Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-06
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Why We Guarded
a HOME LIFE EPISODE.
u! Virginia rcrhunc Nnn DE Water
Copyright, 1915. Star Company

,
One of the hardest problems | have
had to face in my married life is Try
ing TO reconcile my duty TO my hus-
bard with that 10 my mother.
Looked at calmly and dispassionate
L.. know the fault is not my parents
Her one Grsire is for my happiness.
although it IS entirely natural that sho
should !oi.r TO have me with her often
Yet nay husband regards this wish %
hers as FORM OF seltshncss, and feels
that my Indulgence Of her is weakness
on my part and equivalent 10 nc=ler:
OF him.
Last month When my mother was
Ill AID RAJ, in 10 see her several
times each day and the last thing ut
hiSht, John expressed his dissatisfa:-
ton at this stale OF affairs.
Your care Of her wearies Won so
That YOU are not in fit condition TO
attend TO your REG ular duties" he com
planned
] iejoined. u an: her only child. and
1t Is my right and pleasure 10 he o.
service to her"
And she imposes upon you.' he
insisted. Il really think that man
has some rights You women are fon
OF quotinS TO us. For thi, ause shall
4 man leave father and lnnihc. and
cleaVe unto his VIE. But il is only
fair for wife 10 90 the same thing"
Don't II" ] asked Would YOU re-
spect me II neglected the mother
to whom ! owe "a debt of gratitude 1
can never pay
You mean for caring for YOU whom
YOU were a k!d?' John queried. We'll,
since she brought YOU into the world
that is the least she could do. l do
not see that she had done such lots
for you that YOU need be her slave
now"
looked at him in wonder at the
ease with which a man forSets. ! hest
,ated to remind him that two years
after our marriage. when he failed in
business. my mother lent him money
TO put him on his feet again, and that
she would not allow him TO pay in
terest on this loan.
You are like son TO me-" she
told him them Il have no boy Of my
own, and feel ii YOU belonged to
me-"
Even now she is paying the tuition
OF our ten year-old lad at the private
school To- which John went as boy,
and where he has always ionved to
have his son 30. The boy is my
fathers namosakc, and my mother
never forScts this.
Well. what are YOUR thoughts
about"" John demanded. as | kept 81
lence while pondercd ON these facts.
Il was just limiting" ! said, ''of
the many obligations we are under to
mother. Since YOU ask me, | tell YOU
this--although did not mean to men
ton it,"
"Obligations" he demanded rs
that what YOU call them? l don't, /
suppose YOU mean that she helped me
with money at one time. Well, | pa
ii back. And she is paving I.awrence's'
tuition-hUt she insisted ON doing that.
| never asked her TO send the lad 10
private school. | always supposed
ne would have 10 40 10 II public school
las thousands OF other nice lads do.
She loves the hoy and likes to do
things for him"
But YOU benefit by her love for him
and us ! insisted.
If ] do pay well for il in tho
lack OF my wiieS society whenever
her mother wants her" lac rctorted.
Yes, only last week. when he asked
me TO take little trip 10 the noun
tans with him, and protested that
could not leave the children, he said
easily: oh, send them over to Your
The nigh, worry her" ventured.
she is not very strong now, YOU
know"
Nonsense! She would love TO have
them 1t WI BE- a real kindness TO
her 10 lot them go there ana amuse
her ana &c, nor out of herself. or
course. the nurse VIII accompany them,
so she'll have no work to do FOR
them"
Tina; IS tine way he regards the mat
ter He takes all That my mother does
for granted because She is my mother
and loved me and mine Yet he rebels
II she takes mnih' Of my time.
Another phase ."f. the subject over
which We quarrel occasionally is his
habit OF makn@ silly Jokes about
wreIched taste long as his wife's
mother lives Eut John thinks me