Year: 1873

VooeA oeVA - AVVs


A good many things, some of them
good, many sharp and occasionally
cruel, have been said of late of moth
ers-in- law, and now comes one of this
much talked of class and tell 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, | retired,
with my two children, to small town,
where / intended to devote myself to
the care of their education.


[ think the enjoyment we have in
our children before they reach the age
of ten is very great. All faults and
evil tendencies seem so sure to be erad-
icated with time, we can scarcely be-
lieve 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 excel
lence.


My girl and boy went to school in the
morning. In the afternoon we walked
together, and we all three enjoyed
those long, rambling walks. Then our
tea table, and our evenings, when /
read to them-how delightful was our
companionship! How [ tried in every
way to sow the good seed. | have
said that my means were small, but
my wants were few, and l considered
it duty to make them fewer, for my
children's sakes. l took care that
they were always we'll dressed, often
working until late at night at their
clothes-my own were plain enough.
They never knew, of course, the sac
rifces | made that they might have
pleasure. .-.s.s..


That my children loved me, respect
ed me, | need not repeat. Their first
thoughts always seemed to be of me.
At Christmas they presented me with
horrid little daubs, which / still treas
ure, tied up in little packages and
dated. All ! happy, happy days-days
when paper of sweet cake is sufficient
iOT HapplneSS.


The day came when they grew tall
and less dependent On me. James left
school, and as my means did not ad-
NIT of his going to college, l obtained
admittanee for him into the place of
business of q friend. One day |
heard an acquaintance say that my son
admired Miss Benson. Then first
shot into my heart that acute pang of
jealousy which l had heard woman
feels when another woman dares to lay
claim to her soma bitter. unreason-
ing feeling, but strong and fierce, tram
pie on it as you may. L 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. l went She
was tall and very thin, and stylish look
ing, with reddish hair, and long, thin
hands and feet She wore great
many founces, and a great deal of
jewelry of the pale good 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 | stood out in the new
andawkward light of one whose claims
upon him were very trifing and quite
recent.


When / went home sat in my rock
ing chair for about an hour, thinking.
l had understood every kite he had
ever had, fathomed the capacity of
every toy cannon with which he had
ever missed committing suicide, over
come the mysteries of marbles of
every degree, loved every puppy and
kitten he had ever adopted and taken
to his heart-wby could | not at least
try to love this reddish haired girl =?
People congratulated me. 30! yes, l
was very much pleased, of course, not
losing son at all-O! no-only gain
ing 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 | ever had
any fault to find with her. Then
James sought and obtained a very good
position in a town distant about one
hundred miles. At first the news was
very satisfactory. Charming little
house, the perfection of servants !
and then later, ''the loveliest little
baby" my grandson. Then, some
months later, things were not so bright,
The baby had had the Group, my son
himself touch of the intermittent
fever, servants were great plaques,
housekeepers dreadful trouble. Dis
turbed beyond measure at the reitera-
ton of these lamentations, decided
to 90 and see for myself how they were
circumstanced, and be of what assist
ance might for a short time.


So one winter morning, leaving Fan
ny with an intimate friend, andlntrust-
ing house and all to one servant, | left
home alone. Arriving after dark at
my destination, found the two young
er servants enjoying comfortable
meal in the kitchen, and the baby
asleep alone in the chilly nursery. My
son and his wife were out spending the
evening with some friends. Their sur
prise and pleasure at seeing me on
their return home was very great.
Upon conversing with Maria next day
l found her to be very ignorant as re-
garded baby's requirements. He
does cry so dreadfully," she said. i
STAYED there a whole month; perhaps
it was too long; but there always seem
ed something for me to do. took
charge of the little creature whenever
his mother wanted to spend an evening
in company, which was not seldom
Many and many lonely hour | spent
in that dimly lighted room, rather than
trust him to the awkwardness of the
young girl who professed to fulfill the
duties of child's nurse. l did great
deal of sewing for Maria, of whom ]
| became fonder than | had ever expect