Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-10-26
4 Select Galc.
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
MY ST EP- MOTH IL T. II

"Why, Annie child, you have been a
long time away-who have you with you
| was becoming alarmed at your long
stay"
at is Jane Benson mother" was the
reply, as Annie hurried across the room,
still holding James hand. "Oh, mother
Mr.. Benson is going TO be married and
James heart is almost broken. To have
hateful step-mother! Oh, mother, is it not
a pltyw
Mrs. Carleton raised herself from the
sofa, and drawing Jane, who was sobbing,
to her, she made her sit down beside her,
and then said
"Isthis really true, Jane? Perhaps you
may be mistaken"
"No, ,ma'am! Father told US yesterday,
himself. | do wish was dead,-I am
sure l shall never like her." added she,
sobbng bitterly. Mrs. Carleton soothed
her, and then asked if she knew the name
of the lady. Jane told it, but Mrs. Carle-
ton had never heard it before.
"But, mother don't you pity Jane -
Ought not Mr.. Benson to be ashamed to
marry again 2" demanded Annie.
"Why, no !" said Mrs. Carleton. ''Mr.
Benson has undoubtedly a right to marry
again, and perhaps, Jane may, some OF these
days, be very thankful that he has done so.
1t all depends on the person whom he mar
ries. If she is kind and good, shall con-
gratuate Jane with my whole heart, in
stead of being gIieved for her,"
'Kind and good," echoed Annie; "why
| thought all Step-motherS were cross and
hateful"
'Did you, Annie! suspect you did not
Mink much about it but | am sorry to
hear my daughter speak So harshy; espe-
cIally as ! owe to my step-mother what
ever is amiable in my character"
'Your's dear mother? Had you step
mother. Is not grandma your own mo-
therp
81 could not possibly have loved my
own mother more and, yet, she certainly
is one of the race you choose to call cross
and hateful. Could | have supposed, for
an instant, that you INDUCED in such vio-
lent preiudices, | would have tried to re-
move them before, but | will now tell you
how mine We're overcome, for l must be-
gin by confessing that had them TO as
great an extent as yourself 1t may be OF
service TO Jane, too"
''Please stop, mother, until l bring. a
cushion to sit on; !" which being done, An
ME seated herself on the floor at her mo-
theirs feet, and Jane, sliding down beside
her, they watched Mrs. Carleton's face
with extreme interest. After a slight
pause, as if to consider, she began
"My mother died when my brother
! Frank was l3 years old. | was eleven !;
and then came the little Ellen, everybody's
pet, who was about years old. We We're
all that was left of large family. My
mother, some years before hst death, Sc
cured the services of a distant conneXion,
who acted as a sort of housekeeper, and
who went by the name of cousin Sally.'
! As housekeeper, she was Invaluable /;
nothing was wasted; the house was in per-
| feet order; our clothes were attended to,
and my mother seemed to think she was
highly favored in securing, at any price,
such pattern of housekeepers.
II "dS ulOlC llldl tNp 1Suio u'N'i ehN
death of my mother, that our household
was thrown in great CONSERVATION by the
arrival of two letters from my father to
Cousin Sally and Frank, stating that he
would be married in week, and in few
more bring home his bride. Franks letter
was kindness itself, and it begged him to
reconcile me to what was now inevitable
and to endeavor to remove prejudices from
my mind, that could only last until we
were mutually acquainted. The one to
Cousin Sally, contained wish that sh'
should retain the same situation, but if i
was dsagreeable to her, an offer of year.
salary in consideration of her kindness t.
us. To have heard Cousin Sally, stran
ger would have thought that she had in
f tended filling my mothers place herself
), but such was not the case. In her opin
e ion We were getting along very quietly
= = and now stranger was coming to make U
all uncomfortable. She would break OF
With