Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-09-11
BEING A GOOD SPORT

aoing well, marvelously well, in fact: |
getting right ahead, working up TO |
The topraost round of the ladder OF his |
calling.
From time to time, there eane let
terra and messages and photographs
from the son and his wire and in due
time from his children The letters
interesting incidental lines
the boys hcme Ife-his wife had been
n college girl and a teacher, she was
able now to direct the studies OF their
two sons and precious little daughter,
! nthe weeks when the husband and
father was too crowded to even pIep p
arly get acquainted with his family.
There were occasional hints of lit
tie domestic good times, outings here
and there; birthdays of the children
and their parents noted, and such
small happenings recorded. throwing
side-lights on the home-life Of the de-
voted family group.
They merely served to make the
elder woman more stony, moro bitter,
more unrelentine. In her secret heart
made q marriage which he and oil
the world might call failure. there
would have been an unworthy salts
faction in declaring that he had got
his desertsI
Finally. for after all sho was his
sight Of her boy, the elder woman
yielded to the opportunities Of that
son and his family, and since they
could not come to her, agreed to go
to them-but for a brief visit. she
distinctly let them understand.
Her boy met her some hundred miles
east on the road, the same lmpul-
sive afrectionate son of earlier years.
albeit now bronzed and bearded and
care wrinkled man; but her boy still.
As they journeycd along toward his
OF his family. his profession. his do
mestic and social interests, the sayings
and doings of his children
II made his mother feel a bit mean,
that secretly she was keenly disap-
pointed that he uttered not one crit
icism of his wife, Of her relatives, Of
their home life. He even lauded her
as a cook, related incidentally her
master skill at economizing, her thrift
and what not. If his mother could
but have had his head laid on her
shoulder as he whispered out his grief.
as in his boyhood days, IL only he
had confided to her, Mother, maria ge
for me has been a failure tragedy;
have made d mistake. and all be-
cause l did not ask your advicel" it
would have compensated for the lone
illness, the longing of all the interven-
ing years. But the son was, instead.
a radiantly happy husband and father
oh, the sting Of 1t, although he was
not one whit less the devoted and
affectionate son!
Thaf. - e
in some way they missed the little
family group which had gone to meet
them at the station.
When they reached the pretty little
cottage in its well kept grounds, en-
tered its wide porch and hospita BILE
hall, looked through the rooms, fur
nished with such comfort, such taste,
yet with evidences of economy and
intelligence, the visitor from New
England grew, not more Modified, but
more Grabbed.
The table was laid for the evening
meal In the pantry, to which the son
led her, in his enthusiasm of guide
there were evidences that O practiced
cook had been here. The woman who
would not be convinced, however
waited till her son was not looking
and drew her thin finger along the
pantry shelf. Not one atom of dust
she had to admit
There were mineral and botanical
| specimens in one of the rooms, and
the proud father told of the mothers
| sympathy with their children in theiI
varying fads Of collecting flowers and
| stones and birds nests and moths;
the long walks they took together. tn,
days afield. the strolls in woods OIL
| by the shore.
When at last the young mother and
her brood reached the house. dismayet
at their failure at having missed meet
| ing Grandma because they had &C
| copied the invitation Of a neighbo
to ride instead of walk and had beer
delayed by tire trouble, the elder We
man was still not Modified.
| Her daughter-in-law was beautiful
not merely pretty; intelligent, the tru
type of a wise mother. as a glanc
| would prove. Her husband and chill
dren adored her. her home was perfec
ton, she was loving and cordial II
her greeting of her husbands mother
but the latter had nourished her splice,
all trese years. and simply would no
surrender to her charms.
Here was a woman Of the type no
good sports!
In time, she was won over by tn
tactful patience and attentions of he
| western dauqhter-in-law, especially
after an illness which nearly cost he
her life, and during which the young
er woman cared for her with all
| daughters solicitude. What a pity
She had brooded over a fancied hur
all these wears, until now It had be
come almost part Of the nature whic
il had undeniably warped!
"Oh, don't bother with supper, Jane
It's so pleasant we'll just spend thi
hot evening at the beach," says
husband to his spouse; and althoug
she has taken pains to prepare a mic
supper for him. she makes no protes
but hurries to dress and to accompan
him to some grill or shore place, be
cause he has suddenly set his min
on having a lobster Newburg and a
| evenings outing.
That woman Is good sport!
So, too, are the few women VIII
have learned to bear troubles and mis-
fortunes and hard knocks with I'll