The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-05-29

'Ill risk It." Nancy had chocrily
replied.
And 90 aha married Mr, Blidgehold,
aud went to the farmhouse TO live.
The six young Blidgeaolds had been
told that a atepmother was fearful
thing; but 10 their surprise they
found MIRA BlidgoGeld, Number Two,
a revelation Of delight
'Sho showed me how to boil
molassos-candy with hickory-nuts
chopped up in it, said Simeon,
weird child Of eleven, who was popu-
larly supposed to DO ignorant even Of
the notion Of Huntington,
"She give me apple-sass on my
bread, whispered Marion, the next
"We'ro to have pie every day"
ohuckled Moses who liked good things
10 eat and drink.
"And I'm to lay up tho berry
money for blue muslin frock all Of
my own, =" added Adelina, who never
had worn anything but her mothers
faded old calico gowns soantily cut
over.
'T'm TO have a bran.fre new tool
chest if Iraise tho red heifer calf, ;"
exulted George, tho tallest boy.
And Leroy the eldest. who had
been scolded, snubbed and kept down
all his life, felt, with a thrill of hap
piness, that his new stepmother Sc
cretly sympathizod with his efforts to
rise in the world.
"Now she's here" thought Leroy,
81 feel as if 1 could do most any
thing"
Mr.. Blidgefeld had scarcely been
married a week when he came home
on a raw, rainy night, with the pack
cts of groceries under his arms, aud a
dissatisfied frowu between his brows.
''Two Candles" he said, peeping
gloomily under the ball-fringed win
dow curtain. "And chicken for sup
per-and apple-sass, and cheese And
every one settin' round, and nobody
dom no work. This won't do. Nancy
must learn better than this.
He opened the door and walked
grimly in.
Dead silence fell upon the children
at the wet-blanketing apparition of
"father." But Nancy looked cheer
fully up.
You're late, aren's you, Bonia-
min?" said she.
"Whats this?' said Mr.. Blidge-
field, ignoring her query, as he glared
around
'It's supper" said Nancy. "Sit
down, my dear, and help yourself"
"Chickenl" croaked the farmer, and
spring chicken at that, when they're
a-fetchin' 60 cents pair at the hotel !
Sweet cake, sass, and the best knives
Moses, put them fowls back in the
cupboard. There's plenty o cold
pork left from yesterday, calculate.
Ad'liny, blow out one O. them candles.
The way we burn candles is redick-
lous-and store candles, too Why, we
never thought o usin' anything but
dip candles when"
"Moses, let the chickens alone, y
said Mrs. Blidgefeld, in softly DELHI
crate accents. "Adelina, don't med
die with the candles.
"What," roared Mr.. Bidgefeld,
banging the package of sugar down
on the table, and rafting the candles
beside them like small spark of ar
tilery.
81 thought perhaps you had for
gotten that was housekeeper here,
{ said Nancy.
The children turned as many colors
as the rainbow; Moses, who was con
stitutionally nervous, got behind hi
stepmother; Simeon edged a little
nearer to the poker Marion swallowed
her last morsel of cake with sucl
precipitation as nearly to choke her.
self; Adelina began to sob and snive
under her breath.
; ''Mrs. Blidgefeld," said the irat
farmer, "will you be so good as t.
| explain yourself?
, sob certainly I" said the late Mis-
Nancy Bloom. Gas long as I ar