The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-03

Mary was hardly prepared for this
Even while she stood with unchanged tx
terror, she felt grateful to her stcpnothe,
for iuterceptiug the complaint about to be
made to her father. She expected some
remark or remonstrunce from Mrs. Ar.
The latter, as it uorhing unpleasant had
occurred, turned to Florence. and, after b
light examination of her dress. said to
the housekeeper
This collar is too much soiled; won't
you bring me another7'
u, it's clear enough replied Florenc,
knitting her brow-, aud affecting impa
tieuce But. even a. she spoke. th
q lick, yet gentle hands Of the stepmothe'
aud removed the collar trum her neck.
Do you think it clean enough now ?
said she, s- rhe placed the soilsd collar
besides fresh Que, which the house Yep.
er had br ught.
1T Is rather dirty said Florence, o.. il.
iog.
Aud now Mrs Arnold examined other
articles OF her dress. aud had .hem
changed. re.arrapge her hair. and ssv
that her teeth were properly brushed
While this wss progressing, Mary stood b
little apart, Il Close observer of all this
passed. O,e thing she did not fail to re-
mark, aud that was the gentle 6rnuess oi
her stepmother, which was in strong COZ
trsst with the sculjiug, jeIkiug, aud i'm.
patience Of the housekeeper, as manifest.
ed on these occasions.
BY the time Florence vas ready TO-
school. Mary's state Of mind had under.
goue considerable change. aud she hal.
regretted the exhibition Of Ill temper ana
insulting disobedieuce she had shown.
Yet she was in no way prepared to yield
To her surprise. after Flsrence was III
ready. her siepmother turned to her spc
said. III N mild. cheerful voice, as it uoth.
,ug unp sasaut had occurred:
Have yuu particular reason for wish
ing tU wear your new bonnet thi, morning
Mary?
Yes. ma'am, have The voice O
Mary was changed cou,ii.r,b y, and he
eJeo ieil bruesIh the mild. but penetrat
luk gaze OF her sepuolhcr.
May ask you the reason ?
Tneie Vas n pause Of oume moments
then Mary rvpI"d d:
Il Promised one Of the girls LII wear it
She asked me to She wanted to see it.
Did you tell Hanuab thi,?'
No uia 'sn. it wouldn't have heen an,
use. She never hears to reason
But you'II 6nd me very diff,reut
Macy said Mrs. AruolJ, t.uderiy. i
-naIl ever be ready TO hear tho rex.on.'
All this Was ~ FAR from what Mar
had anticipated. that her m,nd va ha,
be~ Ter d Her srelmothe, : clear sigh
pe.e,tated to her ve'J thoughts TasIu,
her hand, she drew her gently 10 he
side An -r,n was then placed lovingl
around her
My dear child'-it would have been
hard heat. iudeedthst could havc resist
ed the Influence of that voice-'et US un
derstsud each other in the beginning
You sccm to look upon the as au enem,
aud yet wish 10 be the very best frien'
you have in the world | have coz
here not as an exacting aud overhcariu,
'yrant, but to seek your good and pro
mote your happiness III every pos>ibl.
way will love you, and may | not ex
pect love in return? Surely you vii
uot withhold that
A. Mrs. Aruoli spoke thus, she felt ,
slight q aver in the hand ehe had takel
III her owu. She continued:
i caunot hope to ill the place of YOU
dear mother, now in heaven. ", ever
As she loved you would love you, N,
child The voice Of Mrs. AruolI had
oecome Unsteady. through excess of feel
'ug. A she bore with your faults,
will bear with them as she r,joiced owe,
; every good affection born in your heart -,
will r.joicc.
Outraged by the conduct Of Mary.th
hou",kecper had gone to Mr.. A,uold
"hom she found in tho paror and r.,
peated to hlm.wi'h coloriug Of her ow''
he insolent language her child bad used
Inc father hurried up stairs iu state .
angry excitement. No little SURPRISED
Was he on entering the nus-cry, to Sc,
Mary sobbiug on the breast of her step
mother, whose geuile hands were sotl,
pressed upon the child's temples. auc
whose low voice was speaking to her th'
words Of comfort for the present, auc
cheerful hope for the future. Unobserv
I'd by either, Mr.. Arnold stood for mo
ment. aud then softly rerired with d gu,l
of thaukfulness in hi, heart that he hat
found Tor his children 20 true and good ,
III ,ther.
With Mary there was no trouhl,
f'om that hour she came wholly unde
he influence of her stepmother, learning
day by dag. as she knew her better. !,
love her with more cou6 ling Tenderness
Wonderful was the change produced OF
The children Of Mr.. Aruold 10 singl,
Jear. They had, indeed found motbel
Among tbs lyuchlny- of our half civil
lied d'stant West one Of the strsnyest anr
most picturesque occurred ut Trinidad
Col. short while since. A wretchec
woman had been killed by an equal,
wretohed man. The corouer's juiy wer,
lowed to end their inquest. hut prompt
ly tberrupon sn armed crowd gathered
-"izsd the culprir. aud dragged bin to ,
cottonwood On the rivers drink. Tncr,
hey put the rope around hi, Ut ck listen
ed 10 hi, Gun ir>,i M and ff,.r,.d a, rim