The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-07-03
A PROBLEM SOLVED.
A Kind Physician Removes {
Troublesome Mother-in-Law.

A young man of about thirty years of
age stepped slowly along one of the
principal streets of the metropolis. He
was of an elegant and interesting pres
ence. He gazed absent-mindedly into
the shOw-windows to his right, and
seemed lost In thought.
Good morning, Edmund" called
gentleman apparently ten years his
senior and of compact figure, with
full black beard, who was coming to-
wards him. This is the first time 1
have seen you since your marriage, and
it confirms the sad aphorism that
young husband forgets nothing more
easily than his friends. Do not inter-
rupt me, for | intend no reproaches,
since l am aware of your happiness.
You have married the prettiest girl in
town, andI think you are too sensible
not to agree with me when say that
her money is no drawback. Poverty
makes no one happy, and riches do no
harm, you know"
Over the handsome face of Mr.. Ed
mund Hagen, the person addressed,
fitted weak smile.
doctor, do not say that you are
not right" he answered; "but money
can not do every thing. l am happy
yet"
He did not finish the sentence.
"YetP" repeated DR.. Henry Brose,
who was a physician of note. ''This
word betrays the fact that your happi-
ness has some kind of unpleasant after
taste. What do you mean by this
'yet?'"
''Nothing-nothing!" said Hagen.
"This won't do, continued Brose. 81
do not require a confession; but an old
friend should not be cut off short in this
way Where does itpinchPn
'Nowhere-nowhere!" cried Hagen,
half out of humor. "My happiness
would be complete, were not the mother
of my wife"
"Aha! The mother-in-law!" broke in
the doctor. '..You have always de-
scribed her to me as a most excellent
person"
"She is all that I consider her para
gOn of woman and mother"
MY dear Hagen, then l do not I'M
derstand you.
"My wife is an angel. Every day
learn to esteem and love her more, y
continued Hagen. "My mother-in-law
is a very excellent woman; kind, com.
plant, self-sacrifcing. She does every
thing to please me, yet"
again this mysterious yet! " broke
in the doctor. pray, speak intelligi
bly,"
Hagen. "She fosters and cherishes m,
as her son and favorite. Every morn
ing she prepares for me most delicious
coffee; at noon, she selects for me thu
most delicious tidbits; in the evening
she cuddles me like child; she spoil
mel
well, that is not so terrible" sale
Brose, laughing.
But she never leaves us alone to
getherm burst out Hagen, at last
THAT is, indeed, unpleasant
"She means it all right; but it is very
painful for me-" continued Hagen
1'She loves my wife distractedly, be
cause she is her only child, and th
reconciles me to the conditions again
and again; but this love becomes un
comfortable, since my wife can not sep
arate from her mother, either. l re
ioiced like child in anticipation of on
wedding trip. had to give it up, be
cause my wife insisted that her mOthe
should accompany us.
"You acted very prudently," salt
Brose, in his dry, earnest manner.
Eyes, was defrauded of my weddin!
trip, and now l am being swindled on
of nv honeymoonr' continued Hagen
even more passionately. my wife cal
not part from her mother, nor tn
mother from her child I have oftel
the feeling as though l were not tn
husband of my wife or master in m.
own housep'
Edmund, this is bad state Of al
fairs" said the doctor, stroking hi
beard with his right hand. "You ar
all of you suffering from too much, and
1 may add, perverted, affection. But
have an idea! Howwouldit do to MARI.
your mother-in-law to somebody Sh