears to him as if all the fooc
had been overturned, saltcd and pep
1885,. two Ca-Jw
i epo-'; " g, sould endure all this, bu
absent she even essays to al
lenatc Charlottc's heart from him She
tyrannizes over the poor young wife to
most fearful extent
Nainly Simpson endcavors to persuade
Charlotte that it were better for him, fol
her. aye, FOR all if the old lady woult
leave the house. lie offers to supply hel
with comfortable, even luxurious accom-
modations elsewhere. but Charlotte's en
treaties still held him in check She fears
her mother, and, moreover, cannot find I
in her heart 10 east her off rs it were.
But it, SAYS she. " mamma SHOULD
herself express DIES r. to move away
from us, would gladly agree
Simpson jubilantly takes this cue, ant
does all in his power to make his moth
er in laws sojourn in his house rs un
pleasant as possible But the old lady
marks it, and thinks the lex talonis is
| very just law.
Mrs Bayard is very partial to well
heated rooms. AS soon as Simpson
, comes home to dinner he throws open al
the windows--he would rather be frozcI
, red, white, blue and stiff than endure bis
mother in law The old lady appears a
the table enshrouded in furs, and further
, rcvengcs herself by having the very
, dishes served up which he ahhors th'
> the most.
Mrs Bayarl is taken sick The first
day she is in bed, Simpson feels himself
in heaven. He dimes anoe with Char
, lotte; no one else is nigh to distu b the
sweet dallyings and condolences. and Ii,
feels suddenly so happy aud at home il
his house that he does not 60 to the stor,
at all in the afternoon,
q The next morning he pulls aside thu
physician who has just issued from TIT
. sick chamber.
"My dear DOCTOR" he eagerly inquiries
chow fares my mother in. law 7"
My dear sir be without apprehcn
sion; it is only slight cold In a few
day she will be fully restored"
Simpson turned pale
"No, no, my worthy doctor, you arr
certainly in error; you have not yet I'M
, derstood my mother in.law's condition
she is very sick--I even believe that sh'
is dclrious-yes, she is positively dclir
Gus For Heavens sake do not treat th'
matter so lightly. She must keep to he'
bed mt least fortnight longer. and to hc'
room n full month. beg you, sir, tel
, her son-she is very i'll, believe me, SIR !!
The old lady seems to be aware o
Simpsons malicious cxulta,ion,and avcn
ees herself by compelling Charlotte t'
watch at her bedside day and!night. Now
Simpson does not see his wife at all, or
at the highest, for a single minnie. lie
must now take his three meals alone, anC
smoke his cigar through the long weary
evening in utter solitude. Finally he
begins to pray for her recovery--she re
covers.
Simpson knows that his mother in Law
abomina,es all noises. lie forthwith
,ia. lossonu an tho French horn, nUl