The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-03-04
RIGHT OR WRONG ?

me. But don't think she has a right to
dictate to me about the arrangements shall
make in my own family"
He is my husband" said Mrs. Jones,
sand we've always lived very happily to.
gether. But there are times which one must
act decisiyely."
Things were going very badly, indeed,
with the Jones family; and nobody knew
exactly why. Mr.. Jones was genial, gen.
erous, warm-hearted man Mrs. Jones was
kind and well-meaning. And yet the Joneses
were seriously contemplating a separation.
The facts of the case were these: Mr.
Jones had a widowed sister whom he wish
ed to adopt. Mrs. Jones didn't like sisters
in-law. She knew that she should abomi-
nate this especial sister-in-law She wanted
her own house to herself, she said. She be-
lieved in the sacred privacy of her own in
ner life.
:" l don't want any stranger in my house."
said She
j." haven't asked You whether you do or
not" Mr.. Jones responded, doggedly.
Mrs. Jones was excited and angry, or she
would not have spoken thus. Mr.. Jones
was hurt, or he would have explained that
this widowed sister was the favorite play
mate of his childhood, the dear companion
Of his earlier years. So, for the space of
twenty-four hours, Mr.. and Mrs. Jones
didn't speak to each other. Mr.. Jones
went on business journey to Boston, and
was gone week, without telling his wife
goodbye. And when he returned the house
was empty. Mrs. Jones had gone home to
her mothers house without telling him good
bye.
Jones can have his own way" said she.
My wife can do as she pleases, said he.
They were both very unhappy. Mrs.
Jones cried a great deal in her own room,
although in the presence of her mother,
specialized old lady who believed that every
wife should keep up the dignity of her sex,
she pretended to have exuberant spirits.
Mr.. Jones, in his solitary room, was silent
and moody.
Until one day Mrs. Jones went to Effie
Blossoms, to see her new, smooth-running
sewing machine, and the last baby which
had bloomed like winter primrose into
the family. Effie was Mr.. Jones's second
cousin, and rather like him and sitting
there holding the baby, was n pale, pretty
young widow, with timid blue eyes and
faxen hair, only half hidden by her cap.
Mrs. Jones regarded her kindly-she look
ed as if she had seen trouble.
"Efiie," she said to Mrs. Blossom, when
they went upstairs to survey the sewing
machine, "who is that woman?n
Effie shrugged her shoulders. Conc of
my husbands relations, she said, land I
wish she wasn't here"
Efiei"
Well,' said Ellie, pouting, one wants
one's home to ones SELF"
Mrs Jones WINGED little. Were they
not the very words she had used herself I
Yet how different spirit they assumed
from the lips of anotherl
But, Effie,n she reasoned, {" that lady
Mrs. Hope you called her, I thinks SO
gentle and sweetmannered.n
ooh, I don't object to her Manner said
Effie, only, you know, we were so happy,
Jack and I, before she came.n
Isn't she useful about the house2 ?"
"Oh, very" acknowledged Effie.
Has she any other home ?"
Not unless she goes out as governess
or companion, suppose" said Efie, slow
ly.
Oh, Ellie, and would you, woman,
sentence fellow-woman to suck drudgery
as that ?"
Efie's dimpled countenance became grave.
q" Mary" said she, Pm glad you came
in just now have need of your advice"
The tears came into Mrs. Jones' eyes.
g don't know TINT can make q good
adviser" said she, sadly. "But tell me
your difficulty, and I will do the best
cam"
Well, then, here it is" said Ellie. "Is
it my duty, feeling as do, to take this new
member into my family? We were so snug
here before, and really it does break SO into
the sweet privacy of home"
By all means, yes" said Mrs. Jones,
earnestly. Remember, Efie, what the
Bible says about faith, hope and charity
and think, oh, think, long and deeply be-
fore you say or do aught to hurt your hus-
bands feelings on the sacred subject of his
relatives"
Fife was silent.
"Do you think" Mrs Jones added, hur.
riedly, "that Mrs. Hope would come
and stay few days with me I am very
lonely there in my mothers house-and
she has such sweet, pleading face. am
sure she would make dear companion for
me-"
Effie didn't know; she would inquire.
Mrs. Jones herself followed up the inquiry
with sincere petition, and SO Mrs. Hope
went back to spend the day with her.
There was something very bewitching
about the soft-voioed, pazelle-eyed young
widow. something which invited confidence
at once, and almost before Mrs. Jones
knew it she had poured all her gnawing sor-
rows into the sympathizing bosom of Mrs.
Hope.
"Am wrong ?" she asked. ooh tell
me what you think. You, OF leest, are an
unprejudiced witness"
" You had right to your own house."
said Mrs. Hope, softly stroking her fore.
head. No one should have taken it from
you"
Yes" said Mrs. Jones. that is the way
it seemed to me at first. But now lam try
ing to believe that I was little in the
wrong. Because, you know, we all must
bear and forbear little in this world. And
perhaps this sister-in-law mightn't have
been SO very dreadful as had made up my
mind to expect"
81 Did your husband tell you nothing
about her ?" asked Mrs Hope.
mo. Because" added conscientious
Mrs. Jones, 81 wouldn't let him. But
don't let us talk about me and my miserable
life-mistakes any longer. Tell me of your
SELF
1t was simple, everyday recital of trial,