The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-01-17
MISCELLANY.
THEIR STEP-MOTHER.


" Children children !" said Parson Lack.
lngton "a little less noisei How do you
suppose | am ever going to get my sermon
written in such Bedlam as this ?"
The Lackington children were q little
noiser than usual, upon this frosty October
evening, when the sun was setting redly
| behind the leahess woods, and the fragrant
chill was in the air, and the great knotty
logs hlazed eheerfully on the hearth Bessy
had brought in 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 torturing iteration, while
the Parson, handsome, genial-browed man
OF forty, sat and rumpled his hair in despair,
with his unfinished sermon lying in drift
IF hopeless half sheets before him on the
table, and old Matilda, the deaf maid-of-all-
work, went eomposedly on with her task OF
setting the tabls in the midst of the uproar
When the door-iatch was softly lifted, and
in crept Mrs. Gregory, with napkin-cov.
ared plate in her hand. and a shawl over hes
bead.
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 &C.
Gordon drop, while Mr.. Lackington rose,
Hospitality smiling. to greet his unlimited
guest.
"We 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, az do so enjoy these
little glmpses of domestic life. And I've
Just brought over few hot jumbles, fresh
from the oven, for the dear children. And
it's Hester's birthday tomorrow, and won't
they all come over to go to nutting party
in our woods, and afterward take tea with
her ~
The Parsons brow frightened. "You
are very kind, Mrs. Gregory" he said,
land, as usual, very thoughtful. But four
such wild little elves"
Don't say word, sir, don't say word,
purred the plump neighbor. "Iam 80 fond
of children. Aud it will be such a treat to
Hester |"
I" In that case" said Mr. Lackington, al
need hardly assure you how glad they will
be to accept your kind invitation"
"And you'll drop in to tea, too, sir p
soaxed Mrs. Gregory. AT an early six
with games and blind mans buff in the
evening Ourselves onlyl'
81 shall be most happy" said Mr.. Lack
ington. And he looked as if he meant It.
Mrs. Gregory went smiling away, only
stopping to pat Louisa's head, and tell heI
how she was growing a great girl, and t.
ask John how bis white rabbits got along
as Well as to slip into old Matilda's hand q
new and excellent recipe for soft-soap max
ingl
Amt she nice p said Louisa, in q
whisper when the visitor had gone, aud
their father was once more deep In his
Theological Dictionary.
"No," said John, gruf1y, "she ANTI"
"She'th acatl" lisped Bessy, with energy.
Louisa looked from one to the other with
smazement.
"What do yon mean ~ said she.
"StupidI" said Herbert, in a whisper.
Cant you see that she wants to marry
father, and be our step-mother 2"
Loulsa's dimpled countennnce fell "Bui
we don't want step-mother," said she pite.
ously.
"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 "pll ssh
papa not!n she said, breathlearly
Hush--sh-sh |" exclaimed the othe
three, all in one voice. Don't speak q
word Father don't know that We know.
And perhaps, after all, it is only Mrs. Dag.
gett's gossip"
but old Matilda thaid tho, too" sighed
Bessy. "Oh, / couldn't live with q thtep.
mother
And in their little family congress around
the hearth-stone, the children decided V
declare absolute war against Mrs. Gregory
While the enterprising widow herself rose
with the morrow mornings lark to bake
pound-cake, sweep the best room out, put
up the newly washed muslin curtains, and
make general preparation for the honorsd
rompany which shs bad invited
"Ill bring him to the point this evening,
or will know the reason why" said Mrs.
Gregory, as she pinned mp her pufs and
frisettes into an array of papers. and looked
to see that the lavender strings of her best
cap were in becoming order. 1.-THE dear,
pious man he is such child in the way Of
the world that he really needs some one to
protect and care for him. And il may a.
we'll be me as Tabitha Tolliver or Miss Ros.
eta Day. To be snre, those unruy children
are something of drawback, but I'll soon
pack 'em of to boarding school once I am
mistress at the Parsonage! Hester Hes.
;er why don't you come in and help with
the holly-leaves and the vases of chrysan.
themums"
4 And Hester, tau. rosy girl Of sixteen,
reused herself from her book and came
listlessly into the room
( what is it, mother 2" she sskedL
"I declare" cried Mrs. Gregory, with q
shrek of horror. "if you hayen't left the
molasses-cake to burn in the ovenl You're
no better than Q wax doll, Hester! And
I've no patience with you'll"