Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-03-29

SimsOn's M0ther-in-LaW.
BY EMILY r. sTEINESTEL.

| shall probably excite a ripple of in
dignation in the minds of some readers
at broaching so delicate a subject as the
one in question. Still l am willing to
concede that a good mother-in-law is
blessing i'm any household. To the
young husband her advice is golden in
value. calming influence in possible
domestic storm or tribulation, guar
dian angel to the little folks, and alto
gether she is a treasure. But bad
mother-in-law is the very demon Of
household, and such a one l am about
TO present for your delectation in this
sketch.
Charles Simson is merchant, and
about to unite his destiny with the
daughter of Captain Boyer, dead, or
gone 10 a better land. The bride is a
pretty, well-educated, sensible girl,
who. since the fathers departure into
peace. had assisted her mother in keep
ing up a respectable appearance by do
ing bits of fancy work, the proceeds Of
which, added to the little fortune left
by the captain, helped them to live
nicely, although insufficient to allow
them to cut much of dash in society.
Simson is well aware of his sweet
hearts poverty, but being in good cir
cumstances himself, he is entirely too
sensible to estimate wife's value by
her fortune. He wants a wife to satisfy
his heart, one that will transform home
into taste of Paradise for him; when
turning his tired steps away from busi-
ness, will meet him with spirit Of
domestic cheer, chasing from his brow
the dry and practical thoughts of CON-
merce and care, and substituting by the
witchery of womanhood an interest in
poetry and art.
He loves Charlotte dearly, and not a
doubt enters his mind i'm regard TO his
perfect happiness with her for his wife.
Charlotte's mother is a tall, lean, yes,
we might saw, an arid sort of woman.
She is a descendant of nobility, and al
though her branch of blue blood is
somewhat impoverished in purse and
estate, nevertheless the lady looks back
prondly uDon her pedigree. Nothing
but sympathy and necessity could have
induced her to condescend to union
with the plebeian and departed captain,
who still had many excellent and dis
tinguishing qualities as man.
The lady has PAIR of dark, uncom-
Portable looking eyes, and her manners
and bearing are stately, majestic, rather
"a natural consequence of her geneal-
Ogical superiority.
Simson never ventured confidentially
near her, although she invariably re-
ceived him with kindness, and called
him s.my son, Mr.. SimsOn." But with
his fiippant consideration of her cour-
tesv. he has not realized this as gentle
familiarity on her part. He used to say
TO himself, "Pm not going to marry the
mother, but the daughter" and thus
the mother slipped from his mind.
The captains widow, who impresses
her servant with her Importance into
calling her "my lady," has never made
any claims upon Simson, but this never
occurred to him until one day when In
her and Charlotte's company, looking
about for their future place of residence,
they found a house that he imagines
entirely too large for their little house
hold. and the stately lady with calm
decision said: "My son, Mr.. SimsOn
will secure this house. as il is quite a
suitable one for us. These two rooms
will be reserved for myself, the others
you may arrange TO your own liking.
Simson looked at his Charlotte aston
Isftu, WHO TttuIHCN bhN aOoo AS-- =
blush. replying: "Dear Charlie, my
mamma wishes to reside with us, and
should so like to have her. You know
it will be so lonely when you are away
all day if do not have her with me. .
Simson cannot deny an appeal made SO
so renderly, he thinks "she is right, the
old lady is so accustomed to being with
her child, her cost will not be consider
able, why separate them?" Neverthe-
less he considered it just little pre-.
suming TO select the two most cheerful
apartments in the house for her own
use.
The situation changes, however, after
his marriage; he arranges his room to
suit his taste, places the furniture ac-
cording to his ideas of easy comfort.
He hastens home from business the
first evening after they begin house.
keeping, feeling joyous and lighthearted
anticipating a social evening in their
home-like little room, in the company
Oh his charming wife.
At the open door of his room he
stands stock still; he must be dreaming
-ho-eyery piece of furniture has been
moved, the sofa taken from its snug
corner near the stove and moved close
70 The window, the table in the middle