Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-07-02
NV MOther-in-laW.

time saw her, sitting cut of doors
on a lovely summer evening, sur
rounded by her children. They were
of all ages, from ten to twenty-four,
young men and maidens as well as
girls and boys, but to her they were
all ssthe children still, as she was to
them the ideal mother.
l was shy, awkward boy of six
teen who had come to attend school
in the neighborhood, and had brought
from my aunt letter of introduction
to Mrs. Gray. This [ had sent her
the day before, and now, as [ ad-
vanced upon the garden path, she
rose from her seat and came forward
to meet me. The pleasant smile, the
warm clasp of the hand, as she call
ed me by name, scattered much of my
usual bashfulness at once. She did
not put me through the ordeal of in
Productions she merely said: "Chil-
dren, this is Frank Fielding, whose
mother was my dearest friend at
school,"
Then turning to me, she said: II
shall not puzzle you with a long
string of names, Frank; you will
soon find out for yourself which is
Kate and which is George and all the
rest of them. Now sit down and tell
me about your good aunt and faith
er."
While [ answered her questions,
the girls were fitting hither and
thither; two of the boys brought out
a table and chairs, and presently Mr..
Gray appeared, and we all sat down
to tea under the dropping branches
of a magnificent oak which stood near
| the house.
Then the merry clatter began, and
soon l knew all the family names,
and amused myself by trying to ap-
portion each to its proper owner.
When the daylight faded, we went in
doors, and all too soon the evening
ended, which seemed to me one of
the pleasantest I had ever spent.
1t was my first glimpse of home
life, utterly unlike any | had known
before. Ny father was grave,
stern man, whose one ray of sunshine
had passed away when my mother
died, after single year of welded
life. Kind to me always, and con-
scientious in fulfilling all fathers
duties, he never knew how to un-
bend, and l feared as much as / low
ed him. His oldest sister, who had
come to take charge of the house and
me, was very much like him in char
acter and in manner, and | had
grown up in an atmosphere of re-
straint and repression.
What a revelation it was to me as
| grew more familiar with this happy
family; for it soon came to pass that
/ spent all my leisure evenings. with
them. There / saw the father and
mother treated almost like an elder
brother and sister, called pet names,
coaxed, and even teased, or joked,
vet never with shadow of disre-
spect; love ruling the whole house
hold, the fair reflection upon earth of
that perfect love which casteth out
fear.
/ was soon the familiar friend of
the boys, and as such treated with
entire lack of ceremony by their Sis
ters. Bright attractive girls, they
were much admired by all young men
of their acquaintance but in those
days, if / fell in love with any one
under that hospitable roof, it was
with one of daughters.
Years sped on. My school-days
finished | entered a bank in the same
town and settled down to man:
work and a mans duties. Then i
was that sudden light dawned upor
me. Wedding after wedding 1 hat
attended where either bride or bride
groom had belonged to the GRAY
, family. The home nest was almos
r deserted; only the youngest daugh
ter remained. What if some on,
: should steal her away? l could nev
er 90 to that wedding-never see m.
little Jennie given to another.
My little Jennie! [ did 90 to he
, wedding very soon after, but to stan'
; beside the fair bride and to take he
; into my own keeping "till death d
us part
And now did sudden chang
come DER the spirit of my dream
Mrs. Gray had seemed to me one c
the noblest of women; was sh
i henceforth my natural enemy becaus
y she was my mother-in-law? Let tt
+ record of these years answer.
t Did any change disturb the eve
tenor of our lives, whether it was Jo
OF sorrow the first one we sent Il
was "Mother." Children were boz
a. to us they were first welcomed
a her arms, watched over until the
g mother was restored to her usu
strength and health, and ever aft
III as much at home at grandmamma
- as under our own roof. If one
10 them fell ill, she was at our side, I
to- lieving half our anxiety by her me
presence. Was there an interestil
ht lecture OF concert to which I wish
S to take my wife, or pleasant excr
81 sion to be enjoyed on holiday, $
on could 90 with an easy conscience a