Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-12-28
MY sTEPMoTHnR.

rs
-n . Moisten with tears. -ua r.r g.-,I
MY sTEPMoTHER. s u..r
have but faint recollections ofmy mother.
as she died before l was four years old, leav-
ing nv brother Cifton-fve years my senior
and myself to the care of an old woman,
who was much attached to her, and who
gladly consented to leave her lonely cottage
in the village, that she might be my fathers
house keeper, and our halfnurse, halfgover-
ness.
We called her Granny; and very kind she
was to us in her way; nursing us most ten
derly when we were sick, preparing little pei
icacies for us at odd times, joining us in our
plays, and telling us stories by the dozen, Of
ghosts, giants, fairies, and little boys who
were eaten up by wolves and bears, for being
naughty. H.e HH -.
was puny, sickly boy, so l did not 60
to school, but with Granny's aid, learned to
read and write; and she prophesied that
would make great man some day, If would
only have spirit enough, and hold up my
head. All this firmly believed, and tried
my best to follow her advice.
OF my father we saw very little. He was a
grave, stern man and, very much depressed
by my mothers death, he plunged into an
absorbing business, and was only at home in
the evenings, when we boys generally for
sock the silent sitting-room for the kitchen,
there to listen with open eyes and mouths, to
Granny's marvellous tales.
We lived quietly enough, having few in
terests b yond our small place Of ten or a
dozen acres, and an occasional excursion to
the neighboring town. But a change was
coming. 1t was in the November Of the year
when was nine years old and Clifton four
teen-the latter exulting in the idea Of going
to boarding school in a month, and half
crying beforehand over my own loneliness
that my father, who had been in the habit
lately Of spending great part of his time in
Philadelphia, held long conversation with
Granny. When this was ended, we heard
the front door slam, and saw my father port
manteau in hand, Jump into the wagon, and
drive furiously of, while Granny entered our
sitting-room, her apron to her eyes, and sat
down in the armchair, rocking to and fro,
and sobbing with uncomfortable grief. Fear
ing we knew not what, we clung to her side,
begging her to tell us what had happened
But it was sometime before she could speak
to say that my father had told her her services
would be no longer necessary, as in a week
he would bring home wife, young lady
from the city, and in the meantime he should
not be at home.
"That should ever have lived to see the
day." continued the old woman, with fresh
burst of grief, when my own dear Miss Sarah
should be so forgotten and cast aside for a
pretty faced chit Of seventeen, with city airs
and graces, to turn the house up side down,
- hr1v
poor boys, what will become of you?''
How much longer she might lave gone on
in the same way, / cannot tell, but she was
Just then called away to the kitchen, leaving
us in state eofindescribable terror, imagining
that all the cruel step-mothers in fairy tales
were to be united in ours. Then long con-
versation ensued. in which we debated wheth-
er she would attempt to beat us, starve us, or
turn us out Of doors to seek our fortune with
a piece Of dry bread, and a bottle of sour wine
remember perfectly the picture formed of
her, in which she figured as q large. stout
woman, with naughty air and loud voice,
who would fly about the house, changing
everything, and making every one unhappy
generally. ss8
l"Pll tell you what" said Clifton, drawing
a long breath and plunging his hands man.
J.
Harry, when that woman comes to take moth
er's place, we must just get up our spunk, and
show her that we woN'r be tyrannized over I;
and if she goes to work to make us drudge
and slave, we must show her whether she isn't
mistaken in her notions-there now?"
fully concurred in my brothers opinion.
Old Granny, far from trying to subdue these
feelings, rather encouraged them by her un-
Ascr, s,<,A v,skvv nd A1~k
was the time, we were fully prepared-not
oh!v to thwart, and in every possible way dis
obey--but absolutely hate the young crea-
that VOW, which would make her our moth
er. saF' aa4r4
At length the Gay arrived. Granny, with
streaming eyes, went round the house, put
ting the finishing touches to the preparations,
and wiping off imaginary dust from the fur
niture; for she said, the new mistress should
find it in IS much order as her own dear mis-
tress Sarah had always kept it, even if it
should never be 50 again. She said she
would not stay to see stranger at the head
of Eer mistress table. So when the rocka-
way went to the depot, she drove away.
Clifton felt to manly to cry, and 30 he tried
to whistle, but the sound would not come;
so he stopped, put his hands in his pockets,
and looked out Of the window. tried to
emulate his composure; to dash back the
tears that kept binding my eyes, and to swal-
low down the lump that kept rising in my
throat and choking me; thus we sat silent in
the recess Of our window, looking out into
the November mist. @ -5ga ..-.,si
It had been very dreary day. The wind
l-meaning as only November wind cans