Litchfield enquirer., 1838-10-25
THE srnrNaorRRR.

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THE sTErMoTRER. f
Twas once staying al friends house iri'
the country, where saw and heard some
very interesting things. Irecollect, ia par-.
ticulars little conversation which occurred
between Mrs. Peters aDd her three children;
as they were eating a. iiihcl, Of bread, and
blackberry jelly aficr morning sch0ol.--
There were two Mile boys, named Joseph
three years old, who was called Mary.
Now Mrs. Peters was net the real moth
er Of these little ones {; their own mother.
God had taken her to heaven, when Mary
was very small baby. Their poor father
was very unhappy after she was gone, and
always afraid his mothertess babes should
be neglected or hurt. So at length he per-
suaded this same kind lady who was dis
pensing the lunch, to come and take care Of
them, and be their mother, and that was
what the children were talking about, while
they were eating. As Willie was standing
by her side waiting Cor second slice Of
bread, he looked up nfiec,ionately into her
face, and began to speak, then blushiRg and
looking at his brother, he hesitated and re-
manned silent. sWhal is it Willie said his
mother. what were you going to say I there
are no strangers here speak out oas
II guess know said Joe /; say on,
Willie I don't care if mother does know
my share I shall tell her myself, IL you
donf!'
l was only thinking, mother dear, said
William, modestly, that you would he sorry
if yoa knew how naughty Joseph and
were, the day father brought you home 70
live with Us; and may be you would not love
Us so well-but we don't feel so now, nor
have not this great while, have we Joseph!'
No indeed, said Joseph. and poor little
Mary had more sense than either Of us, She
loved mother from the first aa@
But what is all this about said their
mother; you have not told me yet. Do you
think it was so naughty mot to love me boz
fore you saw NET saa 4iaforaa
'Oh no, we did great deal worse than
that. When Mary came oM to otr little
garden, to tell us what pretty new mother
we had got. and that father had brought her
in nice carriage, we wouldn't come ia TO
see you and we told Mary what the boys
said .. school, and frightened her and made
her cry -aa q tsss1,
'Why. my dear, what could the boys say
Of me, none Of them had ever seen me, had
thcy2.' .l.... ~
No ma'an,, but they said you were 4
siepn,oil,er, and that stepmothers are al
ways cross, and disagreeable; and that you
wouldn'tg give us enough to eat, nor let litile
Mary sit Oh your lap-and there she is now,
this minute, with her mouth 50 full she can't
speak = said Willie. bursting out into hear
~ laugh. But little Mary was much dis
pleased at the idea Of her mouth being too
full, and made them all laugh the more, by
her efforts to prove that she could Esp as
we'll as usual. a 5.e rf
Well Joseph, said Mrs. Peters, how
happened you TO come in at last, Oh that
memorable day, to welcome the stranger q
Why mother, MIR. Brown was under
the Hop vine, talking TO John Davis aboli.
sending his children 10 school, and he heard
what said, and proved il all oul 70 me
with logic, that I was making fool Of my
have talked 80 loud, il ] had known he was
there Cane you tell Us what he said q
'Oh he asked me what made the boys
WINK so pnO Ot StepmOtnerS. l told him
because Rufus Mann had one tina. was cross
to him. and gave him no peace OF his life.
Just then threw away an apple { had
picked up-he asked me why did not eae
i'll told him il was hard and sour. Then,
said he. suppose you will never eat amy
more apples, they are SO bad o yes, sir,
! said, all apples are not bad. Indeed,
said Mr.. Brown. but why moi 7 al step
mothers are bad, because Rufus Mann's Is
so, why not the same with spples : Their,
mother. he never stopped TO see how Ike
a fopl felt, but shook hands with me, and
told me Ia 60 and act like a boy Of sense,
and ono that loved his father; and then he
siroked Willie's head and went away, and
we all came in the house,
Well, Joseph, said !. when tho little
bay had finished his story. have YOU found
nut yourselfihal Mr.. Brown was right, aud
that all step0Ao.hers are noe cross T 9t
guess ." cousin Anna, said Joseph,
and ] g0esa SO too ! said Willie, As they
bounded away TO school. - ca. Intel.