Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-07-19

ed in the midst Of pretty grove q
OF fir and elm trees, and, standing q
upon the east piazza, one could see @ q
glittering lake in the distance, q -
glittering between the arched leaves a.
and branches of the trees on it's
bank. 1t was pleasant sight and % ~
could not help attracting weary .
city men and women, who soughta - q
quiet country place to rusticate in.
The Allen household consisted of ~
Mr. and Mrs. Allen, and too young M W
people, Irvie Allen and Ned Collins; ~ =
the latter being son of the now O q
Mrs. Allen by a former husband .
Mr. Allen had committed the fa- q q
tai error of falling in love with e
widow, and being widower him. e
self, had offered her his hand and
heart, and generously been accept d -
ed. Irvie's lot in this world had 8 =
taken a sudden change for the q -
worse, as her step-mother proved
vain and malicious woman, who w -
swayed the broom as she willed in q,
the household, under which pendu- q ~
lum even Mr. Allen had to sue o. 0l
cumb, if he wished to escape tor q g
rent of abuse and scandalous out q =
breaks. Mrs. Allen was determin- a, q.
ed to sway the scepter over her do
mestic life and succeeded admira- = -
bly,; for Mr. Aliens first wife had -. O
been meek, quiet and patient wo- p
man, with the ruling passion of b =
1--we to balance her temper, and -
nothing but kind words and a deep A,
affection were her husbands lot = -
when things did not exactly turn ~ Is
out right.
But in Mrs Allen number two, - a
he had met a woman of rare pro- a,
pensities, whose words were model r -
ed after her own heart, regardless x
if they pleased her husband or not 4 x
she was bound to have her own q 6n
way, no matter what the conse- q
quences were, and besides, proved -
unruly and bad-tcmpered For @
Irvie she had no compassion, max IL
ing her slave from morning until - q
night, while she herself sat idly - -
reading the latest novel, dressed in ~ n
her best, or amusing herself by -
practising popular songs upon the s. .
organ in the back parlor. q E.
Irvie had inherited her mothers q
kind, amiable disposition, and could -
not speek cross word If she tried; -
besides she had such sweet face q ~
and such soft blue eyes, that they 9 -
captivated the beholder on the in- = .
slant. She never complained, a. e q
though she often cried herself to q -
sleep at night, and awoke next a
morning with red, swollen eyes and ~
q very severe headache. Still that a
did not cause less duties to be i'm ~
posed upon her, and only served to as Is
draw torrent Of abuse from her q
She was never allow d
ed to go to picnic, or join in =
quilting-bee or even be present at q a
a church social. Her mother al =
ways had work for her to do and @
she could not 60. - H.
Many of our modern girls would O ,
have thrown down the glove and q
round reproof to
Mrs. Step-mother, but, timid and a q
1uleJ as lrvle was, she could -
not bring herself to do that, and so d
he world rolled on in its even ten q g.
'r, and Irvie did her work patient. = y
y. To add to her unhappiness, m
Mr. Ned not unfrequenty torment as
ed her with his wild, capricious D.
tempers. lrvie never complained; - q
the gentle creature could not rebel " -
1t such insults, and found relief * -
only in tears = ~
But things could not always go n ~
ON in this even, tranquil course. n
Some obstruction must arise, and =
at last was awakened to a sense OF =, o
the unftness of her surroundings. - =
Early July came on apace, and - O.
with it several strangers from the
city, who, not having a big bank -. -
account, could not enjoy the fash X. g
ionable reserts, or who wished to X a
indulge a quiet vacation. Several -
ladies and gentlemen were taken
as boarders at the Allen farm, bring y
ing additional work to Irvie. Still
she would not murmur, but worked
ON more diligently than ever ~
All the duties of the honsehold de-