Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-11-16
THEIR STEP.MOTHER.

"Children children - said Parson Lack
ington "a little less noise !! How do you sup
pose am ever going to get my sermon written
in such a Bedam as this 20
The Lackington children were little noisier
than usual, upon this frosty October evening"
when the sun was setting redly behind the
leafless woods, and the fragrant chill was in
the air, and the great knotty logs blazed cheer
fully on the hearth. BeSsy had brought in a
pair of frolicsome kittens from the barn, John
was playing marbles, Hubert was chanting
his Latin lesson over and over again in the
monotonous sing-song which is supposed to
be so efficacious in the stimulating Of the
memory, and Louisa was practicing ''ShellS
of Ocean" on siX-keyed accordion, with tor
turing iteration, while the Parson, hand
some, genial-browed man of forty, sat and
rumpled his hair in despair, with his unfinish-
ed sermon lying in drift of hopeless half
sheets before him on the table, and old Matil-
da, the deaf maid-of-all-work, went composed
ly on with her task OF setting the table in the
midst of the uproar, when the door-latch
was softly lifted, and in crept Mrs Gregory,
with napkin-covered plate in her hand, and
shawl over her head.
A lull fell instantaneously on the scene
Bessy hid the kittens under her apron, John
pocketed his marbles, Hubert left off repeat
ing the Latin verbs, and Louisa let the accOr-
dion drop, while Mr.. Lackington rose, hos
pitably smiling. to greet the unlimited guest
eve are glad to see you, Mrs. Gregory"
said he.
''Oh, pray don't let ME disturb anybody"
said the widow, smiling all around like a
middle-aged sunbeam, 81 do so enjoy these
little glimpses of domestic life. And I've
just brought over a few hot jumbles, fresh
from the oyen, for the dear children. And
it's Hester's birthday tomorrow, and won't
they all come over to 60 to a nutting party
in our woods, and afterward take tea with
her %
very kind, Mrs. Gregory" he said, "and, as
usual, very thoughtful. But four such wild
little elves -"
"Don't say word, sir, don't say word,o -
purred the plump neighbor. 81 am SO fond of
children. And it will be such treat to
Hester !"
Gin that case," said Mr.. Lackington, II
need hardly assure you how glad they will be to
accept your kind invitation"
"And you'll drop in to tea too, sir ?" coax
ed Mrs. Gregory. cat an early six, with
games and blind mans buff in the evening.
Ourselves onlyG'
81 shall be most happy" said Mr.. Lacking
ton. And he looked as if he meant it.
Mrs. Gregory went smiling away, only stop
ping to pat Louisa's head and tell her how
she was growing great girl, and to ask John
how his white rabbits got along, as well as to
slip into old Matilda's hand a new and excel
lent recipe for soft-soap making!
"Ain't she nice ?" said Louisa, in whisper
when the visitor had gone, and their father
was once more deep in his Theological Die
tiOnary.
'No," said John, gruftiy, "she ain't!''
"She'th cat ~ lisped Bessy, with energy.
amaZement.
"What do you mean % said she.
'Stupid !" said Hubert, ina whisper. "Can't
you see that she wants to marry father, and
be our step-mother
Louisa dimpled countenance fell. "Butwe
don't want step-mother, said she piteously.
"Of course we DON'T" said John. "And if
she does poke her old nose in here, won't we
make it lively for her, that's all -
Louisa scrambled to her feet. "1'll ask
papa not ~ she said, breathlessly.
''Hush-sh-sh ~ exclaimed the other three,
all in one voice. "Don't speak a word
Father don't know what we know. And per-
haps, after all, it is only Mrs. Daggett's gos-
sip"
"But old Matilda thaid tho, too," sighed
mother!"
And in their little family congress around
the hearth-stone, the children decided to de-
clare absolute war against Mrs. Gregory
While the enterprising widow herself rose
with the mornings lark, to bake pound-cake
sweep the best room out, put up the newly
washed muslin curtains, and make a general
preparation for the honored company Whicl
she had invited.
''I'll bring him to the point this evening OF
will know the reason why" said Mrs. Greg
DRY, as she pinned up her putfs and friSette:
into an array of papers and looked to see that
the lavender strings Of her best cap were il
becoming order 1.-The dear, pious man
he is such child in the way of the worlt
that he really needs some one to protect ant
care for him And it may as well be me a
Tabitha Tolliver or Miss Rosetta Day. TO b'
sure, those unruly children are something O
a draw back but III soon pack 'em off to ;
boarding-school once | am Mistress at TIN
Parsonage Hester! Hester why don't yOl
come in and help with the holly-leaves ant
the vases of chrysanthemums.
And Hester, 4 TALL rosy girl of sixteen
reused herself from her book and came list
less)y into the room.
''What is it, mother? ?" she asked.
II declare,'' cried Mrs. Gregory, with
shrek of horror, ''if you haven left the mo
lasses-cake to burn in the oven You're M
better than a wax doll, Hester! And Nv
no patience with you. ~
sMother," said distressed Hester, ''yo1
never said anything to me about molaSSes
cakes"
81 did," snapped the widow, "but you
nose was in your book, AS usual. And tlli
settles the question, Hester. / shall send yo