Year: 1872

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 had been married just two hours by the clock, and my wife, Sophia Slipperton (formerly White) was arraYing herself il her travelling dress up stairs for thu bridal tour. The carriage was at tho door, with the trunks strapped on behind and I, the hero of the occasion, rather Hurried and very hungry, was trying tc get bite of the delectable luncheon that my wifes friends had provided, when my elder brother Tom saw me behind the door, and came to disturb my last free moments. Tom, however, had right to 8 few parting words; it was to him that ] owed my present prosperity, and I thanked him then and there for his handsome con- duct in having stood my friend with Sophia from first to last.

 'sYou will never regret 1t, my dear Tom," said I, almost hugging him, and forgetting in my excitement that my speech was not altogether to the point.

 ''No, nor you, my dear Charley. Sophia is splendid girl, and I, having been her legal adviser so long, can tell you every thing IS right and no incumbrancesp

 "No, of course not, what could there be?" said I, innocently.

 "Look there" said Tom, and he led me to an angle of the dining-room from whence l saw sight which, though a modification to him, made me laugh in spite of myself.

 On comfortable sofa sat a fat old lady with large napkin spread OF her lap; her cap-ribbons were carefully pinned over her forehead to be out of the way of stains, and on chairs near her, a variety of plates were poised which evidently bore the rel ics of mighty feast not yet concluded. The old lady was now making her attack on the preserves and ices, and the de- termination with which she pursued her employment was wonderful to behold.

 "Just look at my mother-in-law!" said Tom, in O state of rage and disgust. "Did you ever see such glutton in your life? am glad the people are nearly all gone; but l see some of them laughing at her there in the corner I declare, Charley, when think what you've got, such nice girl as Sophia, and so well off, without a relation in the world living nearer than Cincinnati, and above all, no naother-in- law, I am almost jealous of your good lucki''

 "Your Maria is prettier than Sophy, said ], with an easy magnanipaity; ''and besides, Tom, mothers-in-law don't live forever; perhaps that mess she has been eating may be the death of her yet. I know you have had pretty hard time of it altogether, but she doesn't mean any harm"

 '''She's killing me-" said Tom, with 8 dismal groan. ''I found two white hairs in my moustache last night. Oh, I could tell you tales, Charley! but you won't heed them; you are not to be one of the tor mented. My dear fellow, think you are the happiest man in the world at this moment!"

 almost thought the same myself as I saw Sophia come down the stairs ready for the journey, and looking bright and smil- ing. l forgot how plain she was, what big feet she had, and how much lovelier 8 certain young lady I once new would have looked in the very elegant travelling suit in which my present charmer was arrayed.

 kissed my own family, bid kind fare well to the friend of Sophia from whose house she had been ''wooed and welded and a." and closed the carriage-door with @ snap that seemed to shut out the old life as totally as it initiated the new. Our wellington did not extend very far; Sophia was not strong woman, and we concluded as the weather was cold to re- turn to town, after short jaunt to the South. We came back accordingly in November, and took immediate posses sion of beautiful little house that my wife had purchased, and which we had the pleasure of furnishing to suit our own taste,

 My wife was quite independent of her family, as she had a comfortable private fortune left her by some departed rela- tive, and her winters had been passed for years in the city where Tom had lately become her lawyer, and I, still more late ly, her husband. think, upon looking back on somewhat checkered existence, that the first year of my married life was the happiest l have ever experienced; l have since known, indeed, more intense excitement and more brilliant society than my home furnished, but have nowhere met more admirable woman than Sophia Sipperton. She was not handsome, she was not very young, nor would she com pare with my early love, whom occasion ally thought of when Sophia came down to breakfast in an unbecoming wrapper; but she had an amiable temper; never did she seem out of humor when brought a friend home to dinner, or even if staid out to dinner myself without notice; nev- CT did she scold the servants in my pres ence, or object to my smoking under the best parlor curtains! She was quiet, gen. tie and affectionate, and was as de- served to be, the envy of all my young married friends. There is such a thing, however, as being too amiable, and to this weakness Sophia finally and fatally yield ed.

 l:f4lo >,,ora +boo n x,o,, bod ,,os,o1 away when Sophia received a letter from that she and her family were going to move to California, and consequently that old Mir. White, her father and Sophia's, was left without home.

 ''Why does he not go with them?" said I to Sophia, who seldom spoke of her rel atives, from whom she had been much separated, and about whom, therefore, knew but little.

 ''My father is too infrm," said Sophia, mildly, ''to travel that distance; he is very blind besides, and rather deaf. No, he must be taken care of by some of his OWL kindred. I think, she added, ''that he had better come on with them and stay 6 while with us before they sail, and we will arrange some plan for his aecommo- dation near us."

 "Has he no relatives in the West?" said I, "who could safely be entrusted witf the care of him2"

 "None whatever" said Sophia, and added with an asperity as new as it was decisive, ''while have house of my ow1 shall not allow my father to be in the care of strangers"

 Thus was my domestic peace invaded by an enemy who was blind, deaf, and in firm, but conqueror in the first encounter In vain did I seek consolation from my brother Tom; his own grievance bore sucf immense proportions in his eyes that al other were dwarfed by comparison. ssThank your stars he's not a woman Charley!" said he, 'just look at my. moth er-in-law, she's enough to turn mar crazyi. T wish she was 6 man; I could manage her then we'll enoughr' "Well, shc couldn't be man any way and it wouldn't be any better if she were A man like old Mir. White is just as bae l as a woman to take care of.

 "You don't take care of him, do you?'

 said my astute brother.

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