THE EXACT VALUE OF A MOTHER-IN-LAW.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1712, 29 June 1874, Page 2

THE EXACT VALUE OF A MOTHER-IN-LAW.

Last week a young German girl named Amelia Donnerschag, having a trustful confidence in the laws of her country, especially as expounded by Banyon, went before that justice and began a suit for 200dols against August Behrcns, for breach of promise of marriage. She would have sued for more, but 200dola is the limit of the jurisdiction of a justice's court. And that is the reasoa why she stopped at that figure, not but what sho esteemed her lover «to be worth a much higher sum. A warrant was issued, and the case came up yesterday. All the parties were in attendance. The complainant stated that she had known the defendant in Germany; and had hecome engaged to him there. He had emigrated to this country in order to make a home and she had followed hili^a the course of a year. Soon after Tier arrival finding him in good circumstances, she pressed him to fulfil his promise, but he refu*ed to do so. Hence the suit. The Justice asked the young man if he had anything to say on his behalf, and he stated that ho had.

Mr Behrcns—As the young lady says, your Honor, I was engaged to her in Germany, where she was living with her father. I came to Chicago and boarded at the house of her sister and mother, who were living in Division-street, and I lived with them for nine months. During that nine months I had many opportunities to watcu the ways of this young lady's mother, and I was not pleased with them at all.

At this point the brow of the Justice unbent. His manner, which had been particulary gloomy, began to change, and he looked with something of friendliness upon Mr Behrens. " Excuse me," said the Justice, " I should like to ask you a few questions :— Did this woman say that she intended to live with you after you were married ? Did she inform you that she was ready, to take all the care of the household off your hands ? Did she a»k you to let her save up your money ? Did she say that she could take care of it a great deal better than you could ? '' "Yes."

" Go on, " said the Judge. Mr Behrens—When this young lady came over here from Germany she did ask me to marry her, and I was ready to, and I told her I was. But she said that her mother must live with us and keep house for us. I told h«r that I had watched the ways of her mother, and that I was not pleased with them ; that I loved her very deeply and was ready to marry her, but did not wish to marry her ; mother also, who was a woman of lordly and unpleasant habils, and who,-iiisisYecii. on feedingjiie. too much, on cabbage, a I have always had a dislike for, I am ready, your Honor, to marry her now, providing lhat she will leave her mother out in the cold ; but I will not marry the old woman; I have made Tip . ray mind to that, no matter what comes. : The Justice—.Now, let me askyou,lny friend, which would you rather do, pay down 2Qodols. or marry the young lady and have her mother live with you P " Mr Behrens (firmly)—l will pay the 200dols. „

The Justice—Allow me to shake hands with you. I envy your firmness. There was a period in the life of this. Court, Mr Behrens, when it was placed in circumstances somewhat similar to your owd. If it had had the moral courage which you possess it would have saved about twenty-five years of misery and unhappiness. The alternative was presented to this Court whether it would marry a young lady and her mother or whether-it would pay 125 dollars in gold. This Court was poor at the tinie. It was earning an unsatisfactory living at the restaurant business. It yielded. It took the young woman and the mother-in-law, and kept the 125d015. For a quarter of a century this Court regretted its hasty action. It ia glad to meet a man who cherishes happiness more- than he does money. The order of the Court is that the defendant stands discharged, and the complainant who has been trying to bring a man into slavery to a mother-in-law be fined lOdols and costs.