The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-01-24
MY sTEP-M Err.

Glenvile again so soon for. Do, you
know, Mrs. Allen p / asked of the lady
who acted as housekeeper in our family.
81 did not ask him." she replied.
Her evasive reply increased my suspi.
cion, and after twirling my napkin a mo-
ment, said:
"Well, we sometimes know the reason
of things, and, therefore, are not obliged
to ask for information.
Two days after papa returned, and af-
ter tea we gathered in the parlor, for pa
pa is lawyer and did not stay in the
office evenings. ! told Florie that the
next time papa asked me to sing l should
sing the piece called IL Cannot Call Her
Mother;" and, as ! was momentarily ex-
pecting such a request, / was tryingto
get up the courage to do so. M
Before Florie could reply,papa opened
his eyes and asked me to play, and l
arose with futtering of the heart to do
Eso.
took up pile of music and looked
| it over, in order to gain time; then lay
| ing it down on the music stand, / struck
the first note to the prelude of the piece
had said / would sing. Before / be-
gan the words, Mrs. Allen left the room
She knew what it was, and thought it
might lead to remarks that. she would
not like to hear My voice never once
faltered as 1 sang it with as much feel
ing as could throw into the words.
When l had finished, there was per-
feet silence in the room for few mo-
ments. finally began a lively march,
but papa interrupted me, and said in a
pleasant tone:
"You need not play any more this
evening, Nellie, for me. hope you did
not sing those verses because they ex-
pressed your sentiments, did youY''
81 do not know what difference 1t can
make to to any one whether those lines
express my feelings or not" replied
rather coldly.
"It will make some difference with
our future happiness" he continued Il
am to lie married soon, and of course it
will make the lady your mother. Are
you not prepared to receive as such any
one / may select, and give her the affec-
tioa of a daughter
Florie burst into tears, and though ]
felt a choking sensation in the throat. l.
replied with. some spirit, "Of course /
shall treat the futnre Mrs. Gordon with
respect, if she shall command it; but I
have q mother, though she is III her
grave, whom cannot forget, if others
can with such apparent ease"
"Nellie, you forget yourself, if you
mean to insinuate that l have forgotten
your mother; / have not, nor never
shall. You could not understand my
feelings if / should explain them to you;
therefore will say no more"
The evening came on which papa and
his wife-how my lip curled as l spoke
the wor3s--were expected. / had just
said to Florie, "What can't be cured
must be endured; but she will soon
learn what frigid politeness means, From
me, and from you / hope, too. I'll own
Tn anxious to see her. / cannot exact
ly determine what course to pursue until
Ido."
II wanted to ask papa how she look
ed, but did not dare to after you sang
that song to him." returned Florie, when
we heard the carriage at the door.
..Smooth your hair, now, and pin your
collar straight hastily exclaimed.--|
"Don't let Mrs. Gordon think you
young heathen,to whom she Is to act the
part Of missionary" S
We had taken tea,and were in the par;
lor. had taken'mamma's portrait and
hung it in the room Florie and | occu.
pied We had one there then, but / re-
marked to Florie, as / carried it up|
stairs: :..tqs
..Aint / good to save Mrs. Gordon all
the trouble possible? Now we can have
one apiece"
felt really nervous when the carriage
stopped at the door; but / did not fol-
low Ned and Florie, as they rushed into
the hall to meet them They did not
come into the parlor until they had been
to the dining groom and partaken OF re
AS papa presented his aeldest daugh-
ter to his wife, I arose and coldlv offer
ed my hand The lady who was hereaf
ter to occupy my dear mothers place in
the household, was about thirty five years
of age, of medium height, t,good looking,
and pleasant smile lighted her face as
she held my hand moment aud hoped
I was we'll.
Later in the evening she expressed
desire to hear me play. 1 did not arise
Immediately, but when she said;
"Do not, unless it is perfectly agreea
able to you," / replied:
"Most certainly it is" land selected 81
Sit and Weep by My Mothers Grave,
as the most appropriate one could find.
| sang it with much pathos, for my eyes
were filled with unshed tears, ard my
heart was sore with grief.
Z Irose from the piano and glanced at
papa and his new wife. Her eyes were
full of tears us she said to me in low
tone:
"You sang with much feeling, Nellie,
more so, probably, because you can
synpathize with the author, and ] can
sympathize with both. have no moth
er, and l, too have loved
To sit and weep
&c Beside dear mothers grave.''
That was so different from what ] ex-
pected that could not reply and merely
bowed my head. AS we entered the
breakfast room the following morning.
Mrs. Gordon took the head of the table
Foolish girl that / was, | felt the angry
blood rush to my face 1 had occupied
that place six months, ever since DON
ned long dresses-and l thought f"she
takes mamma's place and mine too"
] need not mention every little act of
hers that slowly undermined the preju
dice against step-mothers, which l had
imbibed from early childhood. Shortly
after she became member of our house.
hold, she tapped at my chamber door,
and after coming in and sitting few
minutes, which were passed in pleasant