Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-12-29
From the German of Frederic Frederic
SIMON'S MQTHERaIN-LAW.

shall probsbly excite ripple of indig
! aAtion in the Rinds Of some readers 81
bsaaching 50 delicate subject Is the-ons
/ IN Q1sfts5z.. so1iili am wiling to cOnceds
thaica good mother-in-las-i n blessing ID
any household. To the young husband hei
advice Is golden in value, calming infiu-
ence in possible domestic storm or tribula-
tion, guardian angel to the little folks,
and altogether she is treasure But a
bad mOther-in-law is the very demon of a
household, and such one l am about to
present for your delactation in this sketch.
Charles SlInson is merchant, and about
to unite his destiny with the daughter of a
Capt, Boyer, dead, or gone to abetter land.
| The bride is . pretty, welI-educated, sensi-
bic girl, who, since her fathers departure
| into peace, had assisted her mother in keep
ing up a respectable appearance by doing
bits Of fancy work, the proceeds of which,
added to thehttle fortune left by the Cap
tain, helped Them to live nicely, although
insufficient to allow them to cut much Of a
| dash N society.
SimSon is we'll aware of his sweetheart 5
poverty, but, being in good circumstances
himself, he is entirely too sensible to esti-
mate y wife's value by her fortune He
wants a wife to satisfy his heart, one that
will transform home Into taste of Para
disc for him-when turning his tired steps
away from business, will meet him with a
spirit of domestic cheer, chasing from his
brow the dryand practical thoughts OF COM
lneree and care, and substituting by the
Witehery of womanhOOd an interest i'll poet
ry and art.
He loves Charlotte dearly, and not a
doubt enters his mind in regard to his per-
fect happiness with her for mis- wife.
Charlottes mother is tall, lean, yes, We
might say an arid sort of woman. She is
descendant of nobility, and, although her
branch of .blue-bloOd is somewhat impover-
ished IN purse and estate, neYerthelesS~the
lady looks back proudly upqgggs ner pedigree.
Nothing but synpathh5|and necessity could
have indueedyher 10 condeseend to a union
WITH the plebeian and departed Captain,
who still had many excellent and distIn-
gushing qualities as man. The lady has
q pair of dark, uncomfortable looking eyes,
and her manners and bearing are stately,
msjestic, rather-a natural consequence OF
her genealogical superiority.
z Simson never ventured eontidentially
near her although she invariably received
him with kindness, and called him my
son, Mr.. Simson.' But.with his hippant
consideration of her courtesy, he las not
realized this as gentle fssfsilfIartUy on her
nert Ha1 used to say to himself, ''Im not
going to marry the mother. but the daugh-
ter, 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 Char
lOtte's company, looking about for their
future place of residence, they found a
house that he imagines entirely too large for
their little household, and the stately lady
with calm decision said: "My son, MIR. Sim
son. viii secure this house, as it is quite a
suitable one for US, These two rooms will
be resery;,4d for myself, the others you may
arrange 10 y0rr own liking" Simson look
ed at his Charlotte astOunded, who return
ed the look with a blush, replying: Dear
Charlie, my mama wishes o TeSiue WIN yn us'
and should so like to have uer' Iou
know il will be so lonely when you Sre amay ~
all day If | do not have her with me. oilll-
son cannot deny an appeal made SO tenGlr-
ly; he thinks ''She is right, the old lady Is
so accustomed to being with her child; her
COST will not be considerable, why Sepa-
rate? Nevertheless he considered it just
q little persuming to select the two most
cheerful apartments in the house for her
own use. -l
The situation changes, however, after
his marriage; he arranges his room to suit
his taste, places the furniture according to
his ideas of easy comfort.
He hastens home from business the first
evening after they begin housekeeping,
feeling joyous and hghthearUed, anulcipa-
ting social evening IN their nome-ilke lit
tie room, in the company OF his charming
wife.
At the open dor of his room, he stands
stock still; he must be dreamlng-nO-eY-
cry piece Of furniture has been moved, the
sofa taken from its snug corner near the
stove, and moved close TO the window, the
table in the middle OF the room, the chairs
backed stiffiy against the wall in row, as
if they were snb-oificers saluting their su
perior.
Charlotte, Charlotte! what does this
meanp he e1claims, "Who has brought
about this herribIe revolution!
The wife approaches with loving smile,
striving to hide her embarrassment.
fDear Charles, my mama thinks the
IOOtl lOOhS SO IuuCu Dcblcl tAAS ""y'
"Better!" exclaimed SimsOn. why,
We will freeze on the sofa in winter over
there, aud be broiled by the sun in summer.
And-my dear l do not comprehend
was under the impression this was our own
not your mothers room. hope ain at
liberty to use my own taste and judgment
in its arrangement, and trust she has not
continued herself my guardian. lie is
going excitedly to work to rearrange things.
Uharlotte clutches his arm tremblingy.
'sOt, dear, dear Charley You will Of
fend manai Please, for my sake, leave
them Just for to-day"
She put her little hands on his cheeks,
and her rosy lips to his mouth. The
tempter has conquered-he clasps her in
his arms.
"Well, for your sake, my angel, ! will
leave them; but | do hope your mamma
viii please to mind her own affairs, you
know, darling" -
It Is meal time. The mother-in-law sails
in aod seSts herself at the table with silent