Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-03-05
ALITTLE MISTAKE.


My name is John Perth, and / always
had great dread Of MOthers-in-laW.
When married Ann Maria the only thing
that troubled my peace Of mind was that
had mother-in-law. To be sure the waves
rolled between US. Mrs. Bashford was in
France with married son, and was Just
then unable to come to England. Marie had
always lived with an aunt, and being Of
years Of discretion, her mother sent lace
veil and her blessing, and we were married
quite as well without her presence one fine
morning, When we we're married Ann
Maria and went to house keeping
We hired one of small row, let furnish
ed, at a reasonable rate. They were all
alike-just the same build and exactly the
same articles Of furniture. We chose one
of them on the advice Of our landlord. He
said we should have quiet neighbors-old
Mrs. Bolivar and her daughter on one. side,
and Mr. Briggs, an old bachelor, on the
other. They were quiet; we never saw
either Of them. Nobody in either of the
houses ever sat at the window, or stood at
the door, or walked in the small garden.
where the Rose Of Sharon grew. We had
the place all to our selves. 1t was very
pleasant
So, gradually, as Mrs. Bashford still
wrote affectionate letters from France,
forgot my terrors and made myself COM
Portable. My mother in law would proba-
bly, never trouble me. Judge Of my con-
sternaliOn. therefore, when one morning,
at my place of business, l received tele-
gram containing these words-"Dear nam
ma has come to us; hurry home" l read
it, sat down on a tall stool, and stared at
vacancy. The crisis had arrived. What
should I do? How attack trouble of
which | had no experience? | did not
know in what shape it would come. /
could form no conception of the style CT
mother.in-law who awaited me. Was she
high strung and mistress of all the long
words in the English language? Was she
one of the weeping order? Was she a
wonderful housekeeper or a commanding
person? What sort Of woman was my
mother-In-law7 She had been in France
l knew man once who had a French
mother-in-law; he had suffered.
Being dOsed with soup, which the lady
thought the only diet for the human race,
and presented with sugar and water as a
refreshment, he rebelled.
The lady had at once thrown the soup,
hot, at his head, and gone into Mysteries,
declaring he was an assassin. But per-
HhDS lll ulOIuEE-ll-lhM uuu uO- DtCOLlt
French enough for that. However, all
writers combine that mothers-in-law create
dissension in families, and set the wife
against her lawful master, the husband; /;
once subjected, the man was lost. / would
begin by taking the upper hand and keep
ing it. Thus resolving, went home at an
early hour, and, as | walked up the row,
whistled TO keepimy courage up.
There were no lights in the cottage win
dows as yet, but, as l assembled my door
steps, / saw that my door was ajar, and
wondering how it happened, entered with.
out noise and closed it. / walked into the
parlor. No one was there. Glad of re-
prieve l threw myself into chair, lit a ci-
gar, and began to smoke. My wife was
occupied elsewhere, l supposed; but this
was the beginning of my mother-in-law's
advent. Ever, until now, had my Ann
Maria run TO the door TO greet me with
kiss. was vexed, and / shall not attempt
to deny it. closed my eyes and smoked
on. Even when steps entered the room
| did uot open them,
81 declare" said a voice, 81 smell Tobacco.
l believe some one is smoking in this house,
sniff, snitf-'tobaeo smoke l am verV
sure"
opened my eyes, sat up, and saw a stout
lazy ugnLluB Jne lamp. my lloLneI-lu-lhh
was very big one. l saw that she was
one with whom must, sooner or later,
come 10 single combat. Having lit the
lamp, she turned to me, put up a pair OF
| gold glasses, and said, in a tone Of suppress
ed wrath,-"Well, and what does this
meanY
at means I'm finishing my cigar" said
III.
''And should like to know" she said,
chow you came into this parlor TO finish
| itY'
''Well, madam. your daughter has never
objected 10 it, said /. I've smoked many a
cigar here and shall continue to do so.
Any one who doesn't like it can go elsewhere
you know"
"The impudence,p said the old lady.
'But either you are NAL, or / am. My
daughter has not objected to your smok-
ingY You have often smoked in this, room
do you say2'
81 have" said !; many a night l have
smoked here until one o'clock, she sitting
opposite me and got her to try paper