Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-01-11
mother-in-law as one lady should treat

your just position, either with your
husband or in the family. Respect
yourself, Sue, and you force respect
from others.n ?
"Oh dear! I wish there wern't any
mothers-in law in the world!" peev-
ishly calculated the girl.
"Then | should be exterminated
with theTrest," smiled her mother.
"But you are 80 different, nanny.
Well, dear, if Harry's mother is
awful, Ill try to be good to her,"
sighed Sue. But then came a ring at
the door, and Sue heard a voice. 1t
was her mothers turn now to sigh, as
her girl ran down the stair, her heart
in her beautiful eyes, to meet Harry.
So time went on, and by-and-by Sue
was married. Mrs. Tempest came to
the wedding, and proved to be a little
lady with cheeks like roses, and starry
eyes, even amidst the fine lines of age
and under the shadow of silver white
curls. Keen but kindly those eyes
shone on Susan and took her measure,
and Mrs. De Groot congratulated her.
self on the prospect for her daughter,
and said, ''She is a lady, Sue," her
highest formula of appreciation.
After the orthodox wedding journey,
during which the pair were as uncom-
Portable and weary as most people are
on, such occasions, they came home to
find Harry's little house bright with
comfort and neatness-ires in the shin
ing CRATES, flowers on the tables and
shelves, a dinner of wonderful savor
and elegance waiting for them, and q
real motherly welcome.
"How lovely it is to get home!" Sue
confided to her husband.
Ell hope home will always be lovely
to yoa Sue," was the beaming response.
elf l only can get along nicely with
your mother, Harry!" said Sue, with
a wistful sor of frankness. Harry sat
down in the nearest chair and laughed
immoderately.
"Poor little soul! Has it got a moth
er-in-law on the brain already? So it
shall.n
"Harry!" exclaimed the indignant
Susan.
"My dear child, if the Num- as
that delightful little chap in Verdamt
Green calls her, Expresses you, use my
revolver at once. l never will betray
you-never!'' And here the wretch
went off into another fit of laughter
more irrepressible than the first.
Sue flushed to the temples. "Harry,
what are you laughing at?" she de-
manded.
'lll tell you, dear, on Christmas
day in the morning. That's exactly
two months from to-day. Put it down
in your tablets along with your dentists
appointments - and giving Sue a very
inconsiderate hug, which nearly shook
down the structure of puffs and braids
she was adjoining her head with, he left
her to finish dressing.
Poor little Susan! life became a dis
appointment to her. Mrs. Tempest
never went into the kitchen, never
shifted at her new daughters inexperi-
ence or ignorance, interfered with
housekeeping, or found fault with the
housekeepers. She was simply a guest
in her sons home, ready to give advice
or assistance, when it was asked, with
wonderful wisdom and judgment, but
never intruding. If her children want
ed her society, they could always have
it for the asking; if they did not, she
was neither hurt nor angry. She knew
well that a third person is not always
welcome, however dear; and she re-
membRred-what women so often for
get-that her son was now a grown
man, with his own home and family,
and deserving a certain respect as such;
not a boy to be lectured, scolded, hui
mored or snapped at as if he were 10
years old, and still under parental gov
eminent.
She learned, too, to love Sue, the
sweet-natured, high-spirited, and i'm
pulsive creature, for herself, as well as
for Harry's sake; and Susan, before
the two months were gone, had called
her s'mother'' with all her heart, and
learned to find in her the same comfort
parent, if in lesser measure than
the lifelong and natural tie afforded.
"Oh, mother!" exclaimed she one
day as Mrs. Tempest sat beside her
soothing her with tender ways and soft
hands in the anguish of a racking
headache. SHOW could I ever think
mothers-in-law were dreadful?"
Mrs. Tempest laughed. "My dear
Susy, mothers-in-law are just like other
people. If a woman is sweet, sensible,
patient, unselfish, and good, she will
be loved in any sort of place or rela-
ton; if she is domineering, high-tem-
pered, selfish, or disagreeable in
other ways, her W children will not
love her, or any one else. 1t is not the
relation that is in fault, but the indi-
vidual. Haven't you found that out?"
al don't think I've found out any
thing but that l love you dearly, if you
are my mother-in-law," replied Sue,
with a very tender kiss.
eyes, you have, Sue," put in Harry,
who had entered the room from the
door behind the bed, with an ominous-
looking bottle and glass in his hand;
"you've found out at least a week be-
fore the time why I laughed, the day
we came home, at your prophetic
troubles. The idea of any body dread
ing my mother. DIR. Matthews says
you must have Champagne, madame,
for your headache: a specific, he says
it is. So suppose you drink a health