The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-12-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Step Mothers Dream.
BY CAROLINE A. HOWARD

BY CAROLINE A HOWARD
] have been a wife two years TO day
and before the sun goes down upop nv
good resolutions, am going to record
the most important lesson 10 my married
life, for the benefit of all who. like mo
are second wives and step mothers.
! was not seventeen when I first knew
Sartell Worthington Just from school
with pretty high opinion Of my own at.
tainmen,s ( was head strong impulsive
and somewhat jealous of those loved.
MIR. WorthDgton was a Nidower, SC me
,en ,!.,, years my senior with one child,
IittIe Rhi VI .h'.. y~".- - go IT..
child | had never seen its father visit
ed often at house of friend in my ma
tive towu. Thus it happened that I knew
before | saw him, that he was one of
those rare combinations of talent, sense
and amiability, that make the desidera
tuna in husband. I also knew that he
lad early found and taken to himself
wife from among the angels of the earth
She was bis but a few brief years ere she
became an angel of heaven, leaving him
one dear pledge of her love, and the ex
press image of her person. in little Flor.
ence.
To process Of time, l became acquain.
ted with Mr.. Wortbingtou, and as YOU
may suppose, was strongly prepos.essed
with him How he came to fancy me-
is still a mystery unless it was owing to
the strange afiuities of CONTRAST I
was enthusiastic and energetic, passion.
ate and firm, while he was gentle and re-
served, warm hearted and conscientious.
preserving and reasoDble One of nv fi,st
emotions, relative u him. was q psup of
jealously, when ] heard him speak of his
wife and child, particularly the former.
| knew that he loved her with such a
love as only natures like bis can know.
and though be might and doubtless would
marry again, still his first love must re-
main unalterable, and felt how insippif
icant | must he in comparison. and vet
| thought, she cannot have loved him
more thau do"
We were engaged. He had no. told
me, in so many words, that he loved me.
He asked me il would Civ. my free
glrllab affections, to fill the void in his
heart if thought loved him enough
to he Q mother to ber child for his sake
l tod him frankly that was not fon6
of children. in the generul acceptance OF
the term, but that would try to do right
and were his child at ell like himself I
knew l should love her So we were
married.
1t was twilight when We reached home
and as we sat in the pleasant parlor, the
door softly rp0ned and little girl Gle.
vated on her toes to reach the koob, came
in shyly, Her father suatched her to his
breast with convulsive clasp, and as her
fair curls lay upon bis shoulder, / saw
q tear'drop glistened on them. Turning
to me, he said. Florence, this is YOUR
mamma kiss her, love- She raised her
blue eyes, timidly, and drew back. No
she said, that is not my msmma.' felt
the blood tiugle in my checks, but
struggled to be calm how slight cause
for vexation7 l IVES jealous because
that he had introduced me to the child
rather than her to me, and she, child like
had disclaimed the relationship.
Sartell looked pained, but only sighed d
gently, and said, Excuse her, dear Az
ncs she has been so secluded of late
that she has grown very timid. d.'-Asham
cd of my foolishness, my brow cleared
and | said, kindly, 4 hope, my little one
you will like me better, by and by l will
try aud be like your dear mamma Wa.
| not repaid by the grateful glance from
his dark eyes'
Time sped rapidly. l had numerou.
visitors and attentions from my hus
snd's large circle Of friends, aud some