Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-03-17
HIS FIVE MOTHERS.lN-LAw.

Most husbands and wives. il wo may
credit all they say, find II difficult to
live in the same house with mother
in.law, but old Sol, B-,as he was
commonly called, Of Boston dwclt in
pence and comfort for several years
with five ladies bearing that relation
to him.
When l first knew the old gentle
man ho appeared to be about fifty,
but was in reality about sixty-eight,
and had charminglwife that was then
twenty-six, and two lovely children,
a boy and girl, one seven and the
other FIVE. His children by his first
wife were all married, and some oI
his grandchildren were also married,
and theselves had children olders than
Mr.. BIS two youngest.
On the first day OF my visit at his
pleasant home, not many miles from
Boston, as l took my place at the
dinner-table with Mrs. B---,I was
surprised to see five old ladies' come
into the room together and to be in
troduced to each one of them in sue
cession as follows my own mother
Mrs. B., senior /; mynext mother,
Mrs. Henry my third mother, Mrs
Jones; my fourth mother, Mrs. VII
lams; my fifth mother, Mrs. john
"Mrs. B. senior" who seemed
to be the youngest of the old ladies,
laughed aloud at my look of constern
ation-a melodious laugh for one Of
her years--and every one smiled but
Mr.. B., who invoked the blessing
with his usual air and led the table
talk on Indifferent topics. That
evening in the parlor young Mrs B.
gave us some music and the old ladies
retired early one after another, the
own mother going last, when she wat
tenderly assisted up stairs by her son.
On his return Mr.. B---said to me
with a smile of amusement
IL see that you are, as the ladies say
dying to know what all this means
I purposely did not tell you that l had
five motbers-n-law, because l always
like to see the effect produced by my
household on other people. You, fol
instance, live so differently, all alone
how do we appear to you.
Harmonious and happy but ]
have seen you together only a very
short time. What is your everyday
experience p
"Much the same. Especially since
my dear wife came into the household
/ had all the old ladies when She ar
rived"
But where did you get them all
they all cannot belong to YOU"
"Yes every one of them, had foul
mothers-in-law, of course that made
FIVE mothers in-law in the house. Now
as my wife is going to the little ones
nursery, I will tell you about my old
ladies.
"When married my first wife
her mother, who was widow came
to live with us. She was q good
creature, and had seen pretty hare
times, having supported herself by
school teaching and sewing for many
years, and she seemed to greatly en-
| joy my comfortable home-I was al
ways thriving man Of business. Sc
one day said to her, Snow mother
there is no reason why you shouldn't
make your home with us while yor
live; you can bring your own furni
ture If you choose, or need not the
room you now occupy will be yours
always, and besides what my wife ma,
do l will give you fifty dollars a yea
for your clothing (that was an SIMPLE
SUN for woman to have all to her
self in those days.. You can teach if yo'
wish 10 or do any thing else to earl
money you will Away