Smyrna times., 1855-02-28

circle. now began to feel that the happiness
buried in the former wife, had risen again in
the present one--in her being centred the re-
quisite qualities of wife and mother Many
times that evening found it difficult to repress
the rising tear, induced by feeling that George
was again made happy and his children blcst,
and by sorrow, that through prejudice to second
marriages, had judged and censured wrong
fully The clock struck ten-being fatigued
with my journey, desired the eldest daughter
to accompany me to my chamber, that might
retire. Feeling a curiosity to know, If what l
had seen was sample of the new mother and
children, made some inquiries of Julia, who
accompanied me. a .. ......
She assured me that it was, saying: " What
you have seen, you may always expect to see
She Is a true-Acarted, although but my step
mother"
remarked, there is great change in you
all; certainly, she has used some severe mea-
<urcs to break up your rude and thoughtlcss
habits ~
Seeming halfchagrined at my suspicious in
qnirieS, She replied: Cousin, you would not
have us brought up without correction, and al
lowed to act as we did when we had no one to
j tell us how to deport ourselves Our own mo-
+ ther was all that mother could be- did not
appreciate her then as | ought to have done,
and would now. that am older,-they tell me
Inc ttrt she was amilbIe and lovely. but, can
r.collect, We did not DO then Just as we pleased"
! l telt embarrassed by her answer, but per-
sisted to know how the change had been effect
/ ed
Ju ia said She explains to US our duty
tells us our faults, when nccessary-and if we
heed not, We wrong ourselves, and it becomes
her duty to correct us in a suitable manner"
Feeling now satisfied laid myself down.
but not to sleep-unGl | had revolved the sub
ject over and over again in my mind. 'Tis
strange, thought !, that we cannot allow that a
st'p-moihcT may, with ilnpunity correct her
| children, III trust, when she uses no harshcr
means than the gentle mother would find neces-
sary for the good of the child. | could not
wish that they should be neglected n their
habits ard manners--I know there would be no
order or dccorum in them, If brought up free
from restraint. Then, why, thought |, DO not
rather give her credit for her interest in thcso
children? In solloquy, | continued, "alas
what would we have step-mothcrs to do-if
they use mothers authority, we censure them.
and If their children are not as good as those
under such cOntrol, we censure them for neglect
IAey are really to be ptied, if they regard
what the world may say OF them" Feeling
weary OF this subject, | tried to divert nv mind
from II, in order TO be refreshed by sleep.
E'r'y next morning carriage was sent for
the conveyance of the children, that thev miobt
spend day in the country with their aunt
The larger ones were set to work, in pettinr
the smaller children ready, which task was
IN short time, mplished-eaeh one c0ming
to their mother to see if they were properly
dressed for their I" broad" in the countrv /
Huldah, with mothers care, arranged their
Clothing very tastefully, and being now eouipp-
ed, they kissed her, " good morning." and were
ready Tor starting. seat was proiiered me,
Which was accepted, as it had been some time
since had the pleasure of visiting INV country
Trend. We were to return that evening. bpt
their Aunt desired that we should stav until shc
should say, the children had their broad"
cut. This, the older ones seemed reluctant TO
DO, as they were expected by their parents to
return that evening. Aunty told them. that
made no difference, for your father does not
give himself much uneasiness about YOU. and
as to Huldah, who cares for herl you are not
such dupes as to be under her control -
Julia, knowing that her mother done nothing
but for their good, said: "Aunty, she is now
ourmother, and does so good part by us /; why
should we not love her!''
Excited by Julia's. answer, her eyes flashed
as she SAID, Glove her, indeed. love her who
has taken your mothers place No, Julia
don't be 50 foolish. For my part, hate to see
her; and my child; en- shall never call her
Aunt - ........ .....
The tears now gathered in Julia's eyes-hut
summonlng fortitude to speak, she replied, g No.
Aunt, she did not come in my mothers place,
but in the housekeepers. You know, dear
Aunt, that my mother had been removed for
two years from us and she was not The cause
of her rcmoval-the issues of life or of death
are IN the, hands of One, whose authority is
high over all,-strange indeed, and exceeding
ly mysterious are His dealings with man; but
who would not say that q" He is too wise
to err and too good to be unknd" to us. Aunt,
IL seems hard that my dear mother was taken
from us, but are we not much more comfortable |
than when an uninterested housekeeper was our
family goVernessS indeed, Aunt, | hate to think
OF those days. And, look at father---,yould it
not be worth some sacrifice to us to see him
happy again ~ .+f 'ra %
Wen, Julia,'' responded her Aunt, 81 see
there il 20 use in saying anything-AHdldaR
has captivatod you; perhaps il is best that you
think as you do. But was opposed to your