Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1871-06-29
! cannot exactly determine what course
to pursue until / do -,

canhot eAactiy ue1erhiihc Whao couioo
to pursue until / do t nt
1 wanted to ask papa how she
looked, but l 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 ex-
claimed. Don't let Mrs. Gordon think
you young heather, to whom she is
to act the part of missionary
We had taken tea, and were in the
parlor. / had taken mammals por-
trait and hung'it in the room Florie
and l occupied. We had one there
then, but remarked to Florie, as I
carried it up stairs:
Amt l good to save Mrs. Gordon
all the trouble possible Now we can
have one apiece @
l felt really nervous when the car
riage stopped at the door; but / did
not follow 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
room and partaken of refreshments.
As papa presented his eldest
daughter TO his wife, I arose and
coldly offered my hand. The lady
who was hereafter to occupy my dear
mothers place in the household, was
about thirty-fve years of age, of the
medium height, good looking, and a
pleasant smile lighted her face as she
held my hand moment and hoped /
was well.
Later in the evening she expressed
a desire to hear me play. l did not
arise Immediately; but when she
said
Do. not, unless it is perfectly
agreeable to you, replied: r
Most certainly it is,' and selected
l Sit and Weep by my Mothers
Grave as the most appropriate one
l could find. l sang it with much
pathos, for my eyes were filed with
unshed tears, and my heart was sore
with grief.
Irose from the piano and glanced
at papa and his new wife. Her eyes
were full of tears as she said to me in
a low tone:
You sing with much feeling, Mel
lie, more so, probably, because you
can sympathize with the author, and /
can sympathize with both. I have no
mother, and ], too, have loved
ITO Sit and weep .
A'coiuo uook hoshct Bfnse.
That was so different from what I
expected that could not reply, and
merely bowed my head. As we en-
tered the breakfast room the follow
ing morning, Mrs. Gordon took the
head of the table. Foolish girl that
1 was, felt the angry blood rush to
my face. 1 had occupied that place
six months, ever since l donned long
dresses-and thought, she takes
place and mine too
I need not mention every little act
of hers that slowly undermined the
prejudice against step-mothers, which
l had inherited from early childhood.
after she became a member of
our household, she tapped at my cham
ber door, and after coming in and sit
ting a few momenus, which were pass
ed in pleasant conversation, she said to
me-
"Was not one of those portraits of
your mother taken from the parlor,
Nellier z f"
The one over the table was,' I re-
piled. 'Ihung it there a few weeks
ago. 'N4fis
We'll, if you are willing, will re-
place it, so that all the family can
have the same pleasure you do. n
think your forehead resc nbles hers
very much,' she added, as she stepped
INTO chair and took it down.
Ihad not a word to utter, 7 felt
hat I was killed by kinds aSss and
yet after this I endcavored to main
tain that reserve Of manner that I
iad determined should ever charac-
ierize my department toward her.
The time for the closing of the school
arrived, and 7 asked papa to get me
IN expensive set Of coral and gold or
laments to wear. le t
Twill think of it, he said, but
when we were alone he said to me:
Ellen, if you viii call my wife
mother, 4 will get these things for
'ou. Edo not like to hear you call
'er Mrs. Gordon, especially before
trangers.' fs nr rai
VERY we'll. 7 can do w;thout them