The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-11-24

motner nau Dlu her goodbye. one thought
the whole scene over, as she had so often,
and seemed to hear every one OF the words
afresh, in her mothers low, tender voice.
And, somehow, new sense of her mothers
meaning came to her. You must always
think of yourself last" her mother had
said. Vas she doing>that now Was she
not thinking of herself first-of her own
pain-of the wound to her selflove in be-
ing set aside where she thought she had
done so well-of having some one else
nearer her father than she was-of being
| no longer at the head
"No," she cried, holly, ats not that !;
it's having some one else in my own moth
er's place. He had no right-no right"
But a tender, unseen presence seemed
near her, all the while breathing gentler
thoughts. Something told her that her
mother up in heaven would not be jealous
for herself; and something else asked her
if she were sure she could so devote all her
future to her father as to keep him from
needing that companionship which is the
very life and soul ofthe living. She would
not yet confess it, but she knew, in the
soul of her soul, that she had been wrong !;
and as she got up to call the boys, she said
to herself. Think of myself last; yes,
can try to do that for your sake, dear moth
er; and for your sake will keep the boys
us happy as can. If they are too young
and unreasoning to feel it all, so much the
better; you would not want their hearts
to ache as mine does"
She went to the door, and called the lit
tie fellows playing outside, and they hur-
ried in.
"Come boys" she said, "you must go
and dress. l want you to look nice when
your new mother sees you for the first time"
The boys looked at her curiously. Not
at all in this tone had she spok en- of the
new conner before. Was size going over to
the enemy?
"She amt my mothcr-is she 2" said
sturdy Geordy.
"She is your own mamma" Marian said,
MISUNDERSTANDING to do what her mother
would have wished " she's not the dear,
sweet mamma whom God gave you first,
aud then took home to heaven, because, l
do believe, she was too good for this world
but she's your new mother, whom papa
thinks it best for you to have. We ought
to know that papa's judgment is better
than ours and he's been too good faith
err to us all our lives for us to have any
right to suppose he is not doing now what
he truly thinks will be best for u.s."
The words had cost Marian great effort,
but she had uttered them quietly and reso-
lutely. The boys felt that she was in earn
est, and went away to dress, with new
sense of trust in their father.
But, mother it is so hard !" Marian
cried out, when she was left alone. -" How
can l? o, how can l +? And she thought
no doubt it was her own excited fancy
but she thought she heard voice say
dear voice, whose tones she would know
out ofall the world, -" But the end is
peace"
Night brought the new mother. The
boys had been growing reconciled to the
idea of her since Marian's word cf an hour
before, and they ran to meet her with smil-
ing faces. Marian tried to go forward, too,
but it seemed to her that her feet were
fastened to the floor, and it was all she
could do to stand still, and keep the tears
back.
Here arc the boys" she heard her faith
er say, cheerfnlly. No doubt lie and his
bride kissed them; but she could not see,
she was for moment very, very dizzy.
"And here is Marian" in the same cheer
full voice; "my one daughter, and my
faithful housekeeper."
Marian looked up struggling with her
self, and saw her new mother. Her own
mamma had been, perhaps, not beautiful,
but lovely-a woman whose sweet charm
every beholder must feel. If this one
should be younger and handsomer,a Eighty
girl bride, Marian felt that all the grace
in the world would not keep her from hat
ing her. But she looked and saw that she
might have trusted her father The new
wife was large, fair woman, not beautiful,
but with noble and serene face, where
large and generous thoughts had their
home. She was certainly not younger than
Marian's own mother had been and in the
sober richness of her dress, there was none
of that girlish flightiness which Marian had
dreaded. The girls judgment was forced
to approve, but her heart was alien still.
She went forward a step, and put out her
hand. No doubt Mrs. Grey understood
her feeling, for she made no ardent demon
stration. She only bent little,-she was
tall woman,-and touched her lips to her
new daughters brow; and then she said
something about the pleasantness of the
house, and Marian took her up stairs to
her own room.
She looked around as she entered it, and
saw the white chrysanthemums cleaning
everywhere. Marian, who was furtively
watching her, thought she grew little
pale; but she only said very quietly
my father brought me home new
mother Marian, when l was just your age.
l understand it ALL"
Marian's heart warmed towards her lit
tie then; but it grew hard and cold again
when she went down stairs, for she found
her father in the parlor, looking unmistak-
ably happy and radiant. He had no heart
no thought for the dead, who had lived
there with him so longs In that moment
she felt as if she hated the new conner.
Her father drew her towards him.
swell, grille, surely you like her. lie
asked eagerly.
She withdrew herself from his arm.
81 am not man. | think | was not
made for forgetting" she answered coolly.
Her fathers face darkened. He spoke
with tone different from any she was &C
customed to in his voice.
Marian, you knew your mother well.
Do you think she loved me so sefishly
that, since | could not have her, she would
prefer that l should live my life alone
If that were so, she must have changed,
indeed; for she always thought of herself
last"
Marian could not reply, for just then the
new mother came down stairs, and took
what was to be henceforth her household
place. 1t was not in the chair that had
been the dead wife's. Had she avoided
that by some delicate tact? or was it only
that she was another mould Of woman from
the first wife, and her taste was different
Marian never knew.