The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-01-07

Of trashy novels. and the sensation
stories Of school misses, you judge Of
the whole. If your mind is prejudice
ed, it will take more able advocate
than myself to show you upon what
a flimsy baee your opinions are con-
structed; therefore We will say no
more about it,
The evening came Oh which papa
and his wife-how my lip curled as /
spoke the words-wGrc expected. !
han just said to Florie " What cant
be cured must be endured,' but she
will soon learn what frigid politcncss
means from me, and l hopo from you,
too. I'll own I'm anxious to see
her; cannot exactly determine what
course to pursue till / do" s...
II wanted to ask papa how she
looked, but didn't dare to. after
you sang that song to him. return
ed Florie, when we heard the car
liagc at the door.
Smooth your.hair. now. and pin
your collar straight, hastily cx:
claimed. "Dou't let Mrs. Gordon
think you are young heather, to
whom she is to act thcpart of mis-
sionary."
We had taken tea and were in the
parlor. had taken mammals por-
trait and hung it in the room Flrrie
and occupied. We had one there
then, but remarked to Floric. as l
carried it up stairs, ''Ain't I good
to save Mrs. Gordon all the trouble
possible? Now we cau-have one
apiece
l felt really nervous when the car
riage stopped at the door; but I did
not follow Ned and Florie as they
rushed into the hall to meet them
They did not come into the parlor
until after they had been to the din
ing-room and partakcn of some re-
freshmcnts. AS papa presented his
"cldest daughter to his wife. Irosc
and coldly offered my hand. Tho lady
who was hereafter to occupy my dear
mothers place in the household was
about thirty years of age, of medium
height, good looking, and pleasant
smile lighted her face as she held my
hand a moment and chopped / was
we'll" Later in the evening she cx-
pressed desire to hear me play. l
did not rise Immediately; but when
she said, do not, unless it is per
fectly agreeable to you" l replied,
"Most certainly it is," and selected
the one, II Sit and Weep by my
Mothers Grave,' as the most inap-
propriatc one could fnd. I sangit
with much pathos, for my heart was
full Of grief aud my eyes of unshcd
tears. ! rose from the piano and
glanced at papa and his new wite.
Her eyes were full of tears as she
said to me IN a low tore
You sing with much feeling, Nell
lie; probably more so because you
can sympathizc with the author. and
I can sympathizc with both. l have
no mother, and | too have loved
To sit and weep ........
Beside dear mothers grave.'3 -
That was so different from what |
expected that I could NOT reply, ard
merely bowed my head. As VIC en-
tered the breakfast room the follow
ing morning, Mrs. Gordon took the
head Of the table, and. foolish child
that Iwas. l felt tho angry blood
rush to my face: had occupied the
place SIX months-cver since l had
lcnned long dresses--and tho't she
takes manmas place and mine too. -
After papa had gone down town,
and Mrs. Gordon, Florie and myself
were left at home, she chatted 80
pleasantly with us that had almost
regretted the part that l had deter.
mined to act; but when tie gardener
came in, and, directing his remarks
to me, asked if he should take up all
the dahlia roots for winter, l grew
angry again and said, ''You can ask
Mrs. Gordon; l shall not direct any
more about the flowers l did not
look at her to notice the effect Of my
words, but Florie said her face color
ed. However, her voice was calm
as she said; Il will 60 in the garden
in moment aud tell you and TAX
ing shawl size passed out, leaving
me ashamed that did not speak in
less ungracious manner.
need not mention every little act
of hers that slowly undermined the
prejudice against step-mothers. which
had imbibcd from early childhood.
Shortly after she became member
of our household she tapped at my
chamber door, and, after coming in
and sitting a few moments which
were passed in pleasant conyersat tion,
she said to me:
"Was not one Of those portraits of
your mother taken from the parlcr,
Ncllic?"
1.-The one over the table was" I
replied. II hung it here few weeks
ago."
"Wcll, if you arc willing l will
replace it," she continued, $50 that
all the family can have tho same
pleasure as you do. I think your
forehead resembles hers very much. "
she added. as she stepped into chair
and took il down.
had not a word to utter. I felt
that | wss kille.lby kindness; and
yet after this enleavored to main
tain that reserve Of manner that l
had determined should ever character