The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-24
Your MOther-in-Law.
HER SIDE OF THE sToRY-AND PRETTY GOOD
STORY, TOO.

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HER SIDE OF THE sToRY-AND PRETTY GOOD
STORY, TOO.
A good many things, some of them
good, many of them sharp, and occa-
sionally cruel, having been said of late
of mother-in-laws, and now comes one
of this much-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 widow, after a few years of most
unhappy life, retired with my two
children to a small town, where 1 in
tended to subsist upon my very mod
crate means, and 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 eradicated
with time we can scarcely believe the
pains we are taking will ever have any
but the desired result. These early
promises are so beautiful! Every child
ish liking seems a talent, lacking only
opportunity to develop into excellence.
My girl and boy went to school in the
morning. In the afternoon we walked
together, and we all three enjoyed those
long rambling walks. Then our tea
table, and our evenings, when / read to
them-how delightful was our compan-
iOnship! How 1 tried in every way to
SOW the good seed have said that my
means were small, but my wants were
few, and 1 considered it my duty to
make them. fewer, for my children's
sake. took care that they were always
well 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. ..g-..-s.
That my children loved me, respected
me, 1 need not repeat. Their first
thoughts always seemed to be of me, At
Christmas they presented me with hor-
rid little daubs, which I still treasure,
tied up in packages, and dated. Ah!
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 admit
of his going to college, [ obtained ad-
mittance for him into the place of busi-
ness of friend. One day I heard an
acquaintance say that my son admired
Miss Benson. Then first shot into my
heart that acute pang OF jealousy which
l had heard a woman feels when an
other woman dares to lay claim to her
son-a bitter, unreasonable feeling, but
strong and fierce, trample on it as you
may. 1 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 go and see her. l went. She was
tall and very thin and stylish-looking,
with reddish hair. She wore a great
many fiounees, and great deal of lew
elry of the pale gold kind. Her man
ners 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 1 stood out in the queer
but awkward light of one whose claims
upon him were very trifiing, and quite
recent.
When I went home sat in my rock
ing-chair for about an hour, thinking.
I had understood the formation of every
kite he had ever flown, fathomed the
capacities for every toy cannon with
which he had ever just missed commit
ting 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
girl? People congratulated. "Oh! yes.
"eo NCA PACdoCOy lOt lOSluR
son at all-Ohi no-only gaining an
other daughter Z" -"D Delightful, GER
tainly, and early marriages are, as you
say, very desirable"
A year afterward- they were married.
and remained some months with her
family, during which time 1 saw her
often, and cannot say had any fault to
find with her. Then James sought and
obtained very good position in town
distant about one hundred miles. At
first the news was very satisfactory.
Charming little house, the perfection
of servants;" and then, later, tloveliest
little baby" my grandson. Then, some
months later, things were not quite so
bright. The baby had had the Group,
my son himself a touch of the intermit-
tent fever, servants were great plaques,
housekeeping dreadful trouble. Dis
turbed beyond measure at the reitera-
tion of these lamentations, decided to
go and see for myself how they were
circumstanced, and be of what assist
ance might for a short time. So one
winter morning, leaving FANNY with
an intimate friend, and intrusting nv
house and all it contained to the care of
one servant, 1 left home alone. Arriv-
ing after dark at my destination, found
the two young servants enjoying very
comfortable meal in the Kitchen. Nv
son and his wife were out spending the
evening with some friends. Their sur
prise aud pleasure at seeing me upon
their return home appeared great. Upon
conversing with Maria the next day, |
found herlto be very ignorant as re-
garded baby's requirements "He does
cry so dreadfully,r she said. I stayed
there whole month; perhaps it was
too long, but there always seemed to be
something for me to do. took charge
OF the little creature whenever his
mother wanted to spend an evening in
company, which was not seldom. Many
and many a lonely. hour did I spend ia
that dimiy-iighted room, listening to
that low breathing, rather than trust
him to the awkwardness of the young
girl who protested to fulfill the duties o.