Year: 1873

them good, many Of them sharp,
and occasionally cruel, have been
said of mothers-in-law, and now
comes one of this much talked of
class and tells her side Of the story.
That she tells it well will be admit
ted by all who read it:


Left widow, after few years of
most unhappy married life, | retired
with my children, to a small town,
where l intended to devote myself
to the care of their education.


l 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 cradicated with time,
that we can scarcely believe the
pains we are taking will ever have
any but the desired result. These
early promises are 20 beautiful! Ev-
cry childish liking seems talent,
lacking only opportunity to develop
into excellence.


My boy and girl went to school
in the morning. In the afternoon,
we walked together, and we all en-
joyed those long rambling walks.
Then our tea table, and our evenings
when l read to them-how delight
full was our companionship! How
l tried in every way to SOW the good
seed! l 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 sake.
l took care that they were always
well dressed, often working until
late at night at their clothes-my
own were plain enough. They new
er knew, of course, the sacrifices l
made that they might have pleas
ure.


That my children loved me, re.
spccted me, l need not repeat.
Their first thoughts always seemed
to be Of me. At Christmas they
presented me with horrid little
daubs which l still treasure, tied up
in little packages, and dated. All!
happy days!-days when a paper Of
sweet cake is sufficient for happi-
ness.


The day came when they grew
tall and less dependent on me.
James left school and as my means
would not admit of his going to col
lege, l obtained admittance tor him
into the place of business ola friend.
One day l heard friend say that
my son admired Miss Benson.
Then shot into my heart the acute
pang of jealousy which / heard a
woman feels when another woman
dares to lay claim to her son-a bit
ter unreasoning feeling, but strong
and fierce, trample 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 60 and see her. l
went. She was tall and very thin,
and stylish looking, with reddish
hair, and long thin hands and feet.
She wore a great many fiounces and
a great deal of jewelry OF the pale
gold kind. Her manners were very
gracious to me, but somehow or 9TH
er there was something about her
that seemed to say she was the one
who had always had a right to
James, while stood out in the new
and awkward light of one whose
claims upon him were very trifling
and quite recent.


When / went home l sat in my
rocking-chair for about an hour,
thinking. l had understood every
kite he had ever had, and fathomcd
tic capacity of every toy cannon
with which he had missed commit
ting suicide, overcome the myster-
les of marbles Of every degree, low
ed every kitten and puppy he had
ever adopted and taken to his heart
why could not at least love this
rcddish-haired girl? People con-
graduated me. o! yes, was very
much pleased Of course, not losing
a son at all-Oh! no-only gaining
another daughter! Delightful, GER
tainly, and early marriages are, as
you say, very desirable"


A year afterward they were mar.