Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-03-22

you are going into such a family. Such a
family! repeats Molly to herself. I was
not aware before that they differed maieri.
ally from the, svarage mass Of families
Such family, she again repeats, and in
sailor psrlance, begins to look out for break.
ers ahead and to Trim 'her sails according.
ly; and 1t will be a marvel II, with your
assistance, she ia not doomed to find it is
indeed such family. And just so 1t viii!
be with each member of the family if you
60 to pouring ont your uncaIled for pity up.
on them. Now 10 elucdate my position, I
will give you a waif from my experience II
you would like me-
Indeed we would
Grandmother Southsde had not lived
lhree.score years without purpose. she
must have had some marked passages in her
life history, and we would be very happy II
she would point them out to US. IL would
do US good, we were sure, to listen to the
words, that dropped from the lips of expesi.
ence and wisdom. Our hearts always grew
tender in her presence, and we have often
wished that our gentleness of soul might
make our youthful faces as fair and beauti-
ful as hers, with all its wrinkles. There
may be handsomer women in the world than
Grandmother Southsde, but none more
beautiful. A living type of pure, spiritual
love illness, she walked among us our coun.
sc lor, guide and friend. So calm, SO peace
sul was her life, we surely thought she q,
least had never drank Of the bitterness thal
is full often mingled with the sweet in the
cup Of life. We saw the brightness Of her
countena nee, but what her memory looked
back upon was to US a veiled picture.
1T is simple story, girls, but it may
serve to interest you for an hour or two, and
keep you from borrowing too much trouble
about Molly. You think you sympathize
with her, but you do not as | do, for you
cannot realize her true position as one car
no has been placed under similar circum.
stances
Similar circumstances. Why Grand
mother Southside, were you ever a steE
mother! Can it be, and you are such dear
happy, good woman too. How did il hap.
penP
ut happened easily enough. When | wa:
a little girl. not more than twelve years U
age, Augustine Southside, then young mar
of twenty, came to teach our winter school
and withou, wishing Or knowing it, taught
me one lesson never could learn. 1t VA
loves mysterious lesson. That Love wa,
no myth of a childish fancy, no jack-a-lan
tern of the brain, but holy ,:pure and death
less reality. And the love OF my young
heart become hidden idol, worshipped il
secret, alone and unknown by its author
When at the close of school he gave me
parting kiss, bude me be good girl and no
forget what he hat taught me, he littls
dreamed what he had taught me. did mol
forget; and when many years after, he can,
TO our village to seek for me, and as he said
teach me another lesson | was too young Il
learn then. he found the task easie than h,
had anticipated, for he had unwittingly
taught me the rudimen,s along with MI
grammar, geography and Adams old;
when he used to lead ne SO carefully owe
the icy places and lift me across the sloughs
when standing up in the dignity of his man
hood, in the full stature OF moral integrity
with his great intellect towering far abov
his surroundings, he could stoop dow
gracefully without appearing to stoop, an,
so simplify his greatness that it could b,
understood and appreciated by a little child
and last though not least, when with gentl
tenderness he would smooth out the awk
ward blunder ] sometimes made in my reci
tations because Of studying him full Oft I
the neglect of my book
AS was saying, it was no hard work 70
Augustine to teach me loves lessou, bu
there was lion in the way-he was
widower. and had one child, a boy. How
ever much loved Augustine, could tax
upon myself the fearluld responsibility @
becoming n stepmolher! My hand said
Louisa, you are not equal to the task bu
my heart which believe was nearest righ
For the great love You bear Augustine. yo
can do 50 aud dare all things; do not ro
your lives through weakness or fear of ih
happiness ofa union you SO earnestly coyet
4 So listened to my heart, lett the era
ding arms Of my parents, and with my hand
clasped firmly yet tenderly in that OF m
noble teacher, went forth with him to Leaf
the realities of life.
So you see, girls, how it happened that
became a stepmother. 1t was near fort
yeas- ago, and it seems hut yesterday whe
We set out on life's uneven journey togetf
er, followed by the pity, blame. and goo
wishes of all our friends, far and near, an
we lived through it all.
Augustine Southside was a noble type @
i true manhood. lid not base my hopes
happiness on sandy foundation, nor trui
to broken rtet for support when gay
him the wealth of my young hearts fir'
. love; nor did ever look in vain to him fC
counsel, sympathy and consolation in a II tn
, years that we woIked hand 10 hand togethe
But, dear children, you all remember IN
1 Augustine, how good, how noble he wa
r and how much you all loved him. | nee
/ not remand you Of his virtues, for hi, lit'
path was heightened out until it lay besit
: your own many year, and yet never,tir
of talking OF the good old man, and wou|
/, like to tell you Of many pleasant passage
. in history, but + fear il begin upon thu
I theme, shall wear the evening away viii
out laying word about his son, my ste
son, and he is the one ought TO speak
now, for You are ali SO worried about Mol