Nevada County picayune., 1891-08-06
DITA'S STEPMOTHER.

The sweetest little cherub that ever you saw!" said Mrs. Constant. But oh, such case !"
 "l told you so, Mary Jane" said old Aunt Arabella, sourly, "when you would insist on marrying q wid- over with child!"
 But loved him." said the little bride, somewhat wistfully.
 Stuff and nonsense 70 said Aunt Arabclla. The woman never yet lived who could get along with anoth- CT woman's child."
 Well, l mean to try" said Mrs. Constant. And 1 think 1 should manage splendidly if only the first Mrs. Constants old-maid sisters would keep away, and Mir. Con- stant's mother-ln-law by his first wife wouldn't persist in coming here every day to see if Dita has enough llannels on ard eats her regular quantum of oatmeal and says her catechism regularly"
 Just then the door flew open, and little DIta herself trotted Tn, a gol- den, tressed, pink-checked fairy of three years old. in a voluminous white frock, blue sash and gold sleeyehoops, with blue kid boots, buttoned with little knobs of pearl, And right behind her stalked her ma terna' grandmother, Mrs. Cartwhis- tie, with the two Misses Cartwhistle following in the rear
 Il am surprised, Mary Jane, !" said the step-mother-in-law (if such relationship can be), ito hear from Bridget that Perdita is allowed to wear her best white frock every day"
 "Shc looks so pretty in it, said Mrs. Constant, pleadingly, And she will soon outgrow it.
 "It is not the way my girls were brought up," sad Mrs. Cartwhistle.
 live just been counting over my dresses, said Miss Malina Cartwhis- tle. "SiXteen white dresses, dozen sashes, eighteen ruilied and embroid. cred skirts"
 "A child like that needs great many changes, said Mrs. Constant.
 And that big doll of hers, add ed Miss Susanna Cartwhstle, with the haxen hair and the eyes that open and shut. l declare, Mrs. Con- stant," (thesc sour spinsters never could be gotton to call their hro:her- laws $ Wife by ner Christian name), tits positive idolatry-that' s what It is. It makes me think of the golden image King What-Do-I on-Cail-llIm set up for the lsraelitcs to worship. v
 Mrs. Constant winced.
 "But, indeed, Susanna" said she, t'I didn't buy the doll. It was gift from her godmother to Dlta.'
 Il think it ought to be sold for the benefit of the hcathen," Miss Malina said.
 And was shocked to see Brid- get giving her jam yes, raspberry jam-upon her bread and butter for dinner said the old lady,
 "It's very plain" apolozed the young stepnNher. "l made it my self last summer. And Dita IS so fond of it. "
 "Is q child's digestion of no con seauence?'' demanded Mrs. Cart whistle
 Are the rules of hygiene to be set entirely at dedance?' demanded Miss Malina.
 ''rhc seeds of disease to be lm- planted, even at this early age E' added Miss Susanna,
 But here Aunt Araholla rose up, buslling and indignant, in her niece s defense.
 Ut strikes me, ladies, said she, '.that we are all of us meddling with what is none of our business My niece, Mary Jane, as the wife of Chalos Constant and the mother of this little child, is doubtless better judge of these matters than we pre- tend to be! Mary Jane, if you are going ont shopping with me, It $