The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-03-19
HER SONS WIFE.

"Ohl Toni Toni | did not think
she could be so cruel u
The speaker was an elderly woman,
in widows weeds, and the picture she
was gazing at showed a girlish face, fair
and delicate, with dimpling cheeks and
q pair Of soft blue eyes.
Tom Raymond was his mothers idol
-at least, as much Of an idol as was
consistent with her devout adherence to
the Decaloguc; but her love for him
had that unselfsh quality that always
characterizes true mother-love, and when
he brought home his young wife, she
took the girl to her heart at once, thank
ing Tom with genuine pleasure for Civ
ing her SO sweet a daughter. And for
a time everything went smoothly, the
young people making it point to go to
"Mother" at least once week, to take
tea and spend the evening. Just how
the alienation began it would be diff
cult to tell. To Tom and his mother it
was always mystery, neither of them
being conscious Of harboring any un-
kindly feeling. Perhaps an untimely
suggestion in regard to the hygienic
treatment Of the body had something to
do with it, for Lita was warm advocate
Of "Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup"
Of which nostrum Mrs. Raymond, Sem
ior, had wholesome adherence; and
perhaps 1t was partly due to Toms fire.
quent illusions to his mothers skill in
preparing his favorite dishes-young
husbands are prone to afilict the souls OF
inexperienced wives by their outspoken
allegiance to the traditions Of the mo-
thers in culinary affairs; but, whatever
may have been the entering wedge, the
breach had gradually widened, until all
intercourse between the old home and
the new was practically at an end.
Even after matters had reached this
unhappy pass Tom continued to make
his mothers name a household word /;
but one evening, when, with little Phil
on his knee, he began talking Of "Grand-
ma" Lita angrily interrupted him.
al wonder that you ever consented to
leave that mother Of yoursl One would
think there was not another such on the
face of the earthl" she cried, red spot
burning on either cheek.
Tom looked at her for an instant, his
fine gray eyes widening to their utmost
limit.
"There are not many like her." he
said quietly; but after that he never
praised his mother in Lita's hearing.
One day Aunt Truesdale, a relative
whom Lita had not seen for years, walked
in with her satchel and umbrella. and
announced her intention Of making a
weeks visit.
"What a sweet.looking old ladyl"
she exclaimed, the next morning, hold.
ing up photograph that she had found
buried under heterogeneous collection
Of discarded 6,Tf-a-6yaf, from which
Lita had told her to help herself to what
ever she fancied.
"Who is she, dear1"
"Thatl Obi that's Toms motheri'
said Lita, indiferently.
"Yous husbands motheri Why, child
you must take me to see her. know
shall like her."
"We arc not on visiting terms" an
swered Lita, coldly.
"Not on visiting terms1" repeated
Aunt True, anxiously. "Mydear child
/ hope it is not your fault"
81 am sure don't know whose faul
il is, }" said Lita, pettishly. "Aunt True
mustn't forget to show you my musi
cal album. It is a real curiosity. ~
Aunt True was not to be turned from
the subject in hand.
'"Whoever is to blame, il is all wrong
DEAR" she said earnestly. ga wife VIII,
sets herself against her husbands friend
loses what she can never regain in he
husbands regard. Especially ought hi
mother to be sacred to her. Remem
Der, he can never have another mother
and for his sake, no matter what th'
trouble has been, you ought to be friend
ly with her. beg Of you, dear child
not to let Il 60 on so another day."
But the good words fell on ston!
ground; and when, on the day befor'
Thanksgiving, Tom ventured to hin
that he would like to ask his mother 4
take Thanksgiving dinner with them
Lita promptly answered that she had al
ready invited as many guests as the tabl
would accommodate.
The same morning, while they sat a
breakfast, note was received from Mrs
Raymond, begging ION to bring hi
wife and boy to spend Thanksgiving
! with her.