The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-09-03

~ ~ N"'A
| ough drubbing having nearly bitten off
IL piece of his ear, Mrs. March-firSt
trying to comfort Charlie, who scorned
her sympathy and styled her Il blamed
f0ol-procecded to administer the same
punishment to Tom that had succeeded
with Julia, meaning not to put needle
and thread into his hand, but to show
him some drawings of cruel people and
tell him their hapless stories, and pos
sibly to win some mutual interest. OF
course Tom refused obedience when
she directed him to 90 up stairs, and of
course when she felt herself obliged to
lay her hand on his shoulder and lead
him along he stoutly resisted; and I'M
fortunately Miss Maria was in the room
to throw herself between the two with
Shrlll voice and flashing eyes, calling
out that Mrs. March was Il worthless
mterlopcr. BY the mercy of Provi-
dcnce there was Il closet door open lust
beside them; Mrs. March was not =
strong woman, but she was Il quick
one; before Miss Maria knew what had
happened, she had been clappcd into
that closet and the door locked upon
her, and there she was ignominiouSlv
left, shriekin@ like Il maniac, while
Mrs. March led the astoniShcd Thomas
to her " retreat. She directed the re-
lease of Miss Maria at once, though.
and then fastened herself in her room
with her rebel, but with no good result,
as IN her previous experience; for I'M
used to such scenes, and the rough h0r-
ror of Il hand-to-hand broil wounding
all her Susceptibilies, she gave way to Il
hearty cry, which evidence of her
weakness put Tom March on his pins
again.
The servants, meanwhile, did not
hasten to let Miss Maria out of durancc:
but when at last the door swung open.
the wind could have given her no swift
cr wings to fly to Mrs. Lees. and burst
in, red, weeping, d~iShcveled, to make
'i' "N IthtIillbIl VI iflt manner Ill
which her Step-mothcr had locked her,
Il grown woman, into Il closet. And
Mrs. Lee, responsive, told the child
there WAS always room for her in her
hOuSe-mcaning all the same to ask Mr..
March a good round sum for her board.
But Mrs. March had ample Satisfac-
ton in her husbands love and vcncra-
in his happiness, and the compar-
tive order and comfort to which she had
reduced his home. She had made the
house beautiful. The table sh0nc with '
her wedding silver; the dishes were f
farlltleSsly served; the children, bright !
and clean, received smiling encourage
mcnt to join the cheerful talk; and if t
after they were in bed Maria chose to l
in her room, she lost Il great deal I
Of pleasure. |
Still Mrs. March's gentle heart was |
sore oven Maria. She would have been l
glad TO win the girl, glad to provide '
pleasure for her. She understood her '
emotions, and seldom had any but ten c
Ter feelings towards her. 1t hurt her Il
Is sorely to think that the noble traits t
the boys she was unlikely to be able t
o train to noble ends. Q
Occasion, coming to every body, y
at last to Mrs. March, when every |
'hild of the house was smitten with the i
trcadful epidemic at that time raging "
n the vicinity. Miss Maria, frighten- I
ut out of her senses, betoOk herself to ;
Mrs. Lees. But Mrs. March, though l
miserable herself, dreamed of no fear. "
She had the children moved into con- IL
rooms, and although there was Il
professional nurse with them, yibrat-
1T between those O as we think "
MY mothers can. Not a night did she o
leep till the crisis was over; and in b
heir cOnvaleScence it seemed to the 4
children that it was only an angel NOV a
ne about in her long white robe, bath tt
ne their foreheads, singing them to a
leep, bringing them tempting messes, o
elling them enhancing stories, win
ing their hearts at last completely. tt
IN the whole, though tired out in the 10
Mrs. March did not know that h;
4 all her life she had had 4 happier fiji
me than during that month of ~conval- m
And thcn Maria came home. Nj
"Mamma and | have a secret that RI
he says may tell you, Maria," cried ca
ulia, after the greeting. kr
can open secret,n said Maria, inso- w
,ntlY. stthat all the world knows 10