The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-13

! ~ VIZ '''N'NA- N-1
began to teach him something. Of
the father she saw nothing, but at
night she heard him pacing the
room overhead with long and solemn
strides.
"Its his conscience, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Possett. "He says he is sure
he wasn't all he should be to his
poor Amanda, and that he broke her
heart. He never answered her back ;
and I've heard him get up in the
night and go everywhere to buy
strawberries when they were not in
season, because she was set on hav-
ing 'em. She was a Miss Penfeather,
and the family depises Mr.. Bellamyi
but ! never. saw such alteration,
even when she gave him a black eye
with the clothes brush"
/ Linda grew curious to see this
paragon. One day she was gratified
She had left Master Tommy in the
nursery, and gone down stairs to get
tub of hot water for his bath
when she returned he was gone,
fShe hurried about the house, and
soon heard low groans from the
study on the second floor.
The door stood open; peeping in.
She saw tall man lying on sofa
and Master Tommy standing neal
by, pulling out his hair by handfuls
With every tug the sufferer groaned
but made no resistance.
Tommy" called Linda,-"Tom'
my come here! Really, sir, you
ought not to allow that p
Tommy obeyed, and ran to her
| The martyr lifted up his head.
"Don't disturb him." he said
. mournfully. 81 would deny moth
5 ing to her child. | wish to do my
4 duty by him at least"
+ "That is not the way to do it, sir,
t said Linda. "absurb indulgence il
+ injurious to any child"
t She led Tommy away.
c The next morning, as she was in
$ structing him in the alphabet, tan
$ gled head of black hair appeared a
the door; a thin, tall figure followed
= and Mr.. Bellamy, with dejectet
w an and tone inquired, "May com
50 in?"
~ Linda fastened uo lace chaii
aIl and went on with her lesson.
no The father eyed her with a wisfi
rn look.
ii you seem to manage him." |
,r said.
~ 81 try to, sir" said Linda.
: "TIe has his saintedmother's face
j.. said Mr.. Ballamy.
The child with his blunt nos
y, w. and rough, red cheeks, was not pa
ticularly saint-like, but Linda, as
~ duty bound, bowed gravely.
"It comforts me to see him, sal
l. Mr.. Bellamy. MAY come often
u. Ut "This is your own house, sir" sai
III Linda.
From that day Mr.. Bellamy sat
Tx the nursery a great deal. In the evel
Pe ing he took Tommy to walk. 4
lie the end of that month he raise
Linda's wages.
As the summer wore ON, and I'll
III year of his mourning glided by, /
u bestowed many condolences on h
y. nursery governess. He remembers
H. each cause of complaint his la
NJ wife had had against him, and d
o. sired Linda's opinion. General
IL she found him not to blame.
ii By slow degrees he grew MOI
' cheerful, and at last brought hon
70 a top for Tommy and set it spinning
d" On the anniversary of his wife
'e death he took Linda and Tommy
lie her grave and wept there.
he "a broken-hearted man is NJ
ut Bellamy," said Mrs, Posset. "But
r seems singular to me that he didn
$. ask to take the child instead of you.
It, The week after Mrs, Penfeatht
a and one of Tommy's aunts came
u make visit. There was IL goo
is deal of whispering in the house
'e keepers room; and one cvenin
or Mrs. Penfeather entered the nurser
&c with naughty air; and, seating he
self in Il rocking-chair, addresse
herself to Linda.
d. 81 am the late Mrs. Bellamy
V. mother, as | suppose you know, an
l. | have come over to see how Tomm
re is getting on, ] can't say ! think h
a is doing well at all, and l believe
d can find n better nurse-maid for hin
1t So, as your month is up next Nor
l. day, I'll pay you now in place {
l. warning, and you can pack up 4
70 at once"
$: Linda looked at the old lad
IL quietly, paused moment, sal
st every well, and walked out of tn