Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-04-30
HOW WE GOT \ sTEP-MoTHEE.

now WE GOT \ sTEP-MoTHEE.
There were three of US, and terrible
.spickles'' we were. Cooks and nurs-
cry maids from time immemorlal had
impressed the fact upon US. Our near
est nelghbOr, Miss Rachel Vincent, had
often told us 81, in the SOftest of pur-
ring voices but with a vixenish glance
of her cat-like eyes. Our dear father
himself had been lately betrayed, by
some wild fun or other, into similar
sentiment. Thereupon Miss Raspberry
Vinegar, as Sam always called her, had
laid a caresSing paw upoH his coat
sleeve, whispering
Dearest Mr.. Venney, the poor
children need a MOTHER
And our father had replied signifi-
cantly-l thought
Dearest Miss Vincent, We must
endeayor to provide them with one"
4 perSOnable man was our father at
this time. one who bore his ye-and-
forty years well and youthfully-a fas-
cinating man TO women young and
old bV reason of his unvarying old
fashioned deferential courtesy aQd the
tender infections that crept into his
deep voice III addressing them, but a
man entirely unconscious of his own
fascinatiou-a profound scholar, whose
library was ever ten-fOld more attrac-
tive than any drawing g-room-a kindly,
quiet, charitable, simple-minded gen.
tleman.
Many, could remember, were the
feminine jealouSieS and heart-burningS
on his account, and various the re-
grets TO which his cOnStaUcy 10 our
dead mothers memory gave rise Most
people Lad decided that 1t would last
forever. | imagined it would soOu
end. and 50 did Miss Vincent be-
cause the wish was father to the
though,-and the thought had been so
continually and ingeniOusly presented
10 nv father that he might well have
adOp eG II; [ because only a week be-
fore al escapade of mine had brought
tie loving Comment
'.Nadge, ny darling. for fifteen
years 1 nave lived lonely life for
yCur mothers sake; but for yours and
Ber.ha's l must place a wiser mistress
than You, dear, at the head of my
household"
We had discussed this matter in
solemn cOnciaye-Bertha) Sam and L.
Pickles as We were, this sObered US;
and We debated grayely thereon. Not
that We were greatly dismayed at the
prospect OF a step-mOthe--there were
Two sides to that questi0n-but that
''step- mOther'' and Miss Raspberry
Vinegar" seemed to US synonymous
terms. We saw through her delicate
fattery of our father, her simulated
affection for Us, her willy approach to
the coveted position, the head of his
table. Whether they were equally
transparent TO him We could not tell.
We feared the worst, for day 10y day
Miss Emcent's advances became more
marked and the silent courtesy with
which they were invariably received
evoked tTiumphont flashes from her
feline optics. We were unanimous on
one pOInt-that something-no matter
how speTate-mnSt be done to defeat
her design, but no course of action had
hitherto suggested itself.
II was late autumn, or rather early
winter. Without the wind whistled
Weldly around the dear old house;
within a blazing wood-fire lighted
somewhat ttfully the large low room
in which We were assembled. We
had dined earlier than usual, and our
father had departed TO deliver a lee
tuTe at the nearest town to the young
men Of some Mutual Improvement
Association. 1 had not yet rung for
lights, for me the cleaning is the pleas
antest part of the day, especially fitted
Tor talk or meditation. Half buried
In rOomy easy-chair, gazing at the
cracking logs, my fathers words
kept repeating themselves
81 must pl a wiser mistress than
you, dear, at the head Of my house
hold"
At my feet, apparently doing, lay
sam, at full length upon the hearth
Tug-au legs and wings, as we girls were
wont to tell hun. Bertha sat on low
stoolat his head, playing alternately with
his curls and vi h tiny Skye, look of
intense glee upon her mischief.loving
face. a piece of tape was in her hand,
but what she was doing with it l could
not see. Presently she rose and ran
Lightly across the room.
Mop, Mop, MOpl'' she cried; and the
Skye bounded toward her.
a horrible yell burst from Sam, and
whine from the dog.
Mop, Mop, Mop!''
Another bound from the dog, and, as
Sam sprang to his feet, muttering inco.
heTent but wTathful anathemas, L saw
tlat his curls were carefully attached to
Mop'S leg by about four yards of white
tape. II was some seconds before his
clumsy fingers could find and open the
many y-biaded pOcket-knife with which,
imagine, every boy of sixteen is pro-
vlded. Then ensued chase, in which
lhe effect Of two yards of tape stream
ing behind him, his excited face, and his
9hWleiily efforts TO slip as deity as
bertha round intervening chairs and
tables was lrresistibly absurd. At length
spring forward was followed by loud
Crash; and he, small writing-tabie
pens, lnkstand, paper knife and blottine
pads came to the floor together.
Dearest Mr.. Venney," mimicked
Bertha, IL exact imitation of Miss Vim
cents dulcet tones, ''pOor Sam is 81
clumsy; lie requires female influence tx
VeacA him the amenities of life"
You be hanged!" was Sans polits
ieloinder. ''See to what your female
influence has brought me!''
is the ink spilledp" asked l nervous
y, alter satisfying myself that nothing
vas broken.
No INK to SPILL" said Sam turning
sle bottle tOpsy-turvey. ''LoOk here
you monkey" clutching Bertha by ths
ssSI. ASK old Tom to ill it, and tel
susan to bring in the lamp"
OTder restored and tho larnn lighted