The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-18
The Step-Mother.

stepmother!'' cried Susan; cit is horrid; sh
will treat you awfully.'' ''She won't" sal
Jane, 'for father won't let her. .She will,
said Susan, "they always do; she'll make you
father think you are one of the naughtiest girl
in the world This was sorry news to poo
Jane. When her father took her on his kne
and told her about dear new mother, she fel
very glad; but if what Susan said was true, sh
had more reason to cry than to be glad Som
of the other girls thought as Susan did, thoug
they did not express themselves as strongly
and when Bridget heard tie news, she said
"Poor girl!''
Enough had been said to fill Jane with fears
and even to make her cry after she went to bed
and nobody saw her, She wished she could d
in her little bed; and she prayed to the Lore
Jesus to fetch her to his home, where she wa
sure her own dear mother was. She alway
thought more about it after she went to bed
and many night she fell asleep sobbing ane
praying, but she did not know that ANYBODY bu
God could help her. +.
The afternoon her mother was expected, sh,
went to Susan's, and would not come home
until her father sent for her, and then she came
into the room trembling. Il thought my little
daughter would be at the door to give US kiss
of welcome" said her father, taking by thu
hand and leading her to the sofa, where {
pleasant looking lady was sitting This is ou1
little daughter, and there is your mamma
Jane The new mamma tenderly kissed anc
spoke kindly to the child, but Jane was very
cold; she never answered or looked up The
lady then took blue silk apron from her bag
present for the little girl; but Jane never
thanked her; and so she made their first meet
ing very stiff and disagrceable. Her fathe,
looked disappointed, and Jane was thankful
when 1t was time TO go to bed. Then she cried
again, but it was not SO clear now what for fol
there was nothing TO find fault with in the new
mamma Perhaps she felt that she had acted
like an odd, sulky child, and that her behavior
had grleved her father; for she ought to have
trusted her father, and to have felt that if any
good lady was willing to take a mothers care
of her, how thankful should she be her dutifu,
child. That is the way children should feel to-
wards new mother. II she is willing to un.
dertake mothers labor and responsibility, how
ready should the children be to give her their
obedient love-
''And how did you like herr" was Susan S
first question, when she joined Jane the next
morning on her way to school. Il don't know, -
answered the step-daughter, "'she wanted me
to stay at home with her to-day, but did not
wantto." "That's right" exclaimedSusan "let
her know that you have will of your own. |
dare say she wanted YOU to stay at home and
work. Did you call her mother, Jane?" No, -
answered Jane, Il did not call her anything'
"Well, she isn't your mother, Jane, and there S
no use in calling her so.' The little girl, am
sorry to say, listened to this council, though in
her heart she was afraid it was wrong; and &C
cordingly she behaved in a very unlovely man
ner towards her new mother, and OF course she
made herself very unhappy. Children should
remember that those people are not true friends
who try to make them disobedient towards and
suspicious of those who have the care of them
Poor child" said Susan's mother to her one
day, you don't look very happy. am afraid
your new mother is not kind to YOU Jane
turned very red and that seemed to confirm the
idea; but it was not true, and Jane was not gen
erous enough to say so. She sacrificed truth
for pity, and in the end it made her only more
unhappy. And so it went on for many weeks
One Saturday afternoon Susan came over,
and the children wanted to play in the barn.
The new mother did not wish them to, but she
gave them lttle set of cups and saucers, and
told them they might play in the summer
house 80 dear" cried Susan, making a wrv
face, as soon as they were out of her sight, "why
not 60 into the barn? Because she does not
wish us to enjoy ourselyes.' Its my fathers
barn, )" said Jane perty; 81 have a right to 90
there, and will" But they did not wish TO
appear to disobey, so they went down the gar
den, and took round about way to the barn
Jane led the way, and not much needing her
steps, she did not mind that part of the barn
floor had been taken up to be repaired, until
she walked off and found herself wallowng in
a gravel pit under the floor ooh DEAR" she
screamed, Il am half killedH' 'Shall l call
somebody's cried Susan, trying to look down
the whole. 'No, indeed" cried Jane How
she managed to get out, I don't know, but she
found herselfin sorry plight, bruised, scratch
ed, her dress torn, and her ankle "feeling dread
fully she said. They were afraid to 60 back
to the house. and Susan persuaded her to 60
home with her, and have her ankle bathed |
Poor Jane dragged herself heavily along, and
by the time she reached Susan's it looked red
and swollen.
1t was late in the afternoon when James fa-
her was seen approaching the house, and soon
everything had to be told; but the pain of the
'prain drowned for the time all James other
anxieties. Her father looked deeply grieved as
,e took her in his arms to carry her home.
My poor child" said the new mamma, who
vas standing at the door to receive them, and
earn what the matter was. Then she imme-
lately had little cot-bed put in her own cham
'er, undressed the little girl as tenderly as could
'e, bathed her foot spoke soothingly TO her,
md watched by her nearly all night Jane
Wished she had scolded her, for she was sure
he did not deserve all this patient kindness,
nd her heart was almost bursting with shame
nd sorrow.
The next morning, when they hoped the pain
Tas abated, great sob burst from her full heart.
My dear little daughter" said the new mann
IA, gently stroking the hair from her forehead,
1 hoped You were easier" "Mother, dear
nother, my own mother" exclaimed the child,
oldlng out her arms to the kind friend who I
7atched oEerher, and clasped her arms around
er neck, murmunng, 81 love you, my mother"
was indeed a kiss of love, of pepitent love,
'r Jane was now thoroughly convinced that
ep-mothers were not the cruel beings some