The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-06-04
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John S Mother |
Julia Truitt Bishop
ID,
Julia Truitt Bishop
Copyright 1901. by Daily Story Pub. Coz

downright 1901 by Daily Story Pub COL
John brought the subject up again
81 on the train, as he and Ellie were
returning from their orief wedding
journey. His brow grew quite wrinkled
as he mentioned it.
II don't know much about women.
anyhow, Ellie" he admitted; "and you
know mothers always Deen the head
OF the house, and your grandmother's
always been the head Of your house
and how they're going to manage it
all of us living together-is more than
j can tell"
~ wish I could have seen your
mother and made her love me little
before we were married." sighed Ellie.
which was the nearest she had come 20
acknowledging that there were difficult
ties in the way But she had acknowl-
edged it to herself with some faintness
of heart, if John had but known it. She
was going to house where she ought
really to be the housekeeper and home
keeper, and she knew that Johns
mother was already jealous of Johns
wife. She must take with her into that
house the whte-haired grandmother
who had raised her from infancy, and
was always busy, counting nothing too
hard for her active old hands. And she
herself was very young, and she must
manage all these difficulties herself
and not burden John with them. No
wonder that she looked little
2houghtful, even while she was smiling
at John and assuring him that they
would manage somehow.
Their journey took them past her old
home, where her grandmother was
ready to join them. Old Mrs. VeddeT
.aas filled with forebodings, and whis-
pered to Ellie brokenly:
"I'm so afraid she'll think I'm in the
way! 1 don't want to be in anybody's
way, Ellie"
That's all right-don't you worry
grandma" said Ellie, holding one OF
the withered hands in both hers.
But Ellie's heart sank II ore and more
at sight of the tall, stiff woman who
was at the end of the journey, who
gave them a formal greeting, allowing
Ellie to kiss her cheek, and extending
A
had not been for Johns persisten
Eayety that first evening would have
been dismal indeed, but, as it was
John TESTED and Ellie laughed bravelj
and pretended not to he thinking o
anything else.
1IEhate to go off and leave you tt
Tight It out alone" he said to her tn,
next morning. 1--WE are in for it,
guess, Ellie"
II am glad you are going," said Ellie
ruthlessly "The worst will come VI
then, and we will have It over"
And after John had gone she wen
back into the dining room, where Mrs
Mayfield still sat at the table with he
untasted breakfast before her.
II suppose you will want the keys.
Eohn's mother began at once. 81 viii
giye them to you, and show you wher
things are. and then N.Y. work will b
Nlone. l suppose l can find a'little cor
mer somewhere about the house, wher
can sit down and fold my hands an
not be in anybody's way"
In anybody's way! Mrs. Vedde
Meard, and arose and spoke up wit
trembling voice:
81 s'pose that means that I'm in TIL
way-an' l thought that's what I'd b
when come here An I'll go away
you needn't fear that I'd want to be
burden on anybody. Ellie can fin
some place for me-the poorhouse,
nowhere else"
"Grandma! You are hurting m
,dreadfully!" Tears had rushed to e
aie's eyes, and the old woman sa
them and sat down again, wiping hi
own eyes, 1t was a great change. ST.
rao longer had Ellie to herself, peac,
sui and happy in the little old cottag
and with no one to interfere. Ell
felt it all in flash, and somehow, to
she felt the bruised heart Of that 9th,
woman who had been all-in-all to h,
son for nearly thirty years, and no
Ellie had come and she was not al
8n-all to him any more. Ellie wei
:and fell on her knees beside her, AZ
G1.jed to hug her unbending waist
ssMother!" she CREDIT was the fir
time she had found courage to call h
8oy that name; Mother, l don't wa
nlns keys-you've had them SO long
and am too young and lnexperienc'
for SO much responsibility. But you
teach me, won't you? I'd be SO glad
Iearn."
<'You needn't run yourself down tn
way, Ellie" cried grandma, sharpl
ready to fight for the child she love
-*You know as much about housekee
1n' as anybody, should hope"
The storm was about To break agai
Enut Ellie still tried to smile.
'<T could keep house in a cotta&
Erandma-and did do it nicely, did
4? But mother will show me how
manage this big house-won't "
motheR?"
John's mother arose stif1y, with til
hook Of pain about the lips viii
comes from q hurt at the heart.
<'You can soon learn H." she sa
tnrniag away. Il suppose can ma
age toSbusy myself ahori somethi
when ny work II taken out Of /,
!, 1AaQdal" - .-,-- :
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