16 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
“Mary, when I married you, seems 
to me, I married your ‘mother, too; 
but I’m getting tired of this sort of 
thing and I don’t intend to stand it any 
longer ;’ and John Morton slammed 
the front door after him as he started 
for his office. 
When he reached home in the ev- 
ening it was very evident he was in 
no better mood then when he left in 
the morning. Supper over, he took 
up the paper nad sat down in his arm 
chair in a corner of the sitting room. 
“Why, John what is the matter,” 
said Mary, “you have heardly spoken 
a word to me all the evening.” 
“Matter? Didn’t I tell you this 
morning I don’t want your mother 
here any longer. A mother-in-law 
is all right when she has a nice hme in 
the country or at the sea-side where 
a fellow can take his wife and family 
and spend a vacation each year; but 
if she is poor and he has to support 
her, that’s a horse of another color.” 
“John dear, you are tired, and per- 
haps you’re not feeling well. You 
surely don’t mean my dear mother 
must leave our home? Father died 
when I was quite young and _ poor 
mother worked so hard to give me the 
comforts in life that other children 
have. Oh, it would break her heart. 
I’m her only child, John; she has no 
other home. Where can she go?” 
“That’s none of my business.” 
The next day was a sad one for poor 
Mary. Her mother was quite feeble, 
and how could she tell her she could 
no longer live with them.. Then the 
children would miss “Grammy” so 
much, especially little Jack, who was 
not strong. 
“Mary dear,” said her mother the 
following morning, “Mrs. Leicester 
has asked me to visit her for a while 
and perhaps the change will do me 
good. She is all alone since her son 
went to Australia. I don’t just like 
to leave you and the children, but I 
shall not be far away and you can 
come and see me.” 
Mrs. Nelson was quite busy the 
next day putting her things together 
and packing her trunk. 
Monday morning she was all ready 
to start on her journey. It was late 
when she arrived at 9 C street, the 
home of her friend. 
A bright fire was burning in the 
grate and tea was on the table. 
HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW 
By Mrs. Margaret L. Rust 
22 Bridge Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea 
Reprinted from Boston Morning Post of Dec. 30, 1912.—‘‘The Post's Original Short Story.” 
“Why, Mollie Nelson! How do 
you do? Here you are at last! Guess 
I’ve been to the door looking out for 
you 40 times,” said Sallie Leicester. 
“Well, it does my heart good to see 
your face once more; make yourself 
at home, Mollie, and after tea we'll 
talk of old times. 
“You remember my son Henry? 
He’s doing well out in Australia, and 
in one of his letters he speaks of a 
dear friend who has a sister living 
somewhere in the town. His name is 
Joe Harrington.” 
“Joe Harrington did you say? Why, 
that must be brother Joe. He went 
out there some 30 years ago and it’s 
all of 20 years since I heard from 
him.” 
“Well,” said Sallie, “I hope it is; 
we'll try and find out when I write, 
but say, how’re the folks at home?” 
“Oh, Mary has a hard life with 
John. I’m sorry for her, poor girl, 
I heard him telling her a few days ago 
he didn’t want me around any longer. 
You see old people are in the way 
sometimes.” 
“Mollie, I hope you will stay with 
me. I haven’t over much of this 
world’s goods, but you’re welome to 
a share of it.” 
So the two old friends were happy. 
In due time a letter was received 
from Henry Leicester saying his 
friend Joe Harrington had died leav- 
ing a fortune of $200,000, with $50,- 
000 divided between his old friend 
Henry Leicester and his mother and 
the residue, $150,000, to his sister, 
Mrs. Mollie Nelson, to will as she 
thought best. 
For some years the two old friends 
lived happily together. Henry return- 
from Australia and told how his 
friend had made a fortune in sheep 
raising and how he had often talked 
of his sister. 
In the meantime, things had not 
gone very smoothly with John and 
Mary. The dear old mother had been 
a great help in the house and with the 
children. 
Many times now the supper would 
be late and John would notice how 
tired Mary looked. 
One evening on his return from 
town, he found her in tears. She had 
received a letter saying her mother 
had died. A few days later a lawyer 
called on Mrs. Morton informing her 
MANCHESTER 
Clarence Mackin has been a guest 
of friends in Maynard a few days this 
week. 
Born, Thursday, Jan. 2, a daughter 
to Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Ferriera, 
Morse Ct. 
The officers of Liberty Rebekah 
lodge for 1913 are: Mrs. Annie Rog- 
ers, noble grand; Mrs. Mabel Crom- 
bie, vice-grand; Miss Jennie Sargent, 
rec. secy.; Miss Alice Haraden, fin. 
secy.; Mrs. Emma Stanley, treas. 
The annual business meeting of the 
Baptist church was held last Tuesday 
evening, when the following officers 
were elected: Advisory board, Mrs. 
Willmonton, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Davis 
Baker; prudential committee, five 
years: Edward S. Bradley, J. Davis 
Baker; treasurer, Robert Baker; reg- 
istrar, Mrs. Nellie Rogers; auditor, 
Dr. Tyler; trustee of the Martin fund, 
two years, William Fleming. 
Joun Epwarp Murray. 
The body of John Edward Murray 
of Roxbury was brought to Manches- 
ter yesterday for burial. Mr. Mur- 
ray was born in Manchester in 1832 
He learned his trade with Vernard & 
Wheaton as a cabinet maker. 
After spending some years in town 
he went to Beverly where he resided 
a number of years, moving later to 
Roxbury. When the war of the re- 
bellion broke out he enlisted in Co. E, 
&th Reg’t. and served his country nine 
months. 
He was always known to be cheer- 
ful, kind and thoughtful to all. Dur- 
ing the remaining years of his life he 
was at the Danvers hospital and there 
became known to those at the hospital 
as Old Uncle John. 
Mr. Murray was subject to illturns 
and bright’s decease which caused his 
death in his 80th year. He is survived 
by a widow, Mrs. Sarah Hastings 
Murray of Roxbury, a brother, James 
Murray of Beverly and Miss Lydia 
Murray of this town. His body was 
put to rest in his brther’s lot at Rose- 
dale cemetery Rev. Mr. Tillingast of 
Beverly officiating. 
of a will made by her mother leaving 
$100,000 in trust, the income to be 
used for the benefit of her daughter 
Mary, and at her death $50,000 for 
her children, the remainder going to 
an Old Ladies’ Home. 
“To John Morton, I leave one dol- 
lar for the good turn he did me in 
getting tired of his mother-in-law.” 
Truth may be knocked down, but it 
can not long be held down. 
