The Shasta courier., 1871-11-11
SHASTA Err.
Maria's Portrait.

"What are you going to do with it, papa? ?
Why do you take it down ?"
Mr., Bretman did not answer. For the
first time in his life he pushed the child
from him, and called harshly to the nurse
to take him away. Little Fred made no
resistance. but his quivering lip told that
be felt hurt and injured. Up in the
nursery he appealed to Maggie, the maid
"Maggie, why did papa look SO cross
Why didn't he tell me what he was doing
with mammals picture 1t wasn't any
harm to ask"
"Och, doubt he was ashamed, darlint," !"
said Maggie. "Be aisy; you are not to
blame"
And she took the widower's little boy on
her knee and patted his round head
"Why ought he to be ashamed ?" asked
Fred.
"Ye mustn't say l said so," cried the
woman; "Master has the right to do his
own will 1t is none of my business"
"But why did he take the picture down 2"
again asked Fred
"There's somebody coming that wouldn't
like to see the face or fhe lady that was
mistress here but year ago" said Mag
gle. " Your fathers afther giving you
step mother. my Freddie"
What's that ?" asked Fred.
ga new mother" said Maggie. "Do
not be spakin' of what I've said, or she'll
be sending me away, and there'll be none
to love ye. Shed turn your pas heart,
and have it all her own. It's always so,
poor bairnie."
And the old nurse wept over the child,
and with him.
Mr. Bretman carried his first wife's pic
ture to the garret where truth to tell, he
shed few tears on it before he deposited it
in its corner 1t was impossible for him
to have those sweet eyes looking upon him.
while living ones sEone from her chair and
place at the table, He loved the dead
woman still, though be also loved living
one. Maggie did not know this. She
thought as she said, that the mistress was
forgot quite" What she thought she
taught the child and the young lady who
came smiling into the parlor one bright
morning, and knelt down when her hus-
band said, "Come kiss your new mamma,
Freddy" looking so sweet, gentle and pret-
ty that, left to himself, the boy would have
liked her, was surprised by an earnest
slap in the face and the angry words" Go
away. You made papa put dead nam" as
picture up in the garret. l don't want
you for mamma | won't have you. Go
away"
And at that the bride, almost child
herself, started up flushed and angry, and
retreated to her husbands protecting arms,
quite overcome by this greeting and the
face of the old nurse, in which she saw no
pleasant greeting, but defiance and anger
instead
The father, stung by the child's words,
seized him, for the FIRST time in his life,
roughly BY the shoulder and turned him
out of the room
"Go, SIR" he said, "and do not come
back until you can behave decently. 1t is
that ignorant woman's fault" he said to his
young wife, and led the way to the dining
room. But the shock of the brides recep-
tion had robbed both of any appetite, and
ellen even wondered whether she had
been wise to break her resolution and ''mar-
ry widower who had children
mo one has ever any comfort with step
children" she thought.
Who can say what was in the wan's
mind? They were silent, both of them
After lunch was over the husband marched
into Maggie's room, and addressed her
sternly.
You have been filling the childs head
with wicked thoughts. How dare you do
it? He has insulted Mrs. Bretman, and
you are the cause. I've half mind to
send you packing-you deserve it."
"Have just bit of pity on the boy and
me, and III never do it. I'm all he's got
now," sobbed Maggie. "Don't blame me.
Pm ould, and reminder better than young
man. She was a swate lady"
"You were good to her, and are still
good to her child" said the gentleman,
gravely; sbut remember. no more under
hand work. You must teach the child 10
love his mother and obey her.
"Obey he may" said Maggie, "but love
can't be taught; "we've but one mother in
the world, however many wives and hus-
bands we may have"
The man looked at her sharply, but there
was no insoience in her face; and he left
the room and returned to his wife, and saw
no more of Freddie that day. Indeed, the
child did not seek him. Never before had
he been harshly use The shake his ia
ther had given him had been terrible
thing to him-the very confirmation of
Maggie's prophecy. More and more he
clung to the old nurse, and though Mrs.
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