Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-03-10

eu DdDy requirements ne uoeS 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. took charge of the lit
tie 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
awkwardness of the young girl who pro-
fessed to fulfil the duties of child's
nurse ! did a great deal of serving for
Maria, Of whom became fonder than |
had ever expected to be.
james had relapse of his intermit-
tent fever. His wife knew nothing about
sickness nursed him-I who had never
known fatigue when he needed anything
in forL.er 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, up stairs or down,
| was the one to plan and to do. AT
last / began to think ought to return
to Fanny and seeing james fairly con-
valescent, ] sought the train for my
journey homewards. Sitting in the rail
road car, party of young people took
places in front of me, laughing and talk
ing with animation, principally about
persons knew nothing of except by
name. Presently one of them began to
talk of my sons wife.
81 used to see a great deal of them at
one time" she said, but"
But what asked another.
90 well, they had a mother-in-law
raging around lately, so | have kept
away"
$50 have |.
Here followed laugh of derision.
"a mother-in-law exclaimed anoth-
er, that is hard | do pity them, in
deed"
But hear she is off now"
Glad to hear it. Have you heard
the new opera "
was the mother-in-law ON whose ac-
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
household duties. Which of all this was
the raging round" which excited the
risible muscles of those lively young
people? | thought of Fanny, her good
looks, her intelligence, her afectionate
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 insignificant looking individ-
ual, with very prominent eyes and large
whiskers. Why did not 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 anx-
iety to be alone with her, Mr.. Jenkins,
with great flourish of politeness, walk
ed all the way home with u.s. Before
could unite the strings of my bonnet he
told me that Fanny had promised to
marry him was thunderstruck, hav-
ing in the annoyance of his presence for
gotten my forebodings of half an hour
before. | had read with much attention
in various highly lauded books, of the
great and imperative duty of bringing
up a girl to be helpmeet for noble
man this dapper little manikinl He
seemed amiable, but so utterly insight
ficant. He had uninteresting parents,
and weak, plain sisters, all af whom
made perpetual amusement of the en-
gagement. My parlor was given up to
them entirely-that is, to him and his
sisters ] seemed always de trop when /
entered, by the sudden silence which fol-
lowed the animated talk. My coming
was an interruption. | began to sit up
stairs l always walked alone.
Having avoided all society and all ac-
quaintanceship when my children were
young, so that | might devote my whole
time to them, / found myself now friend
less and desolate. Friends, like plants,
must be cultivated. | found no congen-
iality in either of the two families with
whom my children we're connecting them
selves.
After two years they were married,
and after year of boarding, aspired to
the dignity of keeping house. After
looking at many dwellings one was Sc
leeted, one which required a great many
repairs, and now my services were in
very great request. attended to all
the directions Mr. jenkins wished given
/ to the workmen / STAYED in the cold