West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-01-25
MIR. BowsER,s TRIBuLATIoSs.
His Mother-in-Law Comes On Visit aud
There Are Results.

II
81 have a bit of news for you. Who do
YOU think Is coming ON the eight o'clock
| train ?"
"Not your mother ?" he quered.
Eyes, got telegram from her an hour
ago. IL hope YOU won't be mad
"Mad - Why should be mad She's
nice old lady, and we always got along all
| right. 1 shall be glad to sec her."
"l'm SO glad Mother is plain-spoken
woman you know. She always says Just
what she thinks. You won't care il she
speaks he mind ? -
mot the slightest. She can talk her head
of for all care. believe differed with
her the las, time she was heie, but that's all
passed and gone. She's in her second child
hood. and If she is blum, we can overlook il.
You just make yourself easy about me-"
"rhat is nice and s~ee, of you. l was so
afraid you might not be glad to see her."
"you must think I'm queer man," said
Mr.. Bowser, as he looked across at her. 'Is
she not your mother Isn't she about as
dear to me my own DO you imagine l
would hurt your feelings by having unplcas-
ant words with an old lady, who is not re-
sponSible for half she says She's got n
way of saying mean little things, but If she
happens to Hit me I'll simply laugh at her
hope she'll stay at least four weeks, and
I'll ist lay myself out to give her pleas
ant visit
Mrs. Bowser had several dim and un-
defined remembrances connected with a
former visit, but she checked them all back
and made herself believe that Mr.. Bowser
would do all he said. When the hour and
the mother.in-law arrived his welcome was
as warm as could be desired, and for an
hour or so all was harmony and good will.
The conversation, which had been made up
of home happenings. finally fell fiat, and the
moiher-in-law started up afresh by saying
"Out our way we have all been much in
terested in divorce case, and am glad to
say il came out all right That is, the wife
got her divorce
"What was the trouble ?" carelessly
queried Mr.. Bowser.
"Why, he was man who was always
bossing and bulldozing his wife. He
thought he knew it all and she nothing. He
was always kicking and fault-6ndng, and
| her life was made miserable. She was a
sweet, patient woman, or she would never
have stood il month. / expect there
are plenty of other women suffering just as
she suffered"
Mrs. Bowser saw a flush creeping over
Mr.. Bowser's face and wisely attempted to
turn the conversation. lie smiled blandly,
but followed it up with the observation:
Sand there are no doubt plenty of hus-
bands who are made miserable by wives who
have no system of management"
"They are poor lot, take em as they
rum" continued the old lady with good
deal of acid in her tones. 'I am glad you
are behaving yourself better than you used
to-"
Mr. Bowser's neck began to grow red and
his ears TO twitch, and Mrs. Bowser made a
heroic effort to get her mother upstairs io
unpack her trunk. Mr.. Bowser remembered
his promise but at the same time he felt that
he had been hit and must hit back, and nc
therefore said
"Why do you say better than used to 7
Did you ever have any fault to find with me 2''
''You started out to nag and boss, I be.
! lieve, and were always threatening divorce
if anything went wrong. I'm glad you've
got over it. While you may be the man Of
the house and all that, you've got no more
rights than the woman. DO you still kecI
up your fads. or have you become sensible -
This was piling il on to Mr.. Bowser. II,
could have turned It off with laugh anc
taken walk, but his dignity would hav,
suffered by so doing. lie didn't ache for
row, but he wanted his mother.in-law {,
understand that he was at the head Of tina
family.
"What fads do you refer to 30 he quietly
asked, while Mrs. Bowser lodged out Of IN,
room 20 escape the coming hailstorm.
"Oh, you used to have 'em by the thous
and. When was here last you paid SIS 70
ere escape or some such fol-dc-rol. | be
iieve you were also going to raise your owl
pork and eggs, and you had an electric bat
terry, a home made burglar alarm and ma
chine for making your own porous plasters
IT'S wonder you haven't tried something tc
make your hair grow. never get letiei
without wondering what tom-foolery you've
been up to-"
"You--you are talking to me 4" gaspec
Mr.. Bowser, as his eyes hung out and hi,
I chin bobbed up and down.
'T'm not in the habit Of talking to IN,
walls, " replied the mo,berin-lsw. hop,
you haven't got the idea that you ar,
too big to be talked to-"
"But never had fad in my life 4" h,
( protested.
u ''Nonsense You have KEEP, the hous,
upset with 'em for the last ten years. How
ever, you may get over it in time. DO 20,
still cross your hands under your coat.iaih
and teetcr back and forth on your heels and
Try 20 make your wife believe that you ar,
a big Injun -
woman A" exclaimed Mr.. Bowser, as h,
jumped to his feet. 81 allow no living per
son to talk TO me that way Did you com,
out here to--to---2"