Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-03-10
dfliscellanp.
The Mother-in-Law.
HER SIDE OFT THE sToRY-AND pRETT

GOOD STORY, TOO
A good many things, some of them
good, many of them sharp, and occa-
sionally cruel, have been said of late of
mothers-in-law, and now comes one of
this much talked of class and tells her
side of the story. That she tells it well
will be admitted by all who read it.
Left widow. after few years of
most unhappy life, | retired with my two
children to a small town where | intend
ed to subsist upon my very moderate
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 talent, lacking only
opportunity to develop into excellence.
Ny 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 / tried in 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. |
took care that they were always we'll
dressed, often working until late at night
on their clothes-my own were plain
enough. They never knew, of course,
the sacrifices / 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
Christmas they presented me with hor-
rid little daubs, which | 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 me, james left
| school and, as my means did not admit
of his going to college, l obtained admit
tance for him into the place of business
of friend One day / heard an ac-
quaintance say that my son admired a
Miss Benson. Then first shot into my
heart that acute pang of jealousy which
| had heard woman feels when anoth.
er woman dares to lay claim to her SON
a bitter, unreasonable feeling, but strong
and fierce, trample 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 asked
me to go and see her. | went. She was
tall and very thin, and stylish looking
with reddish hair. She wore great
many founces, and great deal Of jew
elry of the pale blue kind. Her man,
ners were very gracious to me, but some
how or other there was something about
her that seemed to say she was the one
who had always had right to James,
and while l stood out in the queer but
awkward light of one whose claims upon
him were very trifing and quite recent
When | went home sat in my rock.
ing chair for about an hour, thinking.
had understood the formation of every
kite he had ever flown, fathomed the ca.
pacities for every toy cannon with which
he had ever just missed committing sui.
eide, 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. "Ohl yes, l was very
much pleased, not losing son at all
oh =! no-only gaining another daugh-
ter " Delightful, certainly, and early
marriages are, as you say, very desir-
able"
A year afterwards they were married
and remained some months with her
family, during which time saw her Of
ten, and cannot say that had any fault
to find with her Then James sought
and obtained very good position in a
a town distant about one hundred miles.
At first the news was very satisfactory.
/" Charming little house, the perfection
of servants )" and then, later, "loveli-
est little baby" my grandson. Then,
some months later, things were not quite
so bright The baby had had the Group,
my son himself touch of the intermit-
tent fever, servants were great plaques,
housekeeping dreadful trouble Dis,
turbed beyond measure at the reiteration
of these lamen ations, decided to 90
and see for myself how they were cir
cumstanced, and be of what assistance
| ,,ight for a short time So ono winfar