The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-11-16
Attaerspn gntelli9eneer.
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW'S VISIT.

-
mothers in-laW "a sm other's fdev otionI to
her childrensands interest instheir welfare
has alwayssbeea:;the theme of praise 4
song and story ;Shat- essone sher chill
dren marry, and She is at once trans.
formed into most meddlesome, detested
creature, whose noble virtues have sunk
into vices of the most uncomfortable char
acter AS far as she can perceive, she is
the same woman that she was before,
with the same warm affections, quick
sympathies and untiring devotion and
self-sacrifce; but all the rest of the world
sees her in quite different light.
I presume Horace Bartlett e,did. mot
praise his mother and her ways of doing
things oftener than any dutiful son of a
good mother, but his little wife, Matte,
had come to look with somes fear and
trembling on the proposed visit of SAID
mother-in-Iaw to her little snuggery of q
home. Mother WAS getting on in years; /;
the Journey was long one, and very
likely this would be ssher last, as: weltao
her first visit to her sons house. Horace
was in q. hutter, of happiness at the pros
pect of seeing her once more, and very
anxious to have everything on hand that
could possibly add to her comfort. See
ing him in such a state of anticipation,
Matte carefully snothered her own ap-
prehensions, and dropped tears in secret
over Horace's hints and suggestions about
the children, and how mother would like
this or that in reference to them. That
poor unconscious mother-in-law was fast
becoming the bugbear of her life. She
wished the dreaded visit over, eandsfelt
that she could never breathe free again
until she was on her homeward way once
more. Do not censure; her inhospitality,
unless you are quite free to cast a stone
at, .her.qyHas: not some expected visit
of some keen-eyed relative Of "his" set
your own heart fluttering with apprehen'
sion? Have you not, metaphorically,
wished her Gin Guinea" a dozen times
before she came under your rroDf?
It seemed as if the nearer The third
came the moro 'mixed up' everything
became Matte could, mot make head;
way with her work with those three little
children always about her feet The
baby took the time to cut few more
teeth, as is the manner of babies when
mamma is in hurry and worry, and
Matte grew so nervous that Horace was
dFawh into the same net. So far he had
experienced about. the usual vicissitudes
Of young fathers and householders, who
have small means out of which to provide
for family. But somehow the tangle
affairs had taken sometimes caused a
sharp word orstwo5, on vboth, sides, to.be,
followed by bitter repentings in cooler
moments.
"More system" was Horace's unfailing
remedy for housekeeping ills, and any
woman will appreciate the aggravating
nature of such advice under such circum-
stances.
After all, the reception passed off ia
vorably-a great point in entertaining
guest; first impressions are so lasting.
The good, motherly grandma took the
little ones on her knee so fondly, and
cuddled them in her ample bosom so loy-s
ingly, that the mothers heart warmed
toward her instantly. Horace was graft
fed, and Matte more than pleased that
things had turned out so differently from
her fears. Is it not usually so with our
anticipations? The evils that cause US
most suffering are those which. never
happen. 4 ~ +
But mornig brought its usual petplegi;;i
ties, and Mattie's heart sank at the pros
pect of going on with her days work,
after Horace, had gone to his business,
with those experienced eyes ever watch
ing ~her-sure to see her shortcomings,
Matte thought, and ready, perhaps, with
cool advice about 'esystetn," which would
be sure to try.her SO keenly! ],
Mother was late after her journey, and'
Horace had little time for chat, as his
business required punctuality. Matte
must attend to her baking, and that noisy
Charley had, of course, to upset aehalr
Just at the head Of the cradle, and then
such a cry as came from sturdy pair Of
little lungs! <
Maybe Matte would have given the
mischief-maker good shake if grandma
had not been by; she, certainly felt ready
to. as she rubbed the dough from her
hands and, prepared to take up the little
one. ;,',r..l.7,s
81 guess he will come to me, daughter
said the old lady kindly. "We'll see; 1
am kind of lame, Matte, or would spry
about and help you do up the work. But
if can keep the baby happy, maybe 1t
It did heip 8 great 4 deal. Mother had
the faculty of bewitching the baby in
some way, so he was charmed with her,
and Matte felt so grateful that she wanted
to stoop down and kiss that wrinkled face
with its crown of whitened hair beneath
its snowy cap. And this was the dreaded
mother in-law! She felt, rather than
thought, that she could go to the mother
quicker than to the son with her many
perplexities in housekeeping.
The work ,mo1ed on very smoothly that
day, with grandmother to keep the chill
dren out other way. Itseemed like do
ing-the work in a new atmosphere. The
afternoon found Matte settled down COM
fortably to her sewing, the baby soothed
to sleep, soft towel dipped in warm
water wrapped about his chest, carefully
covered with flannel.
Chow soundly and sweetly he is sleep
ing!" said his mother. ""He has notslept
like that for a. Week.H -. =.
"There is no soothing syrup equal TO
it," said grandma, "where there are any
teverIsh symptoms; anu thele - hoI tue
slightest danger, where you cover, the
towel we'll with flannel. Now I can help
you sew, daughter, if you will be kind
enough to give me my specs: l am
master hand at patching, and | see that
Charley is much like other boys, and
pokes his knees through his trowsers, just
as his father did before him. / thought
that the clothtthat could hold out for sig
weeks-withl that boy was cloth to be re-
commended" -.
"Could you always have as much sys-
tenn about your work as you wished,
mother, when your children were little?"
asked Matte, broaching the sore subject.
Grandmother laughed good, hearty
laugh, maybe at remembrance OF the old
times-certainly it was not laugh that
Ill lol,,,, Tao1iprr Matte know