Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-12-26
THIS is AS 1T SHOULD BE

When my son Gregory married Miss
Morrison, | gave him piece of my
mind, and told him didn't care if 1
never saw him again. Why? Oh,
well, | didn't like her; she wasn't the
sort of girl I'd have chosen. 1 have
never seen her, but | knew she wasn't.
A highty young thing, just from board,
ing school, who couldn't make shift,
or bake loaf of bread; but there was
Miss Fish, plain girl, to be sure, but
so good, splendid housekeeper. and
all that. [ always liked Almira Fish !;
and Gregory to go and marry Fanny
Morrison Well, as | said, told him
what l thought of him and her, and
the boy showed his temper, and for six
months | never saw him.
/ bore it as long as I could, but q
mother must be fool about her only
boy; so one day, as he wouldn't come
to me, / went to him, as the rascal
knew l would. I went up to the office
and walked up to the desk, and I was
going to scold him, but something
came over me that made me choke to
keep the tears back, and before | knew
it we had kissed and made friends.
"And now you'll go and see Fanny"
said he; "and I'll find you there when |
come home at night" And after a little
coaXing l said [ would go-and more
than that, | went.
The house was a cunning little place
mile or two out of town, and | must
say, it was very neat outside.
| rang the bell, it shone just as it
ought to, and before it stopped tink
ling some one opened the door. 1t was
apretty young woman in a blue chintz
wrapper, and when asked her if Mrs.
Gregory Bray was at home, she all
swered:
"Yes, that is my name. I've been ex-
pecting you an age, but better late than
never"
"How did you know I was com
ing?" | asked, puzzled to know how
she knew me, for we had never met be-
fore.
"Oh, didn't know" said she. "In-
deed, l had made up my mind you
wouldn't but it is long way out here
| know. Come right up stairs.
Miss Jones was here yesterday to cut
and baste, but we will find as much as
we can do to do the trimming between
u.s."
"Cool.' I thought. Then I said, 81
suppose you are having dress made"
"A suit" she said "a skirt, overskirt,
basque and dolman. l do hope you
make nice button-holes.
Il should hope l do" said I. "I
would be ashamed of myself if l could
not"
$50 many can't" said she; "but told
Miss Jones to send me an experienced
hand, and she said there was no better
than Mrs. Switzer."
Now / began to understand. My
daughterin took me for seam
stress she expected, and if ever wom-
an had chance | had one now. Not
word did / say, only / wondered if
seamstresses generally came to work
in gros grain silk and n cashmere
shawl; and sat down in the rocking.
chair she gave me and went to work
with will. / can sew with anyone,
and as for button-holes-bu this is not
my story.
"She was pretty girl, that daugh
ter-in-law of mine, and very chatty
and sociable. | talked of this and / |
talked of that, but not a word did she
say of her motherin-law. / spoke of
people had known who had quarreed |
with their relations, but she did not |
tell me that her husbands mother had
quarreled with him.
At last | spoke right out about
mothers-in-law. said:
AS rule, mothers-in- law and
daughters-in-law don't agree"
She said: That's very wrong state
OF things"
"Well," said l, "I suppose it is; but
how do you account for it?"
81 suppose young people are selfish
when they are first in love-" said she.
"and forget old peoples feelings"
1t was an answer | did not expect.
1T is plain you are friendly with
your mother-in-law, said l.
81 am sure | should be if I had ever
seen her."
oh, then, / have been misinformed,
said l. Il was told that Mr.. Gregory
Bray was the son of Mrs. Bray, who
lives on --- street"
THAT is perfectly true, but still VIC
have never met"
"How singular" said |. I've heard
she was very queer old LADY,
"You haven't heard the truth than y
said my daughter-in-law. "My bus-
bands mother is very fine woman in
every respect. But when my husband
told her suddenly that he was going to
r'2+ry girl she never saw, she was
naturally startled, and said some things
about me, knowing l was fresh from
boarding school and no housekeeper,
that offended Gregory, and so there
has been an estrangement. / think
my dear husband a little to blame, and
l have urged him dozen times to go
and see her. He is very fond of her,
and thinks no one like her in many
things; but his temper is up. and it