Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-10-20
Iy Mother r-in-Law.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

Nv name j. Jonas Perth, aud / always ha1
great dread Of mothers-in-law. When |
married Ann Maria B,shford, the only thing
that troubled my peace Of mind was, that ]
I had motber-in-law To be sure, the seas
rolled between rs Mrs BashiOrd was 10
| France with married son, aud was unable to
come to Ameaica Just then Maria had al
WAYS lived with an aunt, aud being arrived at
the years Of discretion, her mother sent her a
lace veil aud her blessing aud We were mar
ried quite as well without her presence at ST.
Johns one fne morning Yes, the seas rolled
between my motLer-in-law aud myself, but !
had beard SO much Of them--I mean Of mo-
wls 20, quite essy in ny
mind.
When we were married Ann Maria and
went to housekeeping We hired Oue Of &
small row, let furnished, at reasonable rate
They were all alke-jast the same build and
exactly the same articles Of furniture. Two
were empty three already occupied. We chose
one Of them on the advice Of our landlord
lie said we should have such quiet ueighbors
old Mrs. Bolivar aud her daughter on one
side. and Mr. Dnggs-au oh bachelor named
Dngss-on the other. They were quiet; We
never saw either Of them. a fguTc IN large
black shawl aud a long black veil now aud
then went 10 and out Of Mrs BoliVars door.
We supposed il to te Mrs Bolivar: lut il
might have teen bis Bolivar Dlce in a
While somebody groaned on the other siie.-
Anna Maria decided that it was Mr. Briggs,
who bad been crossed in love, troubled by the
memories otthe past From the little glimpse
caught of that geuilemlu's couutenaace, ]
concluded that be never had any Love TO be
crossed 10, and supposed that he must have
discovered occasionally tia, he had 10 some
manner lost few cents.
Nobody 10 either Of the houses ever sa. at
the window, or stood a. the door, OF walked 10
the small court yard, where the roses Of Sha-
ron grew We bad the place al to ourselves
It was very pleasant So, gralually, as Mrs
Bashforl wrote adectionate letters from Trance,
f5rgo, my terrors and made myself c2miOrt-
able. Ny mo,her-in-law would probably
never trouble me.
Judge Of NY CONSERVATION, therefore, when
one morning, at my place Of business, re-
ceyed a telegram containing these words:
Dear mamma has come to US hurry
home"
I read it, sat down on a tail stool aIl stared
at vacancy. 4 crisis had arrived. Wha;
should %? How attack a trouble Of which
had no ezperience7 I did no: even know
IN what shape it would come. could form
no conception Of the style Of my notber-in-
law who awaited me-a large one with cap,
a small ore with frise,tes, a a, one Ike
feather bed, lean one, all bones7 Was she
hich-slrung and mistress Of all the l0ag words
IN the Engl;sh Iansuage2 Was she Of the
weeping ORDER Was she a wonderful boase-
keeper or a commanding person What sort
Of woman was NJ roiher-in-iaw She
had been 10 France knew a man once who
had French mother-in-Aw; lie bad suffered.
Being dosed with soup, which the lady thought
The only diet flr the human race, and present
ed With water cnd refreshment, he had rebel
led. The lady had orce thro~n the soup, bot,
at his head. and gone into mysteries, declaring
fiat be was an assassin.
Be, perhaps M mo;ber-in-law had not be-
come French enough for that. However, all
writers combine to declare tba; mo;bers-in-law
create disseusion in families, and set the wife
against her lawful master; the husband once
subjected tie man was lost.
I would begin by taxing tie upper hand
and thus keep il.
There was way where there was will
Thus resolving, I went home at an early hour;
and as I walked up he row. whisiled to keep
my courage up.
There was 10 light in the cottage windows
as yet, but as ! ascendei ny doorstep, | saw