The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-04-06

were very CIlnlilg ana quite recent.
When / went home l sat in my rocking
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 committing 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
l not at least try to love this reddish hair
ed girl? People congratulated "Oh
yes; was very much pleased, not losing
son at all-oh no!-only gaining another
daughter !'-"Delightiul, certainly and
early marriages are, as you say, very de-
sirable"
A year afterward they were married, and
remained some months with her family,
during which time [ saw her often, and
cannot say that l had any fault to find
with her. Then James sought and obtained
a very good position in a town distant about
one hundred miles. At first the news was
very satisfactory. Charming little house,
the perfection of servants )" and then later,
'loveliest 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 intermittent
fever, servants were great plaques, house
keeping dreadful trouble Disturbed be-
yond measure at the reiteration of these
lamentations, | decided to 90 and see for
myself how they were circumstanced, and
be of what assistance [ might for a short
time. So one wintry morning, leaving
Fanny with an intimate friend, and intrust-
ing my house and all it contained to the
care of one servant, l left home alone. Ar
irving after dark at my destination found
the two young servants enjoying a very
comfortable meal in the kitchen. Ny son
and his wife were out spending the even
ing with some friends. Their surprise and
pleasure at seeing me upon their return
home appeared great. Upon conversing
with Maria the next day. found her to
be very ignorant as regarded baby's require
ments. He does cry so dreadfully," she
said. | stayed there whole month !; per-
haps it was too long, but then 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 lonely hour did spend in that
| dimly lighted room, listening to that low
breathing rather than trust him to the awk-
wardness of the young girl who professed
to fulfill the duties of child's nurse. |
did great deal of serving for Maria, of
whom | became fonder than l had ever ex-
pected to be-
James had a relapse of his intermittent
fever. His wife knew nothing about sick
! ness I nursed him-I, who never knew
fatigue when he needed anything in former
years, would not fail him now. | sat up
with him night after night, and showed
the cook how to prepare nice little dishes
for him, such as | knew he liked-that is
to say, [ prepared them while the cook
| looked on. Whatever was wanted now,
upstairs or down, [ was that one to plan
and to do. At last | began to think
ought to return to Fanny and, seeing
James fairly couvalescent, l sought the train
for my journey homewards. Sitting in the
railroad car, party of young people took
place in front of me, laughing and talking
with animation, principally about persons
knew nothing of, except by name. Pre-
sently one of them began to talk about my
sons wife
II used to see great deal of them at
one time" she said, ''but-"
"But what p asked another.
"Oh well, they had a mother-in-law
raging around, SO kept away"
$50 have |.
Here followed laugh of derision.
ga mother-in-law p exclaimed another
''that's hard I do pity them, indeed"
'But I hear she's off now"
"Glad to hear it. Have you heard the
new opera?"
| was the mother-in-law on whose &C
count friends kept away. | remembered
the weary nights in that sick room the
weary days, when suffering from loss o.
sleep, | struggled to keep my eyes open
that | might attend to various little house
hold duties-which Of all this was the rag
ing around that excited the risible mus
cles of those lively young people? thought
of Fanny, her good looks, her intelligence
her affectionate nature, and found mysel
wondering what her future was to be- But
here we are. There she was, waiting tc
meet me, dear child but there was some
one with her, most insignificant looking
individual, with very prominent eyes anc
large whiskerss Why did my heart sink
with melancholy foreboding?
How glad she was to see me again She
introduced Her companion to me as Mr.
jenkins, and whereas was all anxiety tt
be alone with her, Mr.. Jenkins, with great
flourish of politeness, walked all the way
home with us. Before | could unite the
strings of my bonnet he told me that Fanny
had promised to marry him | was thun
derstruck, having, in the annoyance of hi
presence, forgotten my foreboding of hal
an hour before had read with much at
tention, in various highly lauded books, o
the great and imperative duty of bringing
up girl to be helpmeet for a noble mar
this dapper little manikin. He seemed
Il