Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-02-04
THOBURN & NICHOLS, PROPRIETORS.l
NEW SERIES, VOL 2, NO g.


to her, since she was SO jealous of them
But my better spirit prevailed over me-
They are mine now," | thought, ''for |
am their fathers wife, and all his ar mine.
Their interest must be mine, whatever diff
iculties find in the way. have come
here of my own free will, and nothing shall
now deter me from doing my duty"
After dinner Miss Jane and the children
repaired Immediately to the chamber which
was used as school-room. In a few min
utes followed them, and quietly took a
seat at the desk. She was drilling them
in arithmetic, sending one after another to
the blackboard, and talking all the time in
a loud and petulent tone.
"Julia." she exclaimed, "if you make
such awkward figures l'll put you back to
the beginning of the book. Mary, will you
stand upright, or be sent to bed! Decide
notc,"
81 cannot understand this sum, aunt
Jare." sighed Mary.
"Sit down, then. until you can," was
the reply.
ado you not explain what they cannc;
understands" asked
"Al that is necessary" she replied
MARY could understand her sums if she at
tended 10 me.''
An hour passed, during which Mary 81
leLtly tung her head over her slate. and
played with her pencil. Miss Jane offering
no explanations; EdU ard alternately counted
with his fingers the buttons OIL his Jacket,
and drew houses upon his slate; Julia,
whose strong mind received knowledge al
most intuitiveiy, studied her lesson quietly
and without difficulty. Presently she gave
her book 10 her aunt, and rected her lesson
perfectly
Very well, Julia said Miss Jane
"Iou ma, 60 into the garden and amuse
YOURSELF"
"DO they not amuse themselves togetherl'
inquired, with astonishmeDt, not pleased
with the idea of solitary, mir:nless exer-
! else.
mot unless they learn their lessons
equally well," she answered. "Edward,''
she suddenly exclaimed las live, the hoy
is going 10 sleep! Stand in the corner, Ed
ward, until You are awake"
/ Edward coored scarlet and want to the
corner, rubbing his eyes. l felt disguised
at the total Jack of system, order, and JUS
tice which prevailed in this mork school
was growing frightened at the work be-
fore me, fearful that Jane Fleming had
sown more tares than my weak hands cou Id
ever root out.
Seeirg that Edward was crying, | went
to him in his corner.
$50 away!" he sobbed, when | laid nv
hand on his head-"go away you are not
my alOlhcr.''
made no reply to this, but asked him
why he cried!
"Because am tired" ne answered; and
you and aunt Jane won't let me sit down.
! II and aunt Jane, Edward" said |.
''Ies," he subbed out. AUNT Iune says
you are come here 10 live always, and will
make me mind you, and make my father
hate me-" and the poor child cried as if his
heart would break. looked round, but
jane was on the opposite side of the room,
scoidlng Mary, and had no: heard Edward.
at is not true, Edward" whispered -
81 love you, and want you to love me-
Won't You love me, dariing!" But he only
thrust out his little hand sullenly, and turn
ed his face away from me.
Jane now came FORWARD. and | turned
from the child with a sigh of disappoint
ment.
81 will be patient" | said to mysel(:
''they have long been taught to fear and
| dread mel cannot at once make them
! love me.''
/ The next morning Ca plain Fiemins lef,
! Tor SIX months voyage in his new barque.
the Mary Flemi g. His p,riing with the
children was most tender and afTecriunate.
even fearful; with me it was kind. After
he was gone | stole up TO my room ard
spent the morning in bitter weeping and
! sadness. What woulI become of me if
should fail in trying to make myself he.
loved by his children, if their hearts We're
irreyocably steeed against me. Wou!d not
! his own grow gradually colder aad colder
toward mel Fear:Ur pros ,sect!-an unloyed
wife, hated stepmothar,
/ heard soft tap at my door, and little
Mary entered-she, too, he'd been GIVING.
and when she saw traces of tears On nv
face, she came gently up to me and crept
into my lap.
"Do you love father, tool" she asked, in
ner frank. simple manner.
"Yes, darling, | love him. | answered.
.'and | want to love you all, and be loved
by you. Now he is gone, am very sad
and lonely. Will you not love me, Mary ~
The child kissed me gravely, but did not
reply to the question:
Aunt Jane sent ne to call you to din
ner,'' size said. slipping from my prms.
When we had finished this lonely meal.
and the children and Jane had gone No
stairs to the afternoon lessons, | visited one
or two rooms which had attracted nv OBJ
servation the day before. One was the
attic chamber, where had noticed beop
of old packages which wished to examine
, In one corner stood pile of old pictures.
some with broken frames, but which. on
examination, found worthy to be rubbed
up and newly framed. One especially won
my admiration-it was the portrait of a
young and beautiful woman. The soft an.
a burn hair and hazel eyes were very lovely.
!, and the features, though not expressive OF
, any great energy 'r depth of character,
5 were faultlessy regular.
Hearing some one on the stairs, opened
Y the door to ask some questions about these
r pictures. 1t was Ju'ia.
b Are you busy, Juia!" I asked. sIf not
n | wish you woull come here moment"
:, Julia locked surprised, but followed me
d without any reply.
81 want to know something about these
e pictures" | said. "Some of them are very
: fine, and it seems to me strange that they
: should hang fere ont of sight"
d "They got injured" said Julia; can,
5 aunt Jane has not had time to get then
s mended."
"tiere is beautiful Iandscape,'' said