Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-05-10
MARKS MOTHER-lN-LAW.
A Story with a Moral for Married
Mon.

"Confound her" cried Mark Howell,
bursting into tho parlor where Mrs.
Ward, his married sister, then on
visit 10 him, was sitting, quietly sow
ing. "Confound her, she's always in
terferingl"
His sister knew well enough of whom
he was speaking. lie was speaking OF
his mother-in-law, also on visit at the
Ilowells'.
mark" said Mrs Ward, looking up.
''you ought 10 be ashamed OF yourself
| am older than you. | have been, in
some respects, mother to you; aud,
therefore, speak plainly. And must
say that think you talk scandalously
Of your mother-in-low."
"Why can't she mind her own busi-
ness2" he said, wrathfully. "llere she's
been talking May over about the new
nurse for Johnnie The one like, I'm
told, won't do at all: and it's all, do
believe, because the girls young, and
has pretty manners Instead, they're
TO have some sour old thing as prim as
drill sergeant and as ugly us Chinese
idol"
81 confess / am on the side OF your
mother-in-law," his sister answered,
quietly. "rhe girl you fancicd was en-
,ircly unfit 10 be put over Johnnie.
He'd wind her round his finger. And |
don't believe she cares for anything but
dress and admiration"
This rather staggered Mark who
had been accustomed 10 regard his sis
ter rs the perfection of wisdom, espe-
cially in housewifely matters. lie
looked blank, for moment, but soon
rallied.
THAT is not all She has persuaded
May to put long stockings on Johnnie,
when there's nothing prettier than TO
see his fat chubby legs"
Nor anything more unhealthy.
pity the poor little legs on n cold day"
"Unhenlthy! Half the children in
town go barclegged.'
"And the consequence Is that half
those who 80 barolegged catch colds
and fcvers from which some never re-
cover You are fond OF your bay mare
Mark; but you are careful In sharp
wind 10 have horsecover put on her;
while you never think of covering up
poor Johnnie's legs, no matter how bit
ter the day. DO you suppose your child
Is stronger than your horse?"
but 1t hardens him." said Mark, a
little staggered, nevertheless.
"Why wouldn't exposure harden your
mare2 No, Mark, you're wrong in
both cases, and your mothor-in-law is
right"
Mark bit his mustache and growled:
But fellow doesn't like anybody in-
terfering between himself and wife,
you see. Mays mother IL very nice,
generally, admit; but let her keep TO
her own affairs"
"But are not these her own affairs?
Johnnie is her grandchild. She natur-
ally wants him to be well brought up,
and be healthy; and 80 In advising your
wife about nurse, and persuadinq
her 10 cover Johnnie's legs, she is only
keeping within tho strict line OF her
duty. You ought to be thankful that
there is somebody with greater expert
, ence than May, to tell her what to do
No young mother can learn everything
at once, Besides, Mrs Barker has
never, 80 far MS have seen, forced hei
opinions on May. Has she2"
NO" said Mark "She doesn't nag
II that's what you mean. But she talk
May over
, And naturally. Come, Mark, b,
S fair, Look at the subject without
prejudice"
~ do"
1 mot entirely, think For example
in both these instances Mrs. Barker
e only advised what was best Now
| ha,.. g..l 4 Z
. never known her to advise May wrong
More than that, she hardly ever givei
advice at all unless she is first asked
for It,"
( "lts not only in these two things; 4
y is in plenty OF Others" retorted Mark
+ going back 10 the old ground as OBJ
/ stinate people do, "She always take,
a different side from me, and always
p gets May TO go with her and agains
}. me. Confound herr"
!, Now, Mark, don't be silly. Dom
n quarrel with May too, and for no bet
ter reason than that she Is led, IL
S many things, by her mother Isn't 1
o natural2 l often think how unJus
( men are TO mothers-in-law, as class
3 You took May from u home where sh,
had lived for nineteen years, and II
J which the great authority in all mat
s ters, not only ON dress and health, bu
q everything, was her mother. Sh,
/ looked up to and believed in her mother
% as all good children should You an(
- l looked up TO our mother, and | hop,
A Johnnie will look up to his, Now
though all families hold TO the sam,
q general principles Of morality, thougl
= all believe 1t ia wrong to lie. or steal
q or eovot neighbors goods. there
o the very greatest diversity Of opinion
between different families on IN
minor points Of life, This Is natura
d Il is natural, too, that daughtc
d should hold the same views as her mott
n er about these things, and that, eve
after marriage, the influence OF tn
homo atmosphere should hang abor
~ iS her Why you yourself, on some {
u these very points, cling more obstinat,
:, ly TO the traditions OF our family tina
Va May does TO hers"
"ank. Asid Maria Rtnhharnlz. .