Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-01-30
THE STEPMOTHER.

The sweetest little cherub that ever
you saw!H said Mrs. Constant But
oh such carel
Il told you So Mary" said old Aunt
Arabeia, sourly. when you would IN
sisl on marrying a widOwer with
child"
"But loved him" said the little
bride wistfully.
Stuff aud uousense!' said Aunt Ara
| bella. The woman never lived who
could get along with another woman's
child
We'll, ] mean to try" said Mrs.
| Constant. And think should man
are splendidly il only the first Mrs
| Constants old-maid sisters would keep
/ away. aud Mr. Constants mother-in-
| law by his first wife wouldn't persist
| in coming here every day to see if
Dita has enough flanneIs on and eats
her quantum of oatmeal, and says her
catecbism regularity
Tell Bridget not TO let them in,
! suggested Aunt Arabela.
And make mischief between John
/ and his first wife's relatiousl' said Mrs.
/ Constant oh / couldn't do that!'
just then the door Jew open, and
/ little Dta herself trotted in golden
! tressed, pink-cheeked fairy Of three
/ years Old. And close beside her
staked her maternal grandmother,
| Mrs Cartwhistle, with the two Misses
| Carlwhistte following in the rear.
Il am surprised Mary said the
step-mother-iu-aw ITO hear from
Bridget that Perdita is allowed TO wear
her best white frock every day!'
She looks so pretty in it, said Mrs.
Constant, pleadingly. And She will
] soon outgr0w it.
ut is not the way my girls were
brought up said Mrs. Cnrtwhstle.
I've just been counting over her
dresses, dozen sas1e>, eighteen
RULED and embroidered skirts"
"A child like that needs great
many changes" said Mrs Constant.
Ard that big doll Of hers, added
! Miss Susanna CartwhistIe, with the
/ haxru hair and The eyes that open and
shut. | declare it's positive idoIatry-
| that's what it is.
Mrs Constant WINGED
But indeed. Susanna said she
81 didn't bUy the dol II wus II gift
/ from her god-mamma 10 Dilu"
/ II think it ought to be sold for the
benefit 0f the heathen.' Miss Maliua
| said.
And I was shocked to see Bridget
! giving her iam--yes, raspberry jun
upon her bread aud butter tordiuuer"
added The old lady.
LES very plain apologz'd the
Young stcpmothcr. Il made it my
self. last Summer Aud DiR is so fond
| OF it,"
Me yike waddery dam .olemnly
enuncmted this small bone of cnuirp-
| tuu. WHO had been hooking gruvpiy
/ rem one lo another of the speakers.
us child's digestion of ne conse-
qneuce?' demanded Mrs. Cartw istle.
Are the rules of hygiene to be Sc
entirely at detiunceP' Miss Malina
| questioned.
rhe seed, Of diseas. 10 oe impIanl-
ed even at this early age' addyi Miss
I Susanna.
BIT her Aunt Arabella rose up,
bu~lliug and indignant 10 her njece
defence
1T strikes me. ladies said size.
'that we are all Of us mcddliug wul
! what is none OF our business. Ny
niece, MARI, rs the wife vi Charles
Constant and stcpmotber Of this little
child. is doubtless better Judge of
these matters than we pretend 10 be.
Mary. if you are going OUT shopping
with me. it's high time YOU put on your
bonnet"
The bride looked timidly around.
IF Mrs. Cutwhistle aud Malina
aud Susanna will excuse me, said she
doubufully.
"Ob, we are Of no consequence,
said Miss Malina, with a toss of the
head
Pray don't remain at home on our
account said Miss Susanna.
I'VE are just going to take leave
ourselves said Mrs. Cartwlistle,
soury.
Me do, too, mamma coaxed little /
Dia, Selling hold Of the skirts Of Mrs. !
Constant, dress. "Me 10 with 90.
No, darling, no" said Mrs Con- /
slant ringing the bell for Bridget
You are too little"
Exercise is good for the child ia /
terposed graudmamma Cartwbjs,'e.
"Ettertise dood for ~ THIS was
Dita's mite.
And YOU know you were croupy +
last night" added Mrs. Constant, /
tenderlv.
Il never could find 1t 10 my heart 10 /
leave a child that wasn't well, croaked I
Malina.
But. added Susanna. "a >tepmother T
knows nothing OF the sensations that I
agitate true maternal heart.
And the bride, fairly driven to the
last extremity of patience, tooS an
abrupt departure, leaving the smaa i
Dila shIieGing IN the arms Of Bridget
while her grandmother and maiden
auuts stood round, a sort Of eommiser-
atsug chorus.
She has 10 heart at air Erowlei
Miss Mal.ia.
"Itoll Charles how il would oe when
he would persist he marrying t1at slip
OF a child, said Mrs Cartwhistie