Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-10-20
an UG
John S Mother |
BY
Julia Truitt Bishop
toopyrish,. 1905. By Dally story Pub. col


journey. His brow grew quite wrinkleC
as he mentioned it.
Il don't know much about women
anyhow, Ellie, he admitted; "and you
know mothers always 0een the head
of the house, and your grandmother
always been the head of your house
and how they're going to manage it,
all of us living together-is more than
| can tell"
Il wish | 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, ii John had bu5 known it. She
| was going to a 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 white-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 a little
thoughtful, 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. Vedde9
was filled with forebodings. and whis-
pered to Ellie brokenly:
I'm so afraid she'll think I'm In the
way! | 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 n 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 10 kiss her cheek, and extending
a cold hand to old Mrs. Vedder. If it
had not been for Johns persistent
gayety that first evening would have
been dismal indeed, but. as II was
John TESTED and Ellie laughed braveiy
and pretended not to be thinking Of
anything else.
Il hate to go off and leave you to
fight It out alone, he said TO her the
next morning We are in for it, / |
guess, Ellie"
Il am glad you are going" said Ellie.
ruthlessly THE worst viii come up |
then. and we viii have 4 over"
And after John had gone she went
back into the dining room, where Mrs.
Mayheld still sat al the table with her
untasted breakfast before her,
Il suppose You will want the keys"
Johns mother began at once Il win |
give them 10 you, and show you where
things are, and then M work will pe
done. I suppose | can find little cor
ner somewhere about the house where |
/ can SIT down and fold my hands and
not be in anybody's way
In anybody's wayl Mrs vedder
heard, and arose and spoke up with |
trembling voice
Il s'pose that means that I'm in the /
way-an' ! thought that's what I'd De 1
when | come here An III go away
you needn't fear that I'd want to be a /
burden on anybody. Ellie can find /
some place for me-the pOorhouse, If /
else"
Grandma! You are hurting me
areadfully!" Tears had rushed to FL |
lies eyes, and the old woman saw I
them and sat down again. wiping her /
own eyes. II was a great change She /
no longer had Ellie to herself. peace
ul and happy in the little old cottage. I
and with no one to interfere Ellie /
felt 1t all in flash. and somehow, too. +
she felt the bruised heart Of that other l
woman who had been all-in-all to her i
son for nearly thirty years. and now |
Ellie had come and she was not all 1
mall 70 him any more. Ellie went /
and fell on her knees beside her, and /
tried to hug her unbending waist.
"Mother!" she CREDIT was the first i
lime she had found courage to call her /
by that name: oiother / don't want /
he keys-you've had them SO long /
and | am too young and inexperienced /
Tor SO much responsibility. But youIl I
each me. won't you2 I'd be SO glad to /
learn"
You needn't run yourself down that /
way, Ellie" cried grandma. sharply. /
ready 10 fight for the child she loved. 1
You know as much about housekeep- /
In as anybody, I should hope"
The storm was about 10 break again. ,
but Ellie still tried to smile
Il could keep house in a cottage. 4
Erandma-and ! did do It nicely. didn't /
q But mother will shoE me how 10 1
manage this big hnuse-Nont you.
nother."
Johns mother arose st3h1y. with that 1
ook of pain about the - which 4
somes from hurt al the heart.
You can soon fearn H." she said 1
turning away. Il suppose / can man
age 20 busy myself about something 4
Fhen my work is taken out OF nv 4
sands"
Ellie started up and hurried 10 her
room A flush o. Indignation and Of 4