Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-04-28
Step Mothers.

Heaven pity q step-mother sny we; and
all sympathising, sensible souls will echo,
amen The victim Of jealousies, the butt
Of narI ow minds her actions cnnVassed, her
conduct scrutinized by those who are de-
termineG to condemn beforehand Heaven
pity her. II she have any children of her
own SO much the worse; if she has not, her
case is no better for let her tread her mar
row path Of duty as carefully as she will, her
feet will be pierced with thorns, and her
heart stung daily.
We believe that step-moihers, as q general
thing are the most pei eIsecuted class of peO-
pie in the world, and we have no sympathy
al all with their slanderers. True, there
may be now and then an extreme case Of cru
city, but The public is indebted for tho ogre
stories that have so often frozen the blood
with horror at the mention of the word steps
mother, 10 fiction more than fact. We think
that step-m0thers are The abused party, not
the children.
Take, for instance, the following case 4
young enthusiastic woman Is offered The hand
and heart of widower, who wants wife 10
cherish, and mother for his children
Knowing that lie was kind husband, pleased
with his person, and well assured OF his al
fectioD, she consents, and at once takes the
responsibility of family upon her. Perhaps
the children are daughters, knit together by
a common bond-to make their mother as
uncomfortable as they can. They have from
infancy heard miserable stories about step
mothers; they are angry that stranger
should interfere in what they deem their
rights; they have been inefficiently educated,
and since the death OF their mother had their
own will. The new wife finds them drawn
sr,h IL
suspciousy her lIlle acts of iorbearance and
kindness are construed into artiul ways by
which she hopes to gain the ascendancy.-
They hold secret concIave after any little
mark bestowed by The husbsnd OH his bride,
and unanimously vote that father cares moth
ing about them now, since lie has a stranger
to love; therefore, resolved, that they will be
Independent Of her control; tlIat she has no
right TO demand obedience, and they are un-
der no obligation 10 give IT, The wife's pa
tence does not always hold out-she were
more than human if il did, and then comes
open rebellion. The children go perhaps to
the father with the story OF their woes; he is
a while estranged, and the poor wife finds
in tears and prayers soIace for her wound
ed spirit Unwilling that the family peace
shall be seriously broken, she submits to her
fate with an aching heart, and believe il, her
life henceforth has little sunshine.
Ii she has forsaken pleasant home, where
she has known the sweets of social love-if
she has been tenderIy cared for all her life
if her mind be educated, and her pursuits
and purposes are all lofty and refined--how
groveIIing, how despicable must such con-
duct appear-how doubIy hard 10 endure.
The gifts, the very smiles OF one parent are
coined into bitter suspicious, and heaped up
on the other. The stronger party have upon
their side uncles and aunls, and an endless
host Of relatives, with whom the wife Inns lit
tie acquaintance or sympathy. Among these
the heartless suspicious are circulated, and
every little fault, every little misstep told with
exaggeraIion until The wife is like watched
enemy, surrounded by worse than bayonets,
The poisoned tongues Of her children's
champions. Alas, and alas this is no fan.
cy sketch. There are hearts almost break
ing 10 day over the realities Of such life,
and when we hear The thoughlless comments
r of those who have no experience al all in The
matter, we think Of step>mothers we wot Of.