Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-12-01


ter christened Benjamin, lJut taking
his name from the shape OF his nose.
There Eas . young latly, Dolly, who
had attended the academy, and ives q
welcome guest at the village parties.
She lad taken charge Of the house.
hold after her mother Heath Dolly
tried TO keep the boys in check. but
they scorned her poor show ef author
ity, and che gave np ia disgust, her
iaferest in them dis1inishine ID pro-
portion to her increasing fancy for a
mustached young clerk, who, be it
known, was proportionately smitten
with her charms.
Also two little ones, Eettie and
Charlie; too young to be either noti-
ceably ignorant. or more than ordi-
narily mischieyolls. Still they were
a handsome family. Dolly was very
pretty, with, red lips, and rosy cheeks,
and complexion clear as ivory. Her
eyes were black as sloss, and her hair
We'd with a ravens wing. The TIVE
little ones were lovely little blondes,
when their faces and bibs were clean.
For the others it was puzzle to guess
what they might look Ike, with pro-
per care. Their faces and hands were
never free from traces ofmother earth;
their hair grew in all ways-one's 8
black. another's faxen, the other q
mass, red as Goals of FIRE, bristling as
so many brush-heaps--tangled and
unkempt. They were tall and strong,
-and when pressed into service could
work pretty well, though they were
almost sure to manage to do more
mischief than their work amounted
to. r r .
The idea of Farmer Hazlett marry
ing again had not occurred to any of
his old neighbors until the deed was
done. Then Poor Dolly T. and Those
wretched boys !" was heard on every
side. To be sure, there were not
wanting those who had the courage
to say, "And the poor woman who is
to have charge of themr" But. as
usual in all cases, the most of the
sympathy was wasted on those who
had least need of it.
Dolly took the matter quite philo-
sophically. She had loved her moth
er dearly; still, having good sound
sense, she,saw that a woman's help
was needed in her fathers house, Of
al others True, nle had no hope for
those boys, but could not bear to
think the little ones would 90 toruin
by the same road and by ne elder
boys guidance.
Then, too, the young clerk had an
increase Of salary; and, under the cir
cumstances, what more natural than
that their hearts should turn to a
home all their own2 So it happened
Dolly was not ayerse to her father
marriage-on the whole, rather glad
of it; and, when she met her step-moth-
er for the first time each knew each
other for a friend. The little ones
welcomed the new member of the
family with affection; but the boys
held aloof, with curious glances and
unfriendly airs. fthis woman thought
to have them in leading-strings she
might as well find out her mistake at
first.
Dolly's wedding occurred Just two
weeks after the homecoming of the
new wife and mother, and it was the
occasion Of the first real outbreak on
the boys part.
Mrs. Hszlett was a tall, fne-look-
ing woman, and they had been in
spired at the first with a wholesome
respect for her; still, as the days went
on, and she seemed pleasant and kind,
they came to think she would allow
them their way, as their own mother
had been glad to do.
Dolly invited her young friends,
and Mrs. Hazlett determined the
csrisine should be as near perfect as
possible. So the preparations were
made, and the cake was a very mira
Gle of beauty. This Dolly put away
carefully, under lock and key, and
before Mrs. Hazlett retired, she
viewed, with a satisfied air, the loads
Of dainties on the pantry shelves.
The morning dawned. The guests
arrived, and soon the momentous hour
came, when Dolly-sweet and fresh
and fair, in her white robes and bios
soms-was united 70 the man of her
choice. Then followed the usual con-
gratulations, and mayhap tear OF
two from the pretty eyes of the bride
maids, and amid the buzz and hustle
the housewife stole away. to oversee
the complexion fthe wedding break
fast.
But with what amazement she
glanced in the pantry, so daintily ar
ranged the night beforel A farmers
despairing glance over q wind-tossed
field Of ripening grain was scarcely !
comparison.
Pies devoured, the fakv crust
spTinkled over the ashen hoor like
rose petals, cake despoiled, and pre-
serves dripping everywhere.
A long look Of amazement, Of silent
CONSERVATION; but an old neirhbor,
looking over her shoulder, struck the
keynote Of the trouble at once.
The boys have been helping them
selvssl Their mother never could
keep sweetmeats from them.
But Mrs. Hazleft was not one Ia
fold her hands in despair. Twenty
minutes swift work put all to rights:
and, though the wedding breakfast
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