The Press., 1883-09-06
GREGORY's WIFE.

GREGoRY's WIFE.
 When my son Gregory married Miss Morrison, gave him piece of my mind, and told him I didn't care if never saw him again. I didn't like her she wasn't the sort of girl I'd have chosen. I'd never seen her, but knew she wasn't-a fighty, young thing, just out of boarding-schoo {; couldn't make shirt or Q loaf of bread and there was Miss Fish, 2 very plain girl, I must allow, but so good-a splendid housekeeper, and all that. I always liked Almira Fish and Gregory to go and mar " Fannie Morrison, we'll, as I said, told 1 aim what thought of him and of her and the boy showed his temper, and for SIX months never saw him.
 bore it as long as I could, but moth- CT must be fool about her only boy {; so one day, as he wouldn't come to me went to him, as the rascal knew would. I went to his office, and I walked up to his desk, and was going to scold him, but something came over me that made me choke to keep the tears back, and be- fore I knew it we had kissed and made friends.
 "And now you'll go and see Fannie" :" said he, 'and I'll find you there when l COue uOuc d1 sA1Su1S duo eACOI Q iApAO coaxing said I would go 1; and more than that, went. 4&-
 The house was cunning little place 8 mile or two out of town and must say it was very neat outside. I rang the bell j; it shone as it ought to, and before it stop Iped tinkling some one opened the door. It was 8 pretty young woman in blue chintz wrapper, and when asked her if Mrs. Gregory Bray was at home she an- swered
 '.Yes that is my name. I've been ex- pecting you an age, but better late than never"
 "How did you know that I was con- ing? ?" I asked, puzzled to guess how she knew me, for we had never met before.
 .tOh, didn't know," said she. 'In- deed made up my mind you wouldn't j; but it is long way out here, l know. Come right up stairs. Miss Jones was here yesterday to cut and baste, but we'll ind it as much as we can do to do the trimming between us"
 "Cool," thought. Then said:
 T suppose you are having dress made ?"
 GA suit" said she "skirt, overskirt, basque and dolman. I do hope you make nice button-holes p
 "I should hope did, said I. .sIshould be ashamed of myself if I couldn't"
 "So many can't, said she "but told Miss Jones to send me an experienced hand and she said that there was none bet ter than Mrs. Switzer"
 Now began to understand. My daugh- ter-in-law took me for seamstress she had expected, and if ever a woman had chance, I had one now. Not word did I say. Only wondered whether the seamstress generally came to work in black grosgrain silk and cashmere shawl and sat down in rocking chair she gave me, and went 70 work with will. I can sew with any one, and as for button-holes-but this is lot my story.
 She was a pretty girl, that daughter-in- law of mine, and very chatty and sociable. not word did she say of her mother-in- law. spoke of people I had known who had quarrels with relations, but she did not tell me that Der husbands mother had quarreled with him.
 At last I spoke right out about mothers in-law, and said I:
 'As general thing mothers-in-law and daughters-in law don't agree" Said she:
 ''That IS very wrong state of things.
 'Wen, said l, "I suppose iti but how do you account for it ?"
 'I suppose young people are selfish when they are first in love, said she, land 1 forget old peoples feelings" It was an answer didn't expect.
 "It is plain you are friendly with your | mother-ln-law, said l.
 "I'm sure I should be if I'd ever seen her." said she.
 "Oh then I've been misinformed," ,oSl Ao1l I. that MT. Gregory Bray was the son of the Mir. Bray who lives on Lexicon street"
 ''That is perfectly true" said she, s'but nevertheless we've never met"
 ''How singular ]" said l. ''I suppose it is old Mrs. Bray's fault. I've heard she was queer old lady"
 "You haven't heard the truth then" said my daughter-in-law. ,"My husbands mother is a fine woman in every respect. But when my husband told her suddenly that he was going to marry girl she nev- or saw, she was naturally startled, and she said some things about me, knowing I was fresh from boarding-school and no housekeeper, that offended Gregory, and so there has been an arrangement. I think my dear husband little to blame, and I've urged him dozen times to go and see her. He's fond of her, and thinks | uO Ouc lS 1h6 ueT III many Gh1nRS put his temper is up and it will take some | time to cool it. Meanwhile, I feel quite sure if she knew me she'd like me better. Perhaps that is piece of vanity, but should try to make her, you know, and I won't fall into absurd superstition that woman must hate her mother-in-law. I mean to love mine some day. can't re- member my own mother, and Gregory's certainly would seem to come next to her. Now you have the story, Mrs. Switzer."
 'I'm sure it does you credit" said I |; ''and the old lady ought to be ashamed of herself"
 wanted to get up and kiss my daugh- ter-in-law there and then, but that would have spoiled my fun. So after that sew ed and did not say much, and together we finished the pretty dress, and had it just finished when the sound fla key in the door caught both our ears.
 ''That is my husband, said my daugh- ter-in-law and knew it was Gregory. Up stairs he came, two steps at time, opened the door and looked in at us with bright smile on his face.
 'This is as 1t should be, "said he. "Fan- nie, shall kiss mother first this time."
 And he put his arms around us both. But Fannie Oava a 1ittla scraop,