Year: 1873

Her Side OF the Story--And a Pretty GOOD


Story, Toos


A good many things, some of then
good, many sharp and occasionally
cruel, have been said of late of mothers
in-law, and now comes a.,6 OF this
much talked Of class and tells her side
of The story. That she tells it well,
will be admitted by all who read it:


Left widow, after few years Of
most unhappy married life, I retired,
with my two children, to h small town,
where 1 intended to devote myself to
the care of their education.


think the enjoyment we have in oul
children before they reach the age OF
ten Is very great. All faults and evil
tendencies seem so sure to he eradicated
with time, we tait scarcely believe the
pains we are taking will ever have any
but the desired result. These early
promises are so beautiful !! Every
childish liking seems talent, lacking
only opportunity to develop into ex.
cellence.


Ny girl and boy went to school in the
morning. In the afternoon we walked
together, andw all three enjoyed those
long, rambling walks. Then our tea:
table, and our evenings, when I lead to
them-how delightful was our COM
panionsbip How I tried in every way
to SOW the good seed. I have said that
my means were small, but my wants
were few, and I considered it q duty to
make them fewer, for my childrens'
sakes. took care that they were al
ways well dressed, often working until
late at night at their clothes-my own
were plain enough. They never knew,
of course, the sacrifices made that
they might have pleasures.


That my children loved me, respected
me, I need not repeat. Their first
thoughts always seemed to be of me.
At Christmas they presented me with
horrid little daubs, which I still treas
ure, tied up in little packages, and
dated. All happy, happy days days
when a paper of sweet cake is sufficient
for happiness.


The days came when they grew tall
and less dependent on me. James left
school, and, as my means did not admit
of his going to college, l obtained ad-
mittance for him into the place of bust
ness of friend. One day I heard an
acquaintance say that my son admired
Miss Benson. Then first shot into
my heart that acute pang of jealousy
which had heard a woman feels when
another woman dares to lay claim to her
son-a bitter, unreasoning feeling, but
strong and fierce, trample on it as you
may. 1 asked James about it /; he
laughed at the idea.


A year later he announced that he was
engaged to this very girl, and asked me
to go and see her. I went. She was
tall and very thin, and stylish looking
with reddish hair, and long, thin hands
and feet. She wore n great many foun-
ces, and a great deal of jewelry, of the
pale gold kind. Her manners were very
gracious to me, but somehow or other
there was something about her that
seemed to say she was the one who had
always had right to James, while I
stood out in the new and awkward light
of one whose claims upon him were
very trihing, and quite recent.


When / went home / sat in my rock
ing-chair for about an hour, thinking.
[ had understood every kite he had
ever had, fathomed the capacities of
every toy cannon with which he had
ever just missed committing suicide,
overcome the mysteries of marbles of
every degree, loved every puppy and
kitten he had ever adopted and taken to
his heart-why could not Mt least try
to love this reddish-haired girl? People
congratulated me. 90! yes, l was very
much pleased, of course, not losing n
sen at all-O no-only gaining another
daughter - Delightful, certainly, and
early marriages are, as you say, so very
desirable"


A year afterward they were married,
and remained some months with her
family, during which time saw her
often, and cannot say that l ever had
any fault to find with her. Then James
sought and obtained very good posi-
ton in town distant about one hun
dred miles. At fist the news was very
satisfactory. Charming little house,
the perfection OF servants ana then
later, "the loveliest little baby" my
grandson. Then, some months later,
things were not 80 bright. The baby
had had the Group, my son himself a
touch of the intermittent fever, servants
were great plaques, housekeepers a
dreadful trouble. Disturbed beyond
measure at the reiteration of these To-
mentations, I decided to go and see for
myself how they were circumstanced,
and be of what assistance I might for q
short time.


So one winter morning, leaving Fanny
with an intimate friend, and intrusting
my house and all it contained to the
care of one servant, left home alone.
Arriving after dark at my destination, ]
found the two younger servants enjoy.
ing a very comfortable meal in the
kitchen, and the baby asleep alone in a