Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-05-15
MILLERSBURG, OHIO, THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 49, 1862.


told me last night what famous house.
keeper you have been" He was about
to add something more, when his vile
entered and he said, ,t"Mrs. Barton this
is our daughter Agnes Agnes your
mother" ! MECHANICALLY EXTENDED my
hand but, ieigned mott notice her offered .
kiss.
The children came, bounding in, and
were evidently already on the best Of
terms with Mrs Barton. Rose went to
her with pretty natural grace, and offered
with her Good morning mama"
greeting kiss. Willie was moro shy,
but evidently admired his new mama ex-
Gee ingly. Even baby Stella said "Good
mornin, mama" as u she had Practiccl
it for year. "Just as ! feared" l
thought to myselfst'' already stolen
their affections from dear mother" They
all seemed very happy at breakfast, but
! kept Hence. Father regarded my black
dress and gloomy counJcnancc very grave.
ly, but ! determined to follow in the
course | had marked ont. Day after
day passed, aud the days lengthenel into
we Ks, and "she" and were still strong
crs. kept my own room as much as
possible, and when in her presence, hardly
spoke, except in monosyllablc'. | took
pains to wear the "decpe,t mourning
which contrasted strangely with the
bright spring robes in which the others
were clad.
Every body in the village knew, Of
course, how matters stood. Mrs. Jcnk-
inson wa, the Glst to speak Of them to
mo. "Agnee, your conduct is making q
great deal of talk !" she said. "Some
folks pity You and say you are doing
Just right But a'most everybody blames
YOU. You would have more friends If
you'd take off your black and say
mother and it would stop the talk"
LET people talk if they choose. !
thank them for hon oring ne with so much
attention"
Miss Brown, an "ancent maiden, y
whose traps to catch the widow Lawrence,
. with seven children, were notorious, next
tool, me to task. "Mercy knows" she
exclaimed "that it is no desirable place
for your mother. Only self sacrificing
spirit of Kindness and charity could pre-
vail upon any one to go into such fam
lily OF children. You ought to call her
mother and treat her like a mother
too"
"ATay your step-children be patterns
| of dutiful conduct, Miss Brown"
, After such conversation, as natural
enough; perhaps | was more strongly
n fixed in my way than before. One da!
n | called upon dear, motherly Mrs. Wade
+ She had been brought up a Quakeress
n and with her gentle "thee" and thou
" she gave me lesson.
o "Agnes know just how thou feeles
i now. ! have been in thy place. Whei
), | was of thine age my father took hom
= a bride to be mother to me. | did no
: welcome her. She was gentle and love
q able; bu, | would not love her, becaus
=, my father had married. | wished he
v away a great many times, and she onl.
. staid twelve month with us. She trie
= to win my love during all that time,
"a know. But l hardened my heart again;
: her. In about twelvc-month she wa
~ taken sick. She was delirious. An
IL over and over again she lived, in mint
n the twelve months she had passed wit
NJ us. She would plead with me, mourn
" fully, to love her, and would say
, will make me very glad if you will ca
= me mother | was the constant burde
. of her thoughts. A little before she die
20 her consciousness returned. | called he
~ dear mother then, Agnes and begge
II her to forgive my unkindness. But a
81 my repentings and loving words coul
os not stay her feet from treading the 'dar
-. w. valley am burdencd still with Il
"a sad remembrance Of my treatment
~ her. Agnes! wilt thou choose to tax
-, upon thyself such a wearisome burden
u, Thou wilt do most honor to the memol
~ of thy gentle mother, by following in h
40 gentle ways"
10 Mrs. Wade sent message to Mi
- Barton 1t was just after dark when
~ reached home, and | went directly
N, cher" room to deliver it. She was II
- there, but / heard her soft, clear voice
hc the nurse, =.
~ ~ please, mama, tell us about yo
~ little Lizzie" said Rose Then hea
no for the first time the story of dear lit
or prattler, three years old, whom God h
or taken to heaven five years before, "L
Inv tie Lizzio's papa has gone to heaven to o
-. the sweet voice added, "and you knc
~. that you have dear mama there"
Il "ATay be Lizzie's papa and my nam
mt and little Lizzie are keeping house
: gether up there" said speculative lit
to Rose.
tn 1--WE will talk Of these dear oil
re- again." was the only reply. Il wish
,hc have you think very often Of your de
tx mama, whom we hope to meet someti
ity in that better land Let us pray togetl
- now"
en-, Then came the good night" kisses.
| | When my step mother entered her ro'
,trv | felt half constrained to throw my ar
vas around her neck, and beg her to folg
To me. and let me call her mother, if S
fore could do so after all my cooncss. !
ING pride came, and followed its biddin
,ver / merely delivered Mrs. Wade's meSS'
nlJ and left the room with formal &c
l. night, Mrs. Barton" | thought | S
into tears in her eyes as | went out, and /
D in an impulse then to go back, but pr
title said no, and pride conqurod,
aced I did not go on in my way with
oc, tliJ |