Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-04-25
})opuIat Coles,
From Chambers Edinburgh Journal.
STEP MOTHERS S

( consider stcp~mothcrs, particularly anC
generally only in couraytion with al
4 that is harsh aud cruel The word ha,
/ indeed become provor3ial, to mark an
7 association in which the one party is
the victim of the other. ChiyalrOus as
the attempt may appear, we are dis
posed to put in word against The sweep
ing condemnation of class which must
comprehend many eslmablc persons. -
1t appears to us that there is no small
absurdity IN presuming a necessary
character in every person who enters
into particular relation in life. y
young lady may be in bloom Of woman.
haod possessed Of every grace which
can adorn her sex and age she may
have lived for years the most loving and
beloved member of domestic circle
cementing the ties Of kindred with II
thousand proofs Of tenderness and aliec-
| ton, Dut uo sOOHtT nus sll' ConSenltu
to become the wife of one who has chill
dren by a former spouse, than the eye
of suspicion is cast upon her, and these
sweet attributes seem TO fall from her,
like the trappings of a masqucradcr- -
She may be gentle, kind, generous, and
/ agreeable, TO all the rest OF ihe world /;
but it is supposed TO be utterly imposs-
bile that she can entertain one spark of
regard or affection for those usually
helpless and unoilcnding beings who,
from their position, appeal naturally
most strongly to her sy mpathics, and
whom it is both her duty ana interest to
cherish.
1t is quite true that when the hallow-
! ed tie of mother and child is severed by
/ the cold hand of death, no second bono
/ of affection can b. united so strong and
! pure but surely for this reason it is
! fully to reject that which must in the
nearest degree replace il. \ little re-
Election on the position Of man-the
more especially suppoSng him an ac-
tive man of business bereavcd Of his
partner while yet on the sunny side OF
middle age, will assuredIy prove ihat
the wiscst plan he can adopt is almos,
that Of !, ,.v.ug his children Il slcpmolhcr.
Let us grant that her care is less watch
lul, her affection less deep, her dcport-
mcnt less fond, than those of her who
caunot be restored but, instead fiook-
/ ing back with vain complanings, let us
rather compare her behaviour with that
of the hired guardian, who, from the
/ laIIi5illty Of human nature, must ncccs-
| sariy be far more deficient in those i'm
! pulses and actions, the failure Of which
! are SO much regretted. Governcsses,
teachers, and nurses, are all human
beings and they must indeed be unfor-
lunalc morta!s if they have not home
ties and affections far warmer and dearcr
than any they can form for the children
committed 20 their care, however con-
scientioasly they may fulfil The duties
ihcy had undertaken. Let Us suppose
the children are conlided to some ie-
male relative If she be single and in
experienced, a mere thcorist, she is
very seldom fit guide or guardian If
she be married, the chances are very
great ,hat sh. has interests infinitely
more clashing than those OF the step
mother
| From our own observation, We do firm
| " believe, that IN the dlsscnslons aud
/ dsunions that sometimes occur after
second marriages, the aGgiessors are
4 almost always the first children or then
/ relatives. Indeed we could cite man,
/ facts IN corroborali.. of this assertion
/ but refrain from dolug 50, lest the feel
/ .lngs of individuals should he wounded
/ bat we viii select one narrative, be-
cause those whose feelings i, i, due to
I spare, are alike beyond the reach oI
/ .pryinc curiosity, sympathy or cunniis.
Grafton F.; and because tac relation of I,
may illustrate more iorclbly the poInI
wc have "a view, than a string Of DIS
/ loiuird observations could do.
Mr. Charles Barham wa. about eight.
+ aud thirty, and had been widoWr,
/ three or four years when he thought
proper to fall ia love with Mary NilIicrs
the orphan aud almost portlonlcs'
daughter ol an officer ~ thc navy. ll'
met her first at The house ol her married
sister, with whom she resided and hci
graceful person, her winning manners
aud intelligent conversation, very soon
completed her conquest.
n Perhaps he did not regard her less