Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-12-23
AN ANXIOUS MOTHER.

I scarcely dared hope for a reply in the
next issue of The Domestic Journal, al
though / had been a subscriber for IA
years and had sent a large pot of my own
clothed cream with the inquiry. So I cut
open the pages with trembling fingers and
almost dropped the paper in surprise at
finding my pseudonym displayed among
the answers to correspondents.
anxious Mother-It is, as you say,
most unfortunate that your son should
Unexpectedly decide to come home, just
when you have invited an attractive niece,
whom you do not regard as an eligible
partie. With a little tact on your part, it
should be easy to prevent the young people
from forming an attachment, but on no
account should you warn them against so
doing, or endeavor to keep them apart. A
spirit Of opposition is unfortunately in
herent in young people, and to act as you
suggest would only have tho effect Of slim
ulating a desire for the forbidden fruit.
Your wisest plan is to impress upon them
both the necessity of giving up their favor
lite pursuits-she her painting, and he his
athletics 1--WE quite agree with you that
football is a brutal game)-so as to be
company for one another. In this way
you will infallibly check any desire for
much companionship. Do not fail to write
to us again. The clothed cream which ac-
companied your letter was excellent and
ministered greatly to our creature COM
forts"
The wisdom of this advice seemed so
evident that I had no hesitation in acting
upon 1T. Things seem so much clearer
when you see them in print!
"Addie," I said to my niece, 81 am
afraid that it will upset your plans dread
fully, but there is no help for it-Charlie
is coming home tomorrow"
"Oh!' said she cheerfully. "That will
be nice for you, won't it, auntie?'
EYES," said I, "of course it will be nice
for me But l was thinking of you, my
dear" I wanted to make her feel aggriev-
ed, you see, at the outset.
IT don't see why it should be a trouble
to me, auntie,'' she answered, opening
her big eyes wide, in that innocent way
she has. There Is no Disgusting the fact
that h r manner and appearance are such
as to a young man might appear interest
ing and attractive. Indeed" she con-
tinued, 81 am very curious to see Charlie
again after all these years. He used to be
such a nice boy. I'm sure l shall like
him." It was a good thing evidently that
l had taken advice.
"He is still very NICE I informed her,
with al appearance of oandor, "but I am
| afraid he will be rather a drawback to
your painting. You see, my dear, young
men expect such a lot Of attention now
adays."
"Do they? I've generally found 1t the
| other way" She laughed mischievously.
| 1t is a sincere sort Of laugh, like a grown
up child's, and I could not help feeling
that it would sound very pleasant-to a
young man.
IT dare say you have, Addie," I replied
grayely. "But you see the case is different
when q young nan ZONES home to a
mother who has always spoiled him-I
fear" l sighed.
"a little spelling is good for young peo-
pie if they're nice naturally, dad says"
she assured me. Tom always had foolish
theories about such things.
"You see," I remarked deprecatingly,
che is used to having his convenience
studied in all the arrangements of the
house."
"Am / an arrangement" she inquired,
laughing again. "What shall I be expect
ed to do?"
SWELL" I apologized, "Charlie is rather
| fond of company, so 1 expect he will want
you to go out with him a good deal. I
fear that it may rather interfere with your
painting"
"Oh, / can always get up in the morn
ing and make up time" she replied con-
solingly.
"He may ask you to go and watch him
training" I said, shaking my head. "He
runs round and round the long path, you
know, and likes some one to take a watch
and count how many times he goes round. "
"Oh, we'll, that won't make a serious
inrOad on my leisure. He can't run all
day"
"He may even want you to go to a lot
Of football matches. That you cannot be
expected to d." l said firmly.
"Oh, how delightful The foolish
child actually clapped her hands. 81 love
football above everything!" Idon't know
what the women Of the present day are
coming to.
"Anyhow I am afraid you will find
| pUOI SuhillO q tcAA1DAo uiool oiO =
must confess, too, that he is rather given
to teasing"
$50" said she, with a mischievous
twinkle in her eye, tam l."
II do hope you will not quarrel" I
begged, land that you will give him as
much Of your society as you can. I want
the dear fellow to enjoy himself"
"Now don't you worry, you dear old
auntie," she replied, shaking one finger
at me. "Charlie and I are going to be
great friends. I've "a way wild the men,
don't you know"
She kissed me with a rush and set my
cap straight again. "Ill go and look up
my finery to charm his eyes," She tripped
off, singing "Charlie is my darling" and
I vainly tried to feel quite satisfied at the
success Of my plan. Moreover, I could
not resist a feeling that I wal not acting
quite straightforwardly with her. Poor
little Addie! She is a bonny girl. II
only p,or Tom hadn't been 80 improvi'
denti
Well, Charlie came home and took us
all by storm as usual, and from the first
look which he gave her I began to have
A,y fears. "Of course, motherl" he said