Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-02-01
THIS is AS 1T SHOULD BE

When my son Gregory married Miss
Morrison, l gave him piece of my
"iud, and told him l didn't care if I
uvcr saw him again. Why? Oh,
we'll | didn't like her; she wasn't the
sort of a girl I'd have chosen. l have
never seen her, but knew she wasn't.
a Tightly young thing, just from board
ing school, who couldn't make shift,
or bake loaf of bread; but there was
Miss Fish, a plain girl. to be sure, but
so good, splendid housekeeper, and
all that. always liked Almira Fish ;
Morrison! Well, as I said. I told him
what I thought of him and her, and
the boy showed his temper, and for six
months / never saw him.
I bore it as long as I could but a
mother must he fool about her only
boy; so one day, as he wouldn't come
to me, l vent to him, as the rascal
knew I would. l went up to the office
and walked mp to the desk, and / was
going to scold him, but something
came over me that made me choke to
keep the tears back, and before 1 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 little
coaxing l said / would go-and more
than that, | went.
The house was cunning little place
a mile or two ont 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 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 I was COM
ing?" [ asked, puzzled to know how
she knew me, for we had never met be-
fore.
"Oh, I didn't know" said she. Gin
deed, ] had made up my mind you
wouldn't; but it is a long way out here,
l know. Come right up stairs.
Miss Jones was here Yesterday to cut
and haste, but we will find as much as
we can do to do the trimming between
u.s."
"Cool." thought. Then I said, Il
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 T. II
would be ashamed of myself if 1 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. Switzcr."
Now [ began to understand. Ny
daughterinlaw took me for seam
stress she expected and if ever wom-
an had a chance | had one now. Not a
word did | say, only l wondered if
seamstresses generally came to work
in gros grain silk and 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 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 L
talked of that, but not word did she
say of her mo. her-in-law. l spoke of
people | had known W no had quarreled
with their relations, but she did not
tell me that her husbands mother had
quarreled with him.
At last l spoke right out about
mothersinlaw. L said:
Gas rule, mothersin law and
daughters-in-law don't agree"
She said :"That's q very wrong state
of things"
We'll" said I, q suppose it is; but
how do you account for it,"
Il suppose young people are selfish
when they are first in love-" said she,
"and forget old peoples feelings"
1t was an answer l did not expect.
at is plain you are friendly with
your mother-in-law," said /.
Il am sure l should be if 1 had ever
seen her."
"Oh, then, l have been misinformed, :"
said I. Il was told that Mr. Gregory
Bray was the son of Mrs. Bray, who
lives on - street."
"That is perfectly true, but still we
have never met"
"How singular" said I. 1--WE heard
she was very queer old lady"
1You haven't heard the truth them"
said my daughter-in-law. "My hus-
bands mother is a very fine woman in
every respect. But when my husband
told her suddenly that he was going to
marry 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 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
will take time to cool it, meanwhile. I