Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-04-20
MN Motlber.in.LaWn.
How ven / remsn,sss en- !, !, II, IN


was . shy, awkward boy Of sixteen.
who had come to stteud school in the
neighborhood, and had brought from
my aunt = letter .. introduction "a
Mrs. Gray, This l had ssut to her the
day before, and now, rs IL advanced
upon the gsrden path, she rose from
her seat and came forward to
meet me. The pleasant smile, the
warm clasp of The hand, as she called
me by name, scattered much of my
usual haShfulness ST once. She did
not put rae through thu ordeal of \
series Of introaueticns; she merely
said: "Caildreu, this is Frank Fielding,
whose mother was my dearest friend
at school,"
Then iurpiug TO ne, sha said: Il
shall not pusz you with long strigg
OF names, Ftsak: you will soon find
out for yoarseli which is Kate and
which j. George, aud all the rest of
them. Now cit dewn ana tell me
about your good aunt and father"
While answered her questions, the
girls were flItiinS hither and thither;
two Of the boys brought outa table
and chairs, and presently Mr.. Gray
appeared, and all sat dewu to tea uu-
der the spreading branches Of mag
nltieent cak which stood near TIE
house. .ss a.
Tnen the n,erry chatter began, and
Very soon knew all the family names,
and amused myself by trying TO amor
tlo. each to its proper owner. When
the daylight faded, we went indoors,
and all too soon the eyeni1g was ended
which seemed to me one Of the pleas
snteSt I l.ad ever snent.
u was my first glimpse of home life,
utterly unlike any had known before
My father was $ grave, stern man,
whose one ray of sunshine had passed
sway when my mother died, after
single year of welded life, Kind to
me always, and conscientious in fulhll-
ing all = fsther's duties, he never knew
how te unhend, aud / feared as much
as loved him, His oldest slater who
bad come to take charge Of the house
and me, was very much like him in
character and in manner, and | had
grown up in an atmosphere of restraint
and repression.
What 4 revelation il was to me as /
grew more familiar with this happy
family; for 1t soon came to pass that
spent all my leisure evenings with
them. There saw the father aud
mother treated almost like an elder
brother and sister, called pet names,
coaxed, and even teased or joked, yet
never with shsaow of disrespeot; love
ruling the whole household, the fair
reflection upon earth of that perfect
love which cssteth out fear.
/. | was soon the familiar friend of the
boys, and as such treated with entire
lack of ceremony by their sisters.
Bright, attractive girls, they were much
admired by all the young men of their
acquaintance; but i'll those early DAYS,
II fell in love with any one under that
hospitable roof, it WITS with the mother
rather than with any Of the daughters.
{ Years sped on, My school-days fin
ished, entered 4 bank in the same
town aud settled down TO u mans work
and Il mans duties. Then it was that
a sudden light dawned upon mo. Wed.
ding after wedding had attended where
either bride or bridegroom had belong
ed to the Gray family. The home nest
was almost deserted; only tho youngest
daughter remained. What if some one
should steal her awayi | could never
go to that wedding see my little
Jennie given TO another.
My little Jennie | did go t. her
wedding very soon after, but it WAS to
stand bceide the fair bride, and to take
her into my own keeping until "death
do us part"
And now did sudden change come
DER the spirit of my dream. Mrs. Gray
had seemed to me one OF the nohlest
natural enemy because she was my
mathey ey,jiaaii iilagg.2i gg.iac Let the record of
Did any change disturb the even
tenor of our lives, whether it was joy
or sorrow, the tirst one we sent for was
"Mother." Children were born to us;
they were first welcomed 10 her arms,
watched over night and day, until their
young mother was restored to her
usual strength and health, and were
ever after rs much at home at grand
mammals as under our own roof. If
side, relieving half our anxiety by her
mere presence. Was there IN interest
ing lecture or concert 10 which | wish
ed to take my wife, or pleasant ex-
cursion to be erjoyed on holiday, she
could go with an easy conscience and
a light heart if only the babies were
with mother.
Now, as / look back, | wonder at the
selfishness which allowed us to make
all euch demands upon her time and
strength, for there were five other fam
lies of married sons and daughters TO
whom she was all that she was TO us.
The officious interference so often
charged again 1t mothers in.law az
class, we never knew from her, perhaps
because we never looked for il. Kind
words of counsel and advice, given
frankly wheE they we're needed, seem
ed to me, as to my wife, fitting and
proper coming from our mother.
How much we owed to her wisdom,
her discretion and her tact, we never
knew until we lost her presence from
among us.
In the midst of her busy and useful
life the summons came, SO suddenly
that it seemed impossible to realize it.
But yesterday she was with us, full OF
eager sympathy as we talked Of our
plans for the future; and now-cOuld
it be that she was dying?
My poor little wife, with an infant
but three days old, was instantly alarm
ed by her absence. and threatened
with serious illness from grief and an
xiety. / went from one 10 the other
with messages of love and tenderness.
All was peace with her whose work on
earth was ended, and in quietncss and
confidence we waited, her last care be-
iDg for her children.
When all was over / turned away
with heavy heart to bear the sorrow
ful tidings 70 my wife. AS / walked
down the street, wa. too much abb
sorbcd in my own thoughts to notice a
group Of young men with whom ! was
acquainted, until / was accosted by one
of them: