Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-08-12
MORNING LEADER.
THE NEW GOVERNESS
BY cArHARINE BARTON.
PART l.

tell you daughter she VIII never 10 lOL
goveness," said the elder Mrs. Walll0gtOrd
TO her daughter-in-law.
Il shall make the experiment, at all events"
replied the young lady. The children have
had enough of Miss Crofton, so l am determined
10 try something entirely different
And Mrs Walllngford, junior, took up a
hook, her usual way Of ending discussion with
her mother-in-law
Mrs John WaIlingford, the elder lady, was
a woman of some strength of character, but
more imperiousness OF will, joined to an un-
bounded love of sway. She had successfully
ruled her husband, her son, her sons trst wiz,
and, In d measure, his second vile also But
in the latter case, she found a strong opponent
in her grandson, Edmund WallingfOrd, who, de-
testing her with all the strength OF boy dis
like, was the more inclised TO return the kind
ness of his step-mOther, and ayailing himself OF
the privileges of an only son, stood forth her
champion on every occasion. Mr.. Nallngiord
loved his wife with all the feryor Of a younger
lover, but he was Of an open, unsuspleious tenn
per- and no match for the art Of his mother,
whose unwearied endeayor was 10 throw Con
stance into the shade.
He would have been agonized At the thought
of her sufferings from any external want he
could not endure TO have her absent was iret-
ful and impatient when she was away, but be
never asked himself if he treated her as the
mistress of his house should be treated; whether
he showed her that respect before others, which
would have compelled it from them His
mother had the art of raising a wind about what
ever she undertook, however small matter It
might be. The act of placing clean towel IN
its proper place, setting chair IN straight line,
which had before taken a diagonal position,
wiping a tea cup, or tying up flower, called
forth a degree of energy which perfectly aston
ished all beholders, for the great mass Of peo-
pie seldom remember that empty metal nngs
the loudest Poor Constance, whose love 1oT
her husband was far stronger than her natural
Incidence, usually accomplished twice as much,
but not being possessed of the art OF bustllng,
found herself overlooked and in reality a mere
cypher in her own house Mother, } on viii
attend to such and such a thing; it's not worth
while to trouble Constance about It, was re-
mark which often CALLED the wife, while II niled
the old lady with triumph On these Oeea-
sions Edmunds sympathy was most dear to
Constance, and the affection which grew up
between them, was Ike that Of own mother and
her son, in tenderness and strength, while MIS-
John Wallingford learned TO dread the sarcastic
tone and piercing glance OF one who, though SO
Young, was so clear sighted
i
mund had attained his twentieth year, Mr.. Wal
lingford died His last sigh was breathed upon
the bosom Of Constance, and his last words
were blessing for her gentle, untlnng love.
After his death his mother continued TO reside
| in the family A rich, fair, and young wlcow,
Constance was thirty,) needed chaperOne, and
she filled the Office OF dragon to perfection
Constance was londly attached to the memory
/ of her husband. and had her motheT-in-law con.
tented herself with wanding off uEdesired suit
/ ors, she had been a most welcome inmate; bul
Constance. in the first violence Of her grief, had
/ abandoned everything To her direction, and
when she al length reused herself to action, she
/ found the sceptre wrested from her hands. II
/ is easier to resign than to regain authority, ant
/ .ba snecealinI 1--WE years witnessed a secret
/ struggle for authority between ti-- e-ra Ladies
| The more amiable temper Of Constance woull
fobably have yielded, but her affection for he
J children, aided by the cooperation OF Edmund
made her frm when they were concerned
The Miss CroftOn alluded to was a gOverness o
the nrandmother's selection, but Edmund hav
inc discovered that when their mother wa
absent, the children were treated with severity
which DESTROYED both spirits and temper, in
sisted upon her dismissal, which she according
ly received.
Ii must be confessed that the new govern sss
Edith Give, was as unlike her predecessor al
possible. Instead of forty five she was nine
teen, instead of being tall, thin, perpendicular
and hard featured, she was rather below III,
middle stature, but so exquisitely proportional
you could scarcely deem it fault; eyes 0
which no mortal could ever determine the col
or; they seemed to change from black TO blue
from blue 10 hazel, but in each change mos
beautiful. A complexion Which is often mis-
named fair, Of thai rich hue whose Transparent
cy shows each emotion, by the quick varying
color which mantles underneath, from the deli
cate peach blossom TO the deeper tint Of thl
crimson rose and dark brown hair whicl
(brush it vigorously as she might, to make
lie smooth and orderly as that Of gOvernes
should dol would curl IN short, c1quettish look
ing curls on her finely rounded forehead. An
then her voice her laugh no "lute's sOi
tone" could ever have bewitched you half s
much. What wonder that Mrs. John Wal
Hngford thought her very improper person 70
a goveness
And vet she had been educated for that YER
vocation She was the orphan and only chill
of a clergyman, who left her TO the guardian
ship of an uncle, with the direction that tn
sum he had saved from a country clergyman
seanty living, should be appropriated to he
education. She was accordingly educated wit
view TO her own support, and her tirst essa
in goYeTnessing was made in the WallingioE
family.
: "Wen. mother" said Edmund Wellington