An Inheritance from an Old Husband or an Unexpected Gift from a Mother-in-Law
As a parting gift from her husband, a heavy drinker, Edith had been given the responsibility of caring for his mother. It had been a decade since they parted ways, not just because of his drinking, but also due to his violent temperament. He didnt hesitate to raise his hand against her.
It has been so long now, but in those days, they had severed all ties. Their only son, Samuel, had married and moved to another town. He had nothing to do with his father, for who would want to claim a drunkard as their father? Nor did the father seem to have any affection for his son.
One particular Sunday morning, Edith received a ringing call laden with unpleasant newsthe death of her former husband. There was no one left to take care of the funeral arrangements, so in the end she and her son saw to all of it. They provided him a decent burial.
Then remained the question of the old, ailing mother-in-law. What now? If only she had been easy enough to care for, but that was never the caseshe was always a bit of a surprise. Throughout all those years, all the old woman did was cause trouble.
Living alone in a cottage on the edge of the village, her mother-in-law needed looking after. After the funeral, Samuel returned home to his family. The burden of looking after the grouchy grandmother fell squarely on Ediths shoulders.
What was she to do? She visited the old woman a few times each week, brought grocerieswhich were always met with complaint, though the food was still eaten. She tended to chopping firewood herself. It was difficult work, but she couldnt in good conscience leave the old soul helpless. Who can abandon someone so vulnerable?
For three months this continued, until the elderly lady at last passed away. Afterwards, it came to light that, in her will, she had left Edith the cottage and a considerable sum of pound sterling she had put aside over many years. So much for gratitudelife does have its surprises.
