Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-10-30
MY STORY,

knew her she had numbered nearly forty wears
put stlll treading the quiet path Of maiden.
mood. Why she was unmarried never ascer-
famed. Some imagined that death, per-
chance, had claimed the object Of her early
love others praised the fliai heart which had
led her to devote her life to her widowed mother:
whlle others, still less charitable said thew
guessed she never had an offer" All agreed.
however, that Alice was a model old maid.
cheerful and contented she trod her solitary
way, and IL, in earlier days. thoughts of hus-
| band and children had made pleasant maiden
reveries, such dreams had long ago been dis
missed from her heart
But there was one who was beginning to plot
against the "9uiet tenor Of her way" A wear
before Esq. Moreford had buried the wife of
bis youth. In his desolate farm house were
four motherless children-dependent upon
nirellngs ior the care tender mother had al
ways lovingly given-and feeling, at length,
the necessity of having some one who should
nave more than hirelipg's interest in his
home, he began to look around in search of such
an enc, and his eyes rested on Alice Grew
Death had been in Alice home, too, and when
the worthy suitor came to WOO, be found she
could be won so, as widowers' courtsbins
are usually short, Alice was soon Introduced
into new path in life. Alas she found it
pain OF trial. Filial, and loving, it had been
easy TO discharge daughters duties but those
oil wife and mother were new to her and ali
untried. 1t had been more chan twenty years
since she was little Alice" No little ones
had played about her hearthstone, and 50 she
nad become stranger to children's ways and
chliaren's hearts. Carefully she abstained
from everything unkind, but there was a want
OF sympathy between her own and her childreu's
heart. She entered into none of their childish
plans; they did not tell her Of their childish
Joys or grief and very soon they began to re-
gard her with suspicion, and even with dislike
At length, Charles, the eldest child, who could
not help contrasting this state of things with
the sunny home his own dear mother made, felt
that 1t was home no more for him So, one
night, leaving fearful good-by kisses with his
sleeping brother and sisters, he stole softly
down the stairs, and went out to be a wan
derer. The earliest cleaning of the morning
found him sobbing on his mothers grave, and
the first tidings of him were that he had gone
to sea.
Then Oracle, the youngest of the household,
was taken sick, and in her delirium she cried
TO away naughty woman want nv own
dear mama. Come mama and kiss Gracie
Come, sweet mama :" and in a little while the
plaintive voice was hushed forever
Alice Moreford was very: very sad, as she sat
alone In her room the night after Oracle died
One of the children to whom she had come 10
ill mothers place was away on the stormy
sea. Death had claimed another; and she felt
that neither from the absent ones nor from those
ofconfdence and love. Long time she sat and
thought; then long and fervently she prayed
that God would teach her. When she arose
from prayer, it was with new light in her
heart and on her face
Gracie's funeral was over, and Esq More
ford's house had become quiet as ever, and
more cherries than before. George was the
second SOD, lad Of thirteen years One night
after he had gone to rest be heard a rap at his
door. "WhO is it, he inquired "Mother,
May | come ?" Half pettishly he consented,
and his step-mother entered and sat down BY
his bed. She began talking about Oracle; and
then about his dear mother She told him how
anxious she was to fill that mothers place; she
spoke of difficulties in her way she assured
him of her love for him and her desire to see
him happy. Then she knelt by his bed side
and prayed God to bless them and help them
to love each other as they ought; and, kissing
him, bade him kind goodnight"
Georgie's proud little heart did not permit
him to answer his mother a word, but soon
as she had gone he began to think over all she
had said to him. He remembered how kindly
she had talked Of his own dear mother, and
sobbed himself to sleep full Of memories Of that
dead mother, and with kindlier feelings than
he had ever had toward her who filled that
mothers place.
Ellen, too. received visit from her mother
that night, and before they parted Ellen had
told Of all her longings after love, and how she
had wanted to talk OF her dead mother. They
wept together and then the mother prayed.
As she gave the child her first good night kiss,
Ellen threw her arms around her neck and said,
&" 1 love you, mother and from that time they
knew and loved each other. In angry moods,
Ellen would sometimes say 81 wish step
mother had never come to darken our home,'
but in a very little time she would come, in
tears, to be forgiven.
George was not so easily won; but Alice was
not discouraged. She sought his confidence in
every way; interested herself in his plans, and
he would find some nice little Offering of her
hsndiwork on his table, with a card attached,
saying it was " u little token of love from one
who would be a mother to him - Finally, she
found, one morning, little gift for her, with
these words attached, 4" To my kind Mother
From George.
Then sunshine began to dance all over the
old farmhouse, to the sweet music Of loving |
words ami tones. Clouds came some times, but |
Alice prayed, and wore the same gentle look |
and smile, and they passed without a storm.
Years went by The sad news came that the |
bright-eyed Charlie rested in an ocean grave.
George and Ellen grew to manhood and woman |
hood, and went to preside over homes of their |
own. Mrs. MorefOrd sat alone one evening
awaiting her husbands return from the vii |
lage. As he entered he handed her two letters
= from the children" he said.
With full heart she read Georges letter. |
He had just been recalling the scenes Of his
childhood, and gratefully and tOuchingly al
luded to the time when she came TO bless them
He assured her that he had treasured in memo
ry her years of unwearied love and kindness,
and that in his devotion he always thank ed God
for giving him such a step-mother.
Ellen letter was mostly filed with descrip-
tions of a liz le wee stranger who had come to
gladden. her western home. 1--WE call her
Alice" she said, "and only hope she will AS
h. xhnaa m aha haa
fally and gratefully Alice Moreford read those
affectionate tributes to her motherly care and
love- Then she complained Of sudden faint
ness, and retired. Morning found her very i'll.
physician was sent for, who came and pro- ]
nounoed her symptoms alarming. Day after
day passed, and she grew rapidly worse, and
then the doctor said, sadly, 81 fear there is no
hope" George and Ellen were informed that
their mother was dying. They FASTENED home,
but arrived in time only to receive one of her
sweet smiles, and then the eyes which had
looked so lovingly on thcm closed forever.
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