Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-12-14
IWhole No. 964.

ecf'tu ana hller my motner 3 uedIh,
ondeayored by every means TO fulfil her
dying charges. For three years / was
the most useful and important person in
my fathers household. The children
looked up TO me for advice and guidance.
my parent himself seemed never so con-
tented as when J was near him, while l
was happy in the consciousness that
was dscharglng my duty, and walking IN
the steps OF the loved one. But at
length an unexpected change took place
in my father We missed him very often
from our family circle in the evenings
and there were those around Inc who be-
gan TO insinuate that we were likely To
have a new mistress TO onr mansion
When this first reached my ears, ] was
excessively indignant and rcpulsed it as
the idle fabrication of oiiic gossips,
! for ! had never INDUCED The slightest
: mlsgyngs as to the cause Of my parents
frequent absence. Yet notwithstanding
my contempt of the report, 1t annoyed me
exceedingly, for could not bear il should
: ever be imagined that my father would
give the place my mother occupied III his
affections.
NIllt hd1 Nii'-u \ ihh pttn GttdiJ
disturbed by report OF this nature, CON-
niuulcatcd by servant, my father hap
:. pened to enter. impaired to him what
: had heard, Intersperslng my intelligence
with sundry deuanclations against those
4, busy bodies always on the alert to fix mat
rimonial intentions upon every wdower,
bachelor, spln.ter, who had the misfor-
tune TO be Of their acquaintance. My faith
! er listened with more serious face than
| | could have expected aud when my IL
radc was over, without asserting TO it,
merey said must allow there was some-
D times cause for gossip ofthis kind. Won
c dering much at the observation, | re-
= Joined, "Yes, sir but not IN this case,
J. | shall hope"
e You are not quite sure of that, my
e daughter" he said with a smile | could
u not comprehend.
y Now father you are testing, you are
n only trying to tease me-" | replied, glad
D to catch at the slightest hope against
confirmation Of such hateful intelligence.
q 81 am quite certain that you, above all
J. others, would never think of hazardng
l the happiness Of your children by briug-
s. ing among US stranger in the place Of
e our dear lost mother"
h " No my child am not jesting," he
e returned calmly and earnestly; what
n you have this day heard is indeed very
e rue. 1t is my intention shortly to marry
agalE.'
! Had athunderbolt struck me, could
not have been more shocked than | was
a by those words, and exclaimng in accents
IS ofmlngled surprise reproach and entrea-
D ty, "Oh, father father % burst int,
g passionate fit Of weeping. My father
tried IN vain TO soothe me He said the
g lady to whom he was about being united
'e was the first love of his youth, that he
G. had met and loved her long before he had
known my mother, but that misunder-
10 standing having arisen between them they
le had parted in coldncss, aud that she had
'e never again crosse d his path till few
ID months previous, when reconciliation
N had taken place, and their early engage
" ment was renewed. lie assured me that
H. he was not hazarding but insurng the
happiness of his family by this marriage,
IL as the lady was all that he could wish for
or in a wife; and that myself would de-
! rive greater benefit than any one else, as
] II would relieve me Of a responsibility
H. which | was too young to bear, while |
1y should gain a most delightful and nstruc-
IL tive iricEd. But still wept bitterly, aud
re my lip curled in scorn as his last words
ia reached my ears. My father conjeclured
tc what was passing in my mind, aud deem
tn ing ii best TO leave me to myselfjust then,
d. arose 10 quit the apartment. Pausing
moment near the door, he said
il, Jessie, you have hitherto proved your
he self in every particular a good and du,t
th ful child; YOU have done all in your pow
ly or to contribute to my happiness and
when, by the death OF your mother, my
to hopes were NIL laid low, knew you would
rs. have given worlds for single ray of light
"a, to cheer my sorrowing spirit. That ray
e. at length dawned upon me, and am sure
rd that altei due reflection YOU cannot wish
al that had turned away from its bright
ar ness. ! am well aware of the repugnance
ar that exists so generally against the name
of s,epmother. But feel quite confident
ny that when you are brought into contact
'ly with the lady hope soon To call my wife,
'st you will not long regard her with cold
Sc ness aud distrusi."
ie- These parting words had no power.
ir- however, to console or reassure me, and
nd soon left the parlor and stole softly to
RS my mothers chamber, that / might give
mt full vent TO my indignant grief. oh, II
IL was so bitter to think ,ha, ere long n
of stranger was TO occupy the station she had
ch filled that her children, her innocent it,
tie ones, must call that stranger moth
he er," while she who first taught them to
III lisp that endearing title was lying IN the
I'd cold dark grave, forgotten too by him to
u whom her earthly affections had been all
lg surrendered and her memory sighted by
- his hearts devotion TO another.
ne "Thc rest of that day was passed in
IN greater wretchedoess than ! had ever
be felt. During the whole Of the succeed
in ing night slept not, bu, tossed restless
to ly upon my couch, anticipating with in