The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-25
The Mother-in-law.
PRESENTING HER SIDE OF THE STORY.

devote myself to the care of their educa-
ton.
think the enjoy ment we have in our
children, before they reach the age of ten,
is very great. All faults and evil tcnden-
ces seem 30 sure to be eradicated with
time, we can scarcely believe the pains we
are taking will ever have any but the de-
sired result. These early promises are 80
beautiful! Every childish liking seems a
talent, lacking only opportunity to develop
into excellence.
My girl and boy went to school in the
morning. In the afternoon we walked to-
gtthcr, and we all three enjoyed those |
long, rambling walks. Then our tea table,
and our evenings, when | read to them
how delightful was our companionship!
How | tried in every way to SOW the gooC |
seed. | have said that my means were
small, but my wants were few. and | con-
sidered it my duty to make them fewer for
my chlldren's sake. | took care that they
were always well 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
iutN DTtScHttu Hive Will nOlIlu lkllt uuubs,
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. IA my means did not admit of his go
ing to college, | obtained admittance for
him into the place of business of a friend.
One day | heard an acquaintance say that
my son admired Il Miss Benson. Then
first shot into my heart that acute pang
OF jealousy which | had heard a woman
feels when another woman dares to lay
clahu to her sOn IA bitter, unreasonable
feeling. but strong aud fierce, tramp!e on
/, as You may. asked James about it,
he laughed at the idea.
4 wear llter he announced thai he was
engaged 10 this very arl and asked me to
go and see her. | Went. She was tall and
very thin, and stylish looking, with reddish
hair. she wore q great many ounces and
great deal OF iewelry Of the pale blue
kind. Her manners were very gracl0ns 10
me, but somehow or other there was some
thing about her that seemed to say she was
The one who had always had Il right to
James, while ] stood out in the queer but
awkward Light of one whose claims upon
him were very ,riiing and quite recent.
When l went home sat in my rocking
chair for about 40 hour, thinking. had
understood the formation of every kite he
had ever flown, fathomed the capacities
for every toy cannon with which be had
ever just missed committing suicide, over
come the mysteries of marbles OF every de-
gree loved every puppy aud kitten he had
adopted aud taken 10 his heart--why would
| not at least try to love this reddish-haired
rir RI Dant,la intuI som |
was very much pleased, not losing a son
Mt all--oh! no--only gaining another daugh-
ter!" "Deighttul, certainly, and early
marriages are, as you say, very desirable
A year afterwards they were married,
and remained some months with her family,
during which time | saw her often, and
cannot say that | had any fault to find
with her. Then James sought and obtained
very good position in town distant
about one hundred miles AT frat the
news was very satisfactory. Charming
little house, the perfection of servants !"
and then, later, "loyelieet little baby my
grandson. Then, some months later,
things were not quite 30 bright The baby
mad had the Group, my son himself touch
of the Intermittent fever, servants were
great plaques, housekeeping dreadful
trouble. Disturbed beyond measure at the
to go and see for myself how they were
circumstanced, and be of what assistance
might for short time. So one winter
morning, leaving Fanny with an intimate
friend, and intrusting my house and all it
contained to the care of a servant, | left
home alone. Arriving after dark at my des-
tinatiOn, found two young servants en-
joying very comfortable meal out in the
kitchen. My son and his wife were out
spending the evening with some friends
Their surprise and pleasure at seeing me
upon their return home appeared great
Upon conversng with Maria the next'day,
l found her to be very ignorant as regard
ed babys requirements. "He does cry so
dreadfully,' she said. / stayed there a
whole month perhaps it was too long, but
there always seemed to be something for
me to do. l took charge of the little crea-
ture whenever his mother wanted to spend
an evening in company, which was not sell
dom. Many and many lonely hour did l
spend in that dmly lighted room, listening
to that low breathing, rather than trust him
to the awkwardness of the young girl who
protested to fulfil the duties OF chlld's
nurse. / did a great deal of serving for
Maria, of whom / became fonder than
had ever expected TO be.
James had relapse of intermittent fe-
yer. His wife knew nothing about sick
ness; / nuraed him-I, who had never
known fatigue when he needed anything in
former years, would not fail him now. l
sat up with him night after night, and
showed the cook how to prepare nice little
dishes for him, such as l knew he liked
that Is to say, | prepared them while the
cooked looked on. Whatever was wanted
now, up stairs or down, l was the one to
plan and to do. At last began to think |
ought to return to Fanny; and seeing James
fairly convalescent, sought the tram for
my journey homewards. Sitting in the
railroad car, party of young people took
places Ia front of me, laughing and talking
with animation, principally about persons
l knew nothing Of except by name. Pres
emily one of them began to talk o. my sons
wife
81 used TO sea great deal of them st
one time" che said, "but--.'
''But what2" asked another
so well, they had a mother-i1-law rag
Ing around lately, 90 | kept away
$50 have l."
Here followed laugh of derision.
"a mother-in-law !" exclaimed another,
"lhat is hard; / do pity them, indeed"
''But hear she is Oft 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 of
sleep, struggled to keep my eyes open,
that might attend to various little house
hold duties. Which of all this was the
''rsging round which excited the risble
muscles of those lively young peoplef
thought OF Fanny, her good looks, Der in
telligcnce, her sffectionate nature, and
found myself wondering what her future
was to be. But here we are. There she
WAS waiting to meet me, dear child; but
there was some one with her, most in
significant looking individual, with very
prominent eyes and large whskers Why
did not my heart sink with melancholy
foreboding?
How Glad abe WAC to zoe ma Amin She