Smyrna times., 1883-04-11
A Stepmother's Journal.

Tomorrow is the day of my bridal.
1t is drawing very near. This morning
as Helen was fastening some flowers in
my hair, she said to me, in her sweet,
way: Louise, dear, 1 hope
that you will never regret the step
that you have taken. But do you not
sometimes dread the thought of becom-
ing a stempmother to those children
the one Is and the other 5-whom you
have never yet seen? A stepmother's
lot, you know, people say is so hard"
" Helen" 1 replied, "when 1 prom
ised Norman Garringer that l would
become his wife, l did so fully realizing,
l hope, the responsibilities which such
a step involved, and 1 have never yet
seen the moment when l would have
retracted that promise. God helping
me, shall be to him faithful wife
and a conscientious mother to his
children. Therefore. have no fears Of
the future"
Indeed, l hope that you will be
very happy" was her reply, and then
in the words of an old song, she added
gayly:
=" Be but as happy as wish,
And you'll be blessed indeed"
And | knew the wish was sincere. fol
it came from the depths of warm
loving heart.
WoODLAwN, Sept. Sth--The event
full day has come and gone, and an
in my new home. 1t is very charming
here, but Norman tells me that whel
the woods around are in their ful
Autumn dress, as they will be soon,
is more lovely still.
This is fine old mansion, and 1 fin
the household arrangements very CON
plete. Mrs. Willis, the housekeepel
has been here several years, and seem
to thoroughly understand her business
Her services will relieve me of a gres
deal of care, and leave me time [
attend to other duties. When l arri,
ed she gave me a true motherly we
come, but the two children, Gertrue
and Willie, met me in the hall wit
cold, averted faces, and when l al
preached them with kindly greetin
Gertrude shrank back without offerin
: her hand, while Willie shouted out:
go away, naughty woman! "
don't want you here. Go away,
say" stamping his little foot to giv
emphasis to his words.
Shocked and bewildered, retreatt
i, to the sofa from which had arise
}: while the children ran out at the do
e to meet their father.
E 1t is all the work of Betty, the
nurse" Mrs. Willis said to me VIII,
the children had vanished "but tir
and patience will work wonders wi
them. They are naturally war;
= hearted, loving children, but they ne
a firm hand to guide them, for tn
have been sadly neglected"
1t was, however, a painful nome
to me, and l could hardly repress 1
: feelings, but 1 conquered them su
ciently to be able to appear cheer
when Mrs. Willis summoned us to t.
I Oct. 1st-During the past week
- have received a number of calls fir,
the neighboring people. Some car
<. as 1 could plainly see, from c,
curiosity, while others showed a S
cere regard for my welfare, and hoI
we should be very neighborly.
a. such 1 shall be very glad to be frie
- and neighbOr, although not confida
I could never confide nay personal
! household affairs to any one, believ
it to be bad practice. Many a yol
married woman has wrecked her o
happiness, and destroyed her husbar
peace of mind by making confidant
those whom she thought were frier
1t seems strange to me, as recall
+. but / have noticed of late that sew
i, of our visitors, as they sat convers
have instinctively glanced up to
AZ tain place on the parlor wall now {
cred with large chrome, and to.
'-~ Mrs. Stebbins, having looked long
earnestly at that particular spot, fl
her black eyes upon me with sUch
\ inquisitive, curious gaze that she m
D. me feel very nervous and uncomi
able throughout the remainder of
visit. 1 will examine the wall to-l
row to see if there is any defect Z
4r which the picture hides.
:, My life here is very calm and pc
lIe ful. Norman is the kindest and be
husbands, and were II not for
- children I could indeed feel that
dgs, lot had been cast in pleasant place
viii But have never yet been abl
Inc ihs win q tender or loving word
your them. Gertrude is respectful
~ to course, she knows she must be
fast, fast, but so cold and distant, while v
NV SIy clings closely to her and keeps a
-, as possible away from me.
sand. It is becoming source of tortu
so%nt sSHsi me that l cannot win their love,
never complain; such course v
-, ha follv. / onlv pray for the,