The Somerset reporter., 1889-10-31

IFF 10 come 10 MIN.
We found Martha In the sitting room
crying as II her heart would break. and
father, with his best clothes on trying to
comfort her. He seemed unusually glad
70 see Us, took me on one knee and Liddy
on the other. 'Bijah had gone upstairs
70 hide his ginger-nu.s, but be came down
in minute, and father called him, TOO
Children" said he, "I'm going away
tonight. and shall not be back until day
after tomorrow. I'm going 70 bring you
new mother. | hope you'll be good
children when she CONES, and try and
make her happy. She will love you very
much. and know you'll love her, for She
is good woman"
II said p-r-aps she was" spoke up
'Bijah.
Father seemed surprised, bnt didn't say
any more He kissed US all, and of he
went looking very sober.
Well, the two days came to an end a
last, though It seemed as II they never
would. We expected them In the evening
and begged Marthy TO let US sit up, but
'he packed us off to bed earlier than u-ual
Liddy and 'Bijah kept the door open be-
tween our two rooms, and they talked
and talked for long while until Liddy
got herself all worked up, and had anoth-
er crying spell. 'Bijah told her she was
very foolish TO take on so. you didn't
catch him crying" he said, It'll he had
something 70 cry for
All was quiet at last, and they went to
sleep; but turned and tossed. and when
finally did drop of, had such dreadful
dreams that | walked Liddy up three
times She spoke to me pretty cross at
last, and | s'pose behaved better; for
when | awoke the sun was shining in at
the east window.
| looked for Liddy, but she wasn't
there. peeped into 'Bijah's room; 1t
was empty.
"Liddy might have waited for me-" |
thought to myself "She knew | never
could fasten my dress. Most likely she 3
er looks, but she ought to have come back
and told me-" Then a horrible fear came
over me. Perhaps the new step-mother
wouldn't let her. She might have shut
her up In some OF the dark closets.
| was putting on my stockings very
slowly when | heard step upon the
stairway.
1t wasn't Liddy's or 'Bijahs, 1t didn t
sound like fathers or Marthy's. Dear
me! Could 1t be the stepmother7 Was
she coming with switch to punish my
hardness? | jumped back into bed, and
covered my head with the clothes,
The footsteps came rearer and nearer,
until knew somebody was In the room,
and standing at the foot OF the bed. |
trembled in every limb. could have
screamed in my silly terror. At last, |
could stand it no longer, SO threw OH
the clothes and looked at her. She often
told me afterwsrd what a white, scared
little face she saw, and how she pitied me-
AS for me, | can remember exactly how
she looked, though it was more than six
ty years ago. Her face was fair and
pleasant, with small, bright black eyes.
She had on brown calico dress and 4
large apron.
Poor little thing,- said she softly,
poor dear little thing" And the next
momeet, though | couldn't for the life of
rue tell how it happened, she held me in
her arms and / was crying quietly 81, her
shoulder.
But this won't do said she after a
few moments. breakfast Is almost
ready. We must hurry" And she helped
me on with my clothes in sprghuy,
business-like way, and we went down
stairs.
found Liddy in the woodshed help
Ing 'bjah pile wood, "tiaye. you seen
her. sire Inquired.
Yes. | have" l replied; land l like
her, toe"
IL like her very well, SO far" said Lid.
dy, condescendingly. Il don't believe
she's enc of the awful horrid ones
shouldn't wonder if you did call her
mother after all, Liddy," said 'Bijah.
Perhaps shall, and perhaps shan't,
answered L ddy, tartly.
(She did call her "mothet' half dozen
times that very day but she was a spunky
little piece, and couldn't bear to be dicta-
ted to
"She's good woman, just as l said she
would be- cried 'Bijah triumphantly.
Aunt Betsey don't know everything
And good woman" she proved to be,
one of the best that God ever made. She
made our home a pleasant place for old
and young-a real home. All, continued
Aunt Polly, wiping her eyes, 1t was sor-
ny day for us when her work was done
and she went to her reward,-sorry for
us, but glad for her, for she had done
what she could.
But did you all live harmonously to-
gether from the very fr.tT inquired
Belle, incredulously. Didn't you have
any discordsT'
"Oh, yes your grandmother had few
tantrums, just to see what she could do.
Mother never scolded her. Somehow she
.hamed her out of them. And Marthy
had made up her mind to be wretched for
the rest OF her life, so she felt almost as
II she'd been cheated, when she found
there wasn't any need of it, Aunt Betsey
was a long time coming round in fact,
she never did really believe In her till
after Bijah had the typhus fever. Moth
er took such good care of him then that
she had to give III, and they were fast
friends ever after"
And what became of Uncle 'B,jah's
cakes?"
"He put them way back on the upper
shelf of his closet, and forgot all about
them. There they stayed until house
cleaning time, when mother ished them
out. She asked 'Bijah If she should save
the crumbs for his supper. He blushed
and stammercd, end didn't know wha. to
say, but Liddy up and told the whole
story. Such laugh as we had all but
'Bijah. He looked black as thunder
cloud till he came in to supper, and found
mon.trous spple-turnover upon his
plate, which mother had baked expressly
for him"
And you lived happily ever afterward,'
Sdiu Dtiit, uHlSniuS uP JIG otoiy ~ ttie
most approved style. "If | could only
be sure that my step-mother would be
like yours, auntie."
There are very few women nova
days like my mother" answered the old
lady, proudly. ''But your fathers wife
will be 3 good woman. I'm sure of that.
You must have faith in her, Belle, and re-
member that, after all, your happiness
depends mostly on yourself. II she tries
ever so hard she cannot make your home
pleasant unless you help her"
II will Try. | will, indeed -
And Belle did try, and the reward came
sooner than she expected. Yea, sooner
and .weeter and much more abundantly,
Mary c. Bartlett in Az the Year Found,
Don't permit child under five to re-
main out OF bed after eight p. NJ, even If
you have to forego social duties you
think most sacred.
Don't hold child in commissions In
your arms, but strip 1t quickly and i'm
merse 1t to the neck in = hot BATH, to
which a tablespoonful of mustard may