The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-11-15
ZEE AND DEE.

horrible Aaseftivepess OF hWrficsn cDH
dren, ~ LsSteped 10 rename ourselves u
soor - vs could speak. Bee says one o
us ought 10 tell the story Of The nsushties
time 10 our lives. or. ~ sbs pats Il. beint
fond of big words. ''ils the most criticA
psr,od" She adds that my pen IL - req
dy ~ her tongue. snd that where one fails,
tbs other shall dictate. 30 lot us bssi5.
One day. When ne we're about fourteen
--Bss and are tvins We had . psriicu
IarIy hilarious time 81 school
Az our dear mother hsd died When VI
we're babies. and psps vas too much oc-
cupisd 10 por,ng over bugs and butterflies
to kuov What We we're sbout. We did dox
ems Of things which other more fortunate
girls would never have dared 70 attempt
just 81 this time. ve we're quite Wild
With desire 70 be thought young ladies
% Bee. Who is clever With The media he'd
pissed down our dfsssss. sslss ~ Over
skirtA ustiI they swept tbs Aoor. We bad
done" our hair high. ard tied 90 some
old earrings. and when We appeared st
school the girls. sved and sdmiriog, do
clsrsd 70 looked "lovely and twenty five
st least"
The teachers smiled 10 way that made
me tribe uncomfortable. and st recess /
heard Miss Caston soy TO Miss Psy: Poor
things they certainly do show the effect
Of their training-or rather Of the lack Of
1t. Shall you speak TO them about thiss
No. You have heard the runners about
their fsther's-her voice fell. and lost
the following word. Emily is . sweet lit.
tie woman. and very firm one. ! think
they can rsfely be left to her.
Who 10 Emily? l asked Bee, ~ We walk.
cd home togeshr. and repeated the con.
versstion TO her.
Probably sovernsss, or new house
keeper. returned Bee. who, like Warren
Hastings. had "mind calm amid Difficult
ties"
Whoever it IL, l sbant mind her. o
Bee. there's great auut's carriage at the
door How she will scold about our
dressesl Take of your earrings and put
them in your pocket
We walked boldly into the psrlor though
our long dresses did twist most provoking
ly about our ankles. and to my dismsy.
Bee relspsed into giggling when ! stepped
on mine and plunged forward, almost into
the arms Of great aunt herself. There she
sat. eye glasses in hand, in oil her terrible
dignity, and there also sat strange lady.
petite. flushed with youth and loveliness,
and chsrmingly dressed.
Girls, said papa. coming forwad and
hesitating. Is il be wished the ceremony
over. this lady Is your new msmms. l
hope you will love her for my sake.
The stranger rose and put out hand to
each Of MS, while, by common impulse.
lit wss always said Al school that the
twins bresthed 10 concert, we stiffened
up 80 that she should not kiss us. Think
We oil felt little awkward, but great aunt
created diversion.
In tho name OF oil that's proper, girls.
said she. putting her glasses on her nose,
what have you been doing to your clothes? !?
Henry. is it possible you send those chill
drsu 10 school tricked out in that fashion?
Papa in turn held up his glasses before
bis dear. near sighted eyes, and peered
forward to examine us.
Why, aunt, what's the matter with their
clothes? he asked. They seem TO be clean
--snd whole.
No one could help giggling at such de-
licious innocence or our delirqusncies, and
= Bes and I yielded just for ! moment to
ie fou rire caught an answering flush mp
on the face Of our step mother.
For On instant came near liking her.
but the impulse was promptly quenched.
Had We not always vowed We would not
tolerate such an interloperi
Well. Henry, said great aunt, you are
about - At 70 bring up children Is that
sofa. Tn glad you have some one to holp
you nov. Children, be obedient; Emily,
be firm with them, and she took her ma
jestic leave. while We two clssped hands
10 silent compact that we would not obey.
and that the person who aspired to be firm
with Us should repent her ambition.
II would be . long task to tell oil We
did 70 make that sweet lsdy's life bur.
den. To be sure. We were not a beartless
g We seemed, for We could not estimate
then the greatness Of the cross We had put
upon her.
We made point Of calling hsr Step
mother. except when pspa Was BY. II
she offered 10 kiss us,ws gave little peck
at hsr cheek. like vicious canaries. II she
took pains in selecting our ribbons. We
looked cooIly on thoss particular colors:
II she spent time and thought On onr dres.
ses, ~ wore them without rewsrding he,
with word Of appreciation.
We had simply entered on . course Of
what Bee called "anti stepmother." and,as
great aunt always said. We belonged to an
obstinate rscs. Oar chief grievance lay in
the fact that erybody persisted in con-
sideriDg us children. while We thought
ourselves young ladies. We wanted TO
wear ons mothers jewels; We longed for
party dresses with trains. and aIl the moth
ings that sscompsny youDg vomaDhood'
One day Bee came rushing into our
chamber With . newspaper. Her eyes
we're bright and her cheeks scarlet.
U Dee. sbe begsn. Just listen l found
this among the 'personais':
"a young man Of high culture desires
correspondence With young lady Of the