Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-09-27
Ny 1other-in-law.

| ~~N" WA a AShSmOCi tic uISt Llule saw
her sitting out of doors on lovely summer
evening surrounded BY her children. They
were Of all ages, from 10 to "a. young men
ana maidens, as well as girls and boys, but
to her they were all "the children" still. as
she was to them the ideal mother.
| was a shy, awkward boy of l6 who had
come to attend school in the neighborhood,
and had brought from my aunt letter of
introduction to Mrs. Gray. This had sent
to her the day before, and now, as advanced
up the garden path, she rose from her seat
and came forward to meet me. The pleas
ant smile, the warm clasp of the hand as she
called me by my name. scattered much Of my
usual bashfulness at once.
She did not put me through the ordeal of
a series of introductions she merely said :
"Children, this is Frank Fielding, whose
mother was my dearest friend at school,"
Then. turning to me. she said 81 shall not
puzzle you with string of names, Frank ;
youIwlll 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 your father"
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
magnificent oak which stood near the
house.
Then the merry chatter began, and very
soon | knew all the family names. and
amused myself trying to apportion each to
its proper owner. When the daylight faded
We went indoors, and all too soon the even.
ing was ended, which seemed to me one of
the pleasantest had ever spent.
1t was my first glimpse Of home life, ut
terly unlike any had known before. Nv
father was grave, stern man, whose one
ray of sunshine had passed away when nv
mother died. after single year Of welded
life. Mind TO me always, and conscientious
in fulfilling all a fathers duties, he never
knew how TO unbend, and feared as much
as loved him. His older sister. who had
come TO take charge Of his house and me.
was very like him in manner, and had
grown up in an atmosphere of restraint and
repression.
\ WHAT revelation it was to me as grew
more familiar with this happy family For
1t soon came to pass that spent all my leis-
ure evenings with them. There | saw the
father aud mother treated almost like an eld
or sister and brother, called pet names, coax
ed and teased and even joked, vet never
with shadow Of disrespect love ruling the
whole household, the fair reflection upon
earth Of that perfect love which cas,e,b ont
fear.
| was soon the familiar friend of the BOYS.
and as such treated with entire lack of cere
mony by their sisters. Bright attractive
girls, they were much aGmired by all the
young men o: their acquaintance but i. in
those early days fell IN love with any one
under that hospitable roof i, was with the
mother rather than with any Of the daugh
ters.
Years sped on. My school DAYS finished,
entered bank IN the same town, and set
tied down to mans work and mans du-
I!es. hen II was that sudden light da~ned
upon me. Wedding after wedding had at
tended where bride or bridegroom had be-
longed TO the Gray family
The home nest was almost deserted on
~ the Youngest daughter remained What
II some one should steal her away? could
never 60 TO that wedding. never see my little
Jennie given TO another. Ny itt- Jennie
did 90 TO her wedding very soon after; but
II was to stand beside the fair bride. and to
take her into my own Keeping ''tll 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 nobest of women
vas >he hencetorth my natural enemy be-
cause she had become nv mother-.n-.tw
Let the record OF those Years answer
Did any change disturb the even tenor of
our lives, whether it was joy Or sorrow. the
first one We sent for was Mother" Ch,l |
lTen horn "a nS tt.,. t..
to her arms, watched over Night and day un- /
I'll their Young mother was restored 10 her /
usual strength and health, and e,er After a,
much at home at grandmammas as under
our own roof. Ii one Of them fell i'll She /
was Al our SIDE, relieving half our auNiet,
by her presence. Was there an interesting I
lecture or concert 10 which wished to ,
take my wife, OF pleasant excursion to be /
cnjoytd on holiday, She could 20 with an
easy conscience and light heart II only the
babe. were with mother
Now, as | look back. | wonder at the sell
hshnes. which allowed Us to make such de-
mand, upon her time and strength. for there
were five other families Of married ,on, and
daughters TO whom she was al! that She va,
to US.
ne ofhcIOus interference 50 often charged
against mothers -in-law as a class, we never
knew from her; perhaps because We never
looked for it.
Kind words Of counsel and advice given
frankly when they were needed. seemed TO
me, as to my wife. fitting and proper com
ing from our mother. How much We owed
to her wisdom, her discretion and her tact
We never knew until we lost her presence
from amongst Us.
In the midst of her busy life the summon,
came 50 suddenly that il seemed impossible
TO realize. But Yesterday She vas with u.
iui OF eager sympathy we talked Of our
plans for the future and now-could il be
that she was diving?
My poor little wife, with an infant. but
three days old, was instantly alarmed by her
absence, and threatened with serious illness
from grief and anxiety. | went from one TO
the other with messages of love and tender
ness. All was peace with her whose work
on earth was ended, and in quietness and
confidence we waited her last care being for
her children.
When all was over | turned away with il
heavy heart to bear the sorrowful tidings to
my wife. As walked down the street was
TOO much absorbed in my own thought to
notice group Of Young men with whom |
was acquainted until | was accosted by one Of
them.
"Hello, Fielding what's the matter?
What makes YOU look 50 blue ?"
Why exclaimed another, "to lcok at
YOU fellow would think you had lost your
mother in law"
This witty sally was received with a shou,
of laughter, as such remarks invariably are.
waited for one moment until the merriment
had subsidized, then said My wifes d. ar
and honored mother died an hour ago She
herself is lying i'll at home and am on IN,
way to break the news to her Good morn
ng, gentlemen"
turned away as silence fell on the ,art,,
md was gone before there was time for ex-
olanation or apology.
Years have passed, and time has softened
our first keen sense of sorrow, but still we
Miss the faithful friend, the wise counsellor,
he loving aud unselfish companion and Of
EN- as read the taunts and sneers thrown
'ut a. those who stand in the same relation
o Others am filed with Indignation, for the
I H,r |