Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-11-01
HIS FIVE MoTHERS-IN-LAW.
A REAL TRUE STORY.


credit all they say, find it difficult 20 live
il the same house with mother in,law,
but " Old Sol B." las he was com
monty calledl of Boston, dwelt in peace
and comfort for several years with five
ladies bearing that relation to him.
When first knew The old gentleman
he appeared to be about fifty, but was in
reality sixty eight, aud had II charming
wife who was then twenty six and two
lovely children, boy and girl, one
seven the other five. His children by
his first wife were all married. and some
Of his grandchildren were alse married
and, themselves, had children older than
Mr.. BIS two youngest.
On the first day of my visit at this
pleasant home not many miles from Bos-
ton, as | took my place a; the dinner IA
, BILE with Mrs. B., was surprised 10
see five old ladies come into the room to
gether and to be introduced to each of
them in succession as fellows 4" My own
mother, Mrs. B., senior; my next
mother, Mrs. Henry; my third mother,
Mrs. james ; my fourth mother, Mrs.
William; my fifth mother, Mrs. John"
" Mrs. B, senior" who seemed the
youngest Of the Old ladies', laughed aloud
at my look of CONSERVATION IA melodious
laugh for enc Of her years-and every
one smiled but Mr.. B., who invoked
the blessing with his usual air and then
led the table talk on Indifferent topics.
That evening in the parlor young Mrs.
B--gave us some music, and tho old
ladies retired one after another, tho town
mother going last, when she was ten
derly assisted up stairs by her son. On
his return Mr.. B--sad to me with Il
smile Of amusement:
" | sec that you are, as the ladies' say,
dying to know what all this means. |
purposely did not tell you that md five
mothers in-law, because always like to
see the eflee t produced by my household
on other people. You, for instance, live
So differently, all alone, how do we ap-
pear TO you ?"
seen you together only a very short time,
What is your everyday experience p
Much the same, especially since my
dear wife came into our household. |
had all the old ladies when she arrived :"
" But where did you get them all
they cannot all belong to you ?"
Yes, every one OF them. | have four
mothers-i law, and as my own mother
is my wife's mother-in.la law, Of course
that makes five mothers in-law in our
house. Now, as my wife il just going TO
her little ones nursery, will toll you
about my old ladies'.
When | married my first wife, her
mother, who was II widow, came to live
with US. She was a good creature, and
had seen pretty hard times, having sup
ported herself and her child by school
teaching aud sewing for several years,
and she seemed to greatly enjoy my COM
Portable home-l was always thriving
man oI business. SO one day said to
her, Now, mother, there is no reason
why you shouldn't make your home
with as always while you live you can
bring your own furniture, if you choose,
or you need not the room you now oc-
cupy shall be your own always, and be
sides what my wife may do wul give
you Fifty dollars Il year for your clothes
(thnt was an ample sum for woman to
have all to herself in those times). You
can teach il you wish TO, or do anything
else to earn money if you wish to; you
viii always be welcome to our table and
parlor, or if you prefer you can cook for
yourself in your own room. Only one
thing | will exact in return, you must
never make any mischief nor quarrel
with anybody in ny house about any,
thing And it sometimes you are dis
pleased you must 90 to your room and
pout it out alone, and only join us again
when you feel pleasant. For won't be
worried, ard d least Of all will / have my
wife worried by anybody. Now, mother,
what do you say ?''
She only said, " You are good man, ,
Solomon B., and the Almighty will
reward you, and l thank you from my
heart. | will do my part"
SO meyer had any trouble with her.
We all lived together twenty wears, and
then my wife had an attack OF pneumo-
MIA and died Massachusetts women
have weak lungs aud sOon after that
my own mother was left widow and
came to live with me. My mother is
only sixteen years older than am, and
being 80 lively and smart she seemed
quite like ayounger sister to mother Hen.
", and they got on easily together. But
after while when the children we're all
about grown, got SO lonesome that
coaxed real nice sensible lady, Of Phil
adeiphla not handsome, but just as good
us gold, to marry mo. 1 told her all
about my old ladies and found she had
Two mothers living with her, her own
mother and her husbands ether. They
had neither Of them any property, but
she owned house and took boarders in
il to support them all.
Well made the same proposition to
her old ladies that had made to my
mother in-law and they both agreed
Then | went home aud built an addition
, to my house and soon brought my sec-
| ond wife and her mothers there. We
had some occasional pouting at first, but
! always held two points without yield
! ing \ | was the master in my own house
J aud would never let anybody worry my