River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-05-14

MAMMA. MAMMA PIPED A LITTLE
VOICE.
succeeded in quieting the childs cries:
Its me humble opinion as Mrs. Con-
slant spoils the little lady intirely wild
too much kindness. Sure, wasn't she
up with her half the night last night
wild ipecac an camphorated lie? And
amt it her as hears missy's prayers
lvery blessed night of her life, and
tells her all the fairy stories as ever
grew. an pets her like kitten There
amt one mother in hundred, let alone
a stepmother. as loves child like my
missis loves little Miss Dita.'
And the grandmother and the two
maiden aunts went grimly away, say
ing 10 one another what very presum-
ing person that Bridget was, and how
Charles young wife hadn't dignity
enough TO keep her servants in their
proper place.
But when Mrs. Constant returned
from her shopping expedition that
afternoon there was an evident at.
mosphere of CONSERVATION about the
house Doors and windows were wide
gathering about the thresholds; Mrs.
Cartwhistle. with her wig on awry and
her mourning veil all twisted to one
side, stood sObbing in the middle of the
floor, with a prodigious black bordered
pocket handkerchief pressed to her
eyes; Miss Malina and Miss Susanna
were hurrying TO and fro, wildly wiring
ing their hands; and Mr.. Constant him.
self had just sprung from cab which
had ratified up to the curbstone as il
drawn by flying dragons.
Dear me-" cried the young step
mother. What can have happened?"
Il told you So said Mrs Cart
whistle
Il always prophesied it, said Miss
MaIina
Il foresaw it from the very begin.
ming" said Mis- Susanna
"But what Is the natter" gasped
poor Mrs. Constant .'IIas anything
happened TOTO dear little Dita?"
''she's 5-owned"' said Mrs. Cart
whistle
In the great Persian jar said Miss
Susanna.
''Eilled IL with water ont of the bath
tub anu then crawled in herself. dear,
sweet innocent sohbed Miss Malina.
.'Oh, dear. Oh, dear, I knew some.
thing would happen when YOU SC
heartlessly refused her innocent plea
20 accompany you"
''Ail this comes, Charles" croalSed
Mrs. Cartwhistle, from giving your
precious lamb a stepmOther.
Il shall maintain to life's end" said
Miss Susanna, that it was all Mrs.
Constants fault"
But the poor young wife pushed her
way frantically through the confusion.
Where Is she?" she gasped. ''Dita
Where have they laid her?"
We've hain't dared to touch her.
answered Miss Malina, with a burst of
historical tears. But there's her dear
little blue shoe in a puddle of water on
the carpet, and her lovely golden hair
floating on top. Oh, dear-don't let
Charles 90 near her, Oh, dear! &c
think that she should be drowned, and
no one near to help her. 1t all comes
of a stepmother's neglect
~ ANNA, Mamma piped a little
voice at the self-same moment. and
Mrs Constant felt a tiny hand pulling
AT her dress. and turned 10 behold Dita
held up in Budgets triumphant arms.
''Sure, ma'am, found her fast asleep
on the garnet floor" said Bridget, vivid
her precious arm under her head. An
to think of the thricS she played us,
wild the big doll drownded in the clancy
jar, an its yally hair floatin' atop, just,
Il 4
Dolly dirty. Dolly have a bath"'
complacently proclaimed Miss Perdita.
And then. naturally enough. Mrs. Con-
slant tainted away in her husbands
arms
When she came to her senses again,
the house was restored 10 its usual
stiffness and composure, and she was
Is .ng upon a sofa. with her husband at
hex side and little Dita playing on the
floor at no great distance. She looked
vaguely around
Where Is Mrs. Cartwhistle?" said
She.
Gone. said Mr.. Constant. And 50
have Maliua and Susanna-and they
viii never come back to this house
again. II Is quite true that they are
my lost wife's relatives. but that gives
them no title to asSail You as they have
done to-day. You have been more than
mother 70 little Dita, and the child's
love bears a mute testimony to this.
Hereafter with her. as well. dearest. as
with me, your will shall be law
And 50 Dita's stepmother conquered
at last. and the Cartwhistle battalion
was routed els mdsSe-Amy Randolph.
in " y. Ledger.