Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-12-14
From the Columbian Magazine.
The Stepmother.
BY MISS LOUISE OLIVIA HUNTER.

/ winter evening. 81 wonder, Garry, how
his daughter Annie likes that arrange
ment -
! 4" Not particularly well, should i'll
! agine," replied her companion; aud
how pity her, poor thing # she detests
as heartily as do the very name OF a,
stepmother,"
II A" Do YOU really, cousin Garry Well,
i never thought you had troubled that
little head OF yours upon the subject. But
take care, cousin; remember y0ar dear
papa is wldower, and by no means
dIscredltable specimen of the genus eth
er."
Mary Sommers had only spoken thus
10 tease Caroline, like an arch iItlle tor
mentor that she was, whenever she could
:. get a chance to exercise her mlschlevous
p. .propensites and she was both surprised
j and qrieycd at the effect her words pro-
/ duced.
! III thought" exclaimed Caroline,
/ bursting in to tears, and sobbing passion
/ ately--"i | thought my father would
/ ever marry a second time, | should be
/ the most miserable being upon the face
of the earth No stepmother should ev-
er win from me a smile or a word OF
affection and should | ever possess one,
would seize every opportunity TO let her
know that scorncd her sway, and that
to me at least her presence was unwel-
come She should know thdt-she should
learn it daily and hourly from the instant
of her arrival, to the last minute OF my
stay beneath my fathers roof.
n At this luncture, a lady who had been
4 busy at a wrlting-desk near remote
u window Of the apartment, rose from he'
y seat, her face plainly expressive OF emo
, ton. The conversation between the
:, young girls had apparently touched some
Y chord in her memory whose vibration
5. both panied and agitated her, and has'll!
e approaching them. she said, laying he
l. hand softly in that Of the weeping Caro-
: line:
:. Sorry as am, my dear, to behold
you thus giving way to prejudice, can
not blame you even as you deserve.
sympathize too deeply in your feelings
:" erroneous though they are for they were
&c once my own. Yes, Caroline, such
e words as have just passed your lips once
e fell from mine, and were called forth on
/ occasion similar to that which you have
anticipated And further than this. -
;, and the speakers voice grew tremulous--
a "my resolution was put IN practice"
J.. W hat can you. dear Mrs. CIeve
/" land ~ exclaimed her youthful auditors
IS both at once You never had step
% mother Your own mother is living
n still =!
IS What if | were to tell you my young
ID friends, that she whom you suppose to b'
j, my mother, is so only as my fathers sec
re ond wife 7"
ni We should find il rather difficult It
'e believe YOU" they both replied, whl
~ Caroline continued: and you mast b.
t. testing with us, for | have often hear'
,d YOU express the most earnest affection
te for Mrs. Clayton and do not see how
to it could be possible TO love stepmolh
G. er."
," Aud yet, Caroline, Mrs. Clayton in
y, deed bears that relation to me. No
did always think Of her as iondiy as
now do There was a time when
3 treated her with GOODNESS and suspicion
IN and this exclusively because she was w
stcpmother. But thank Heaven, my sci
timents underwent reformation, beior
Js it was too late to profit by it! " ouI
n you like to learn the cause shall lrcIat
nv To YOU the circumstances connected wit
ve my love Tor one whom had long rcgar,
raj ed with dislike ?"
- fslI NJ nh 4
n, dearest Jessie" was the reply, aud th
,'ry counienancc of both maldens gowed wit
q interest and impotence a. they eagerl
latl listened for the promised narrative.
d. "The cfior, Of recalling the events
he which | have referred" began Mr.
10 Cleveland, with pause, "ls somewh;
.. painful one, bu, shall be more than RI
br paid for the eXertion, if this brief recor
IA. of experience should prove an ehcctuj
nd lesson and warning IN the event OF yoo
or either ofyou being placed III slmllt
u" situation.
ST 81 was so unfortunate as TO lose NJ
=" mother in early youth. Though scarce
), sixteen when she died. | was the eide
. a of family of six children. and cons
"a. qucnly upon my self, young as | was, d'
rts volyel most of those cares whose bu
~ den my departed parent had long an
faithfully borne. During my mother
lingering illness, had been her constai
on companion, and her disease being cot
Fly sumption with the certain prospect {
Of cath before her, she had given me muc
IN, council concerning the position which
m. should occupy when she was gone. Sh
,s ,lrovc to impress upon my mind In
y. II md solemn sense OF the task which woul
" then be mine, directed me how 10 pei
~ orm my duties, and charged the yonn
children ever to submit TO my control =
Ut And often aud ,earlully she spoke to M
ms of my father, dwelling with icrvor upo
nc his Loneliness when her place should b
ny vacant. She besought me to do all !
lmv mower 10 relieve his sorrow, and