The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-11-28
Through Struggle to Victory.
A STORY.
IN SIXTEEN cHAPTERs.--cHAP. III.

Five years had passed after my
mothers death. Grandmother had
petted me, nurse had scolded me,
teachers had whipped me. loved,
respected, feared, obeyed my father;
but he was confined closely to his
business, and | was left too much to
choose my own associates, form my
own habits. and become what would.
1 can realize these things now.
Probably my father could see them
plainly then. He was man who
said little, but thought much.
One evening he came home earlier
than usual, took me with him alone
into the parlor, closed the door, took
me on his knee, and said cheerfully,
Johnny, you are to have new
mother tomorrow. 81 don't want
step-mother, I answered. He looked
into my face with a strange, puzzled
expression. smiled and said, as if to
himself: "Somebody has been filling
your little ears" He was silent
some time as if to consider what
should be said, but he asked no
questions. He probably suspected,
as | n0zU do, for what purpose, and
by whom it had been spoken.
At that time I could hear and re-
member, but l could reason only i'm
perfectly. Years later I drew con-
illusions from the same facts, which
/ never dreamed of when child.
After several minutes silence, my
father said very gently, "Your new
mother is good woman. I expect
you to love and obey her, I have no
doubt she will be good mother to
you. You need mothers care and
guidance, and you need mothers
prayers. All these you will now
have from your new mother. She
has little girl, frail, timid, gentle,
beautiful. She is to be your sister
and my daughter. l shall always
consider her equal to you in every
respect. She will share with you my
property, my care, my love. | hope
you will be good brother to her. If
I lie, expect you to love your new
mother and sister-and if l die, l
expect you to care for them. shall
go on the early train, before you are
awake, and return with them at
night-faIl l hope you will try to
make them happy in their new home.
You will be happier yourself, if you
try to make them happy" He then
kissed me and said, "Goodnight,
Johnny; remember what | have said
to you"
Thus he did not reason with me;
he did not ask whether l would do
this or that. He did not exact a
promise that I would treat them as l
ought-but he merely told me what
was to be, and what he expected me
TO do. He informed me that circum-
stances were to be- changed; that
new duties would result from the al
tered relations, and that he expected
me to discharge those duties faith
fully. This was his method of doing
things. 1t was a good way for him.
It might not be the best way for
another person constituted differ
emily.
Next day many slurs were flung
out by the servants in regard to my
new strb-mother. It was very plain
" limited that | would have to walk
straight when my new mother came,
that | would have to step down and
out when my new sister wanted the
first place. These things stirred up
all the evil there was in me.
At dusk my father came from the
depot with my new mother and sis
ter. l was cross, sour, grabbed,
Sulky, and answered all their ques-
Gions with monosyllables AS soon
as tea was over, my father was called
to his store, and I was left alone
with my new mother.
Every effort that she made to in
terest me, I repealed. AS I rose to
retire, she asked me in the kindest
way possible, if 1 would not kiss my
mother goodnight I answered.
1 shall never forget that answer
"No, I don't qvant to kiss a STEP
m0ther." "Why, Johnny, that is too
cruel. You judge me harshly before
you know me. You will know me
better sometime. There are some
good step-mothers. y She said nc
more.
I laid my head upon my pillow for
the first time since my remembrance
without repeating my two prayers. 1
tried to sleep, but there was no sleep
for me. My new sister, then only
three years old, kneeled down beside
my mother, lisped her childish pray
er, and was carried to her little bed.
l dared not pray, for had been
naughty.
My room that night adjoined the
sitting room. The door was slightly
open, my mother was there alone.
For long time there was no sound,
save that of the wood fire as it