Saturday morning visitor., 1848-08-19
CHAPTER III.

Three months passed away without any
call for his interference, when one day, as
he was entering the house, lis ears were
greeted with the most piercing screams
from the cellar kitchen. On reaching the
scene Of action, what was his surprise to
behold the delicate, sensitive Mrs. Ed
ridge, with her own soft hands, welding
huge horsew hip about the person of poVr
Maria. Springiug forward, he rescued
the screaming child with one hard, while
with the other, he wrenched the hip
from the hand of the incensed Amazon,
demanding, III no very gentle tone, what
the poor child could possibly have done TO
deserve such harsh treatment.
''Donel' exclaimed the angry woman,
in voice almost inarticulate with rage,
"dnne! SIZE has broken that splendid por-
celain vase you admired SO much, which
was presented TO me BY Count Fusio. the
elegant Frencbman | 50 much regretted
yon had not reached home in season 10
meet. Ii was once the property of the
duke de Berri, 10 whose sons cause he is
attached. II was the only present he
made in return !or tie many attentions he
received from our citizens, and was there
fore, an Object OF envy as well as edmira-
ton, To all my acquaintances. "
81 did not break it, indeed | did not :"
pleaded the weeping child, II never saw
il until il was broken"
"lt is ialse!1 exclaimed Mrs. Eldridge,
81 sent you into the parlor not one hour
before found ii; know you did it.
Perhaps it was an accident" )" suggest
ed Sidney, "besides, the destruction of all
the porcelain in the world could not merit
such punishment"
''ll was the only thing ever had, said
! this thorough republican, ~ hich bad been
touched by the fingers Of rayally," and
she extended her hand towards the child
as il this argument was unanswerable.
"lndeed, my dear aunt" said Sidney,
firml but respectfully, 81 cannot suffer
this child 10 De punished any more"
Suffer !" answered she.
Now Mrs. Eldridge was precisely one
Of those gentle tempers, who, when irri-
tated, vent their rage on any person or
thing opposing them. She had been wax
ing warm during the dispute, and her fu-
ry nov burst forth.
"Suiier! !" exclaimed she, 'and who are
you who dare TO interfere with the natter?
a child whom | took into my house from
pity, and now, iorsooih, he must dictate
laws tn me. Beware, sir, or you may
have orders TO quit my house"
"And, il | am obliged 10 quit it," an
swered the young man, resolulely, Iwill
not suffer this child 10 be so abused, and
besides, my dear aunt, when YOU think
calmly of il, ram sure You will think she
has been sufficiently punished"
perhaps ! have been hasty," eXclaim-
ed Mrs. Eldridge, suddenly changing her
manner, shut have been sorely tempted.
Since you desire it, Sidney, | will lei her
off; but | do not the less dislike your in
reference" and the coed lady bounced
out Of the room. at
Our hero, glad Of any means of escape,
spoke few words of Kindness TO the
child, and left the housealo which he did
moi return until after The family had reii-
red TO rest. The next d,y he had an en-
gaeement which kept him ont until near
ly night. As he MAS gong up stairs on
his return. lie heard his own name called
from dark closet at the head OF the stairs.
A thought darted through his mind.r-
He had not seen Maria Clifford that mof-
ming, This closet was The scene of many
Of his own childish punishmenis, and the
idea occurred 10 him that his annt's sud-
den change Of manner was mere Tuse
10 gain possession of the child. Opening
ihe door he beheld poor Maria crouched
on the floor, at The farthesl end Of the dark
closet. She informed him she had been
there since The night previous, without
one morssl of food, Mrs. Eldridge had
Informed her she should remain there un-
till She confessed her fault. ePs-i
~ knew your step when | heard il on
The stairs" said she, ''and before thorght