The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-03-20

"a letter from Tom," said Mrs. Merkle
opening the envelope she had just received
from n neighbor who had stopped on hi
way from the postoffice. "Well, it's time b,
wrote. Dear dear"
For the letter read thus:
DEAR MOTHER: You'll be surprised tc
learn that am married. am surprised my
self. But she's the incest girl you ever saw
pretty as picture, and professional artis
paints portraits and landscapes, too.
met her in the way of business two months
| ago. and now she is my wife. Pm coming
| down with her in week or so, and she sha
paint your portrait and sketch the old place
You'll love her dearly.
"Your atfectionate son,
Mrs Merkle dropped the letter and her
spectaclcs, and pulled her handkerchief out
of her apron pocket.
MY Tom married! Well, want to know
Married, and to such person A gal that
paints pictures for a lvingl What kind OF
a business is that? Why didn't she learn the
manly making, or be seamstress or MILL
ner? What kind of wife will he have?"
And old Mrs. Merkle sat down; with her
handkerchief TO her eyes, and had what she
called good cry. Finally recovering her
composure, she went to the Secretary"
w.
dark corner behind the door, and there
penned an epistle to her son, which set forth
her opinion of his choice in plain Saxon, and
ended with these words:
"Pd as soon you'd have chosen circus
girl"
She did not even give her new daughter
in-aw the expected invitation. She consid.
cred herself very deeply injured woman,
though why it is hard to tell.
No answer came, and she began to feel
that she might have been little too severe,
when one day, as she sat on the porch knit
ting and fre,ting inwardly, young woman
opened the gate and walked ina well.built
girl of twenty, with dark, waving hair, and a
pretty, smiling mouth, who having asked il
this was Mrs Merkle, handed her letter.
"It's from Mr. Merkle, your son." she said
And the old lady, opening it, read these
| words:
DEAR MOTHER: AS you feel so badly
about my wife, I'll not bring her until you
ask me. Meanwhile as l know you canno,
find help to suit you, let me recommend Jane
jackson, who is very handy about house
and will be glad to Stay week or 30 with
out wages for the sake of country air, if she
is treated as one of the family in all respects
| "Your son, Tom"
ooh !" said the old lady looking up. care
you Jane Jackson?"
Eyes, ma'am," said the girl
"Well my son recommends you-much he
knows about it-and | suppose l might as
well try you. Have you worked for him p
Yes, ma'am," replied Jane again.
"His new wife, now she can't do much
| suppose-about house, | mean?"
AL that was done, did," replied the
girl.
Il suppose 50" said Mrs. Merkle. Poor
| Tom. You can make bread, now, and cake
and milk? Well, since I've had rheumatism
/ do begin to give up, but ] have been a
worker l know what is what. You can
stay. Trunk at the depot. chi Well III
have IL fetched'
| Jane Jackson, thus welcomed, stayed, and
a fine, helpful young person she proved to
be. Nothing about a house that she could
not do. Her cooking was perfect. Herlaun
dry work elegant. And yet she was as lady.
like as any one. The house lidied, she made
the old ladys gowns and caps and thous
and pretty things for the old parlor
| you really are the smartest girl ever
knew" said Mrs. Merkle one day. Poor you
may be, but you'd be treasure to any man
and there's my son married to that painting
thing in New York. Starved and out of Ell
bows and all his buttons off by this time | sup
pose, while she daubs"
Did you ever see any one paint?" asked
Jane.
"Only the man that did the doors and tn,
window frames five years ago." said Mrs
Mcrkle
II can paint ltte," said Jane, "Afte
everything is done mean to paint you pic
ture if you'll let me-"
II don't mind" said the old lady. II be
lieve you can do anything, Jane"
That day Jane produced from her trunk
sketching block and colors and proceeded t.
paint the gray cat lying on the crimson cusl
ion.
"Its the naturalist picture ever saw, !" sal
Mrs. Merkle. "Did you catch it up fror
Toms wife? p
"Oh. mol A better painter than she wi
ever be taught me-" said Jane
mo doubt" replied Mrs. Merkle. "a poo
critter she is, don't you think so 2"
I've no great idea of her myself" sal
Jane.
The next day she sketched Mrs. Merkle i
her rocking chair. "As natural" the old lad
declared, las photograph" And havin
whitewashed the kitchen until il looked lik
. hot pressed writing paper on Saturday after
noon, she opened the parlor organ on Sunda
evening and played all the good old churc
music the old lady loved. When she ha