Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-02-09
SELECTED STORY
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THE POWER OF A SONG.
BY FRANCES HENsHAw BADEN.

Folks-I mean the women folks Of W.
had thought at length they might pronounce
George Pembroke "a good man." aye. "a
wise and true man." for six years had gone
by since his wife had passed away, and he
had not, as far as they could tell, even
thought of giving to another her place. But.
O dear scarce had they declared their IA
yorable opinion, when suddenly George be
came the opposite of all they had pronounced
him. At least so they said How he had
disappointed them and without giving any
body chance of finding out how foolish he
was going to be-a sly man as ever lived.
Well, it was wonderful how he had managed
to 90 counting without the good folks find
ing it out. But be did, and married the one
of all others that the folks were most oppos-
ed to- He declared, however, it would
have been the same. no matter who his
choice would have been. But really do
not think they were very wrong in saying
che might have married some one better
calculated to make his children happy
But imagine George Pembroke was think
ing more Of himself than of any one else,
when be married the handsome, healthy
girl, young enough to be his daughter
Georges first wife had been delicate, frail
little thing, of whom he had always to be
very careful and tender; SO be thought in
bonny Jane he would get some one able to
take care of him in his old days. What
Jane married George Pembroke for of
course the folks" knew, and were not slow
in declaring. "Just for his fine house aud
money, to be sure
Sometimes too late men remember they
had forgotten to be wise, and SO it came to
be with George Pembroke.
Not many months after his marriage he
felt this. Gradually it had been growing
worse and worse with his wife and her step.
children, until at length Jane declared she
would not stand Master Harry impudence
nor Mary's idleness. Harry truly was very
provoking. He disliked his step-mother
cordially, and she did not try to change his
feelings. In fact she seemed rather to pre-
for it SO.
Six years before, when the children't
mother was dying, she called Harry, ther
ten years old, to her side, and babe hin
take care of his little sister.
"You must love her dearly, dear, wher
l am gone My little man, take care Of N.
motherless girl; guard her from harm, ane
be very tender and gentle. She is such
frail aud sensitive little thing" the mothe
said.
Between his sobs, Harry promised. AM
faithfully be kept that promise.
This 1t was that made the first trouble be
tween him and his step-mother.
Little Mary had been very .enderly rails
cd. Like her mother, she was delicat
little plant, requiring very careful culture
She had never been allowed to do any wor
calculated to tire, only that which woul
smuse and divert her. A very worthy VIC
man who had been with them during thcl
mothers illness, still remained, up to tn
time the new mother came. Very soon al
ter she was dismissed by Mrs. Pembroke
declared it quite unnecessary to keep sue
help. She should have a woman come
wash. The rest of the work she could dc
with Marys help.
This state of things went on until Harr
saw Mary growing paler and thinner ever
QaV, one was WltuuIaWu IIOu eobo0A' -"
made little household drudge. One da
Harry came home to find his sister cryin
over large lot Of tins which her tormente
had commanded her to scour. The lltt
hands were red and swollen. Harry plcl
ed her up in his arms, carried her up to b
father, and placing her on the sofa' erie
out:
4 FEATHER, promised mother to take cal
of her child, and I'm gcing to. She is NJ
+ able to do such work. Look at her DEL
t little hands! She shall not do it.
: Just then Mrs. Pembroke came in. VIII
to do the poor man did not know. d
heart ached for poor little Mary. but ne q
not think it advisable to take any aotloo a.
verse to his wife, who turned to Harry, ar
said:
go and put up those tins you soattere'
If Mary bad told me che was not teeilr