The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-04-29
SELECTED STORY.
The New Stepmother.
CHAPTER I.

with stepmother here, papa" said
Eleanor Walworth, playing with some
of the iron-gray hairs of her father, and
leaning affectionately upon his shoul-
der. " Besides, what's the use of one?
Don't we keep the house all right?
Could you have any more comfortable
home?"
"To be sure" joined in Marguerite,
kissing the bald spot on his head, -" we
do have to change the cook, once in a
while. Everybody does, now-a-days.
But what of that7 They always bring
something on to the table, and quite
lot of it, too-reslly a great variety of
eatables; and we can generally find
something or other to eat, amongst
it ALL"
"Of course, will admit" said Euge-
ME, stroking his left hand with both
her own, that l do not always have
good success with the marketing. The
butchers have come 10 know me as q
little coward, and send around Just
whatever they please; but Brother
Frederick has consented to go with me
part of the time, now, and shall feel
great deal stronger, with the con-
sciousness of having along a six-footer
who could, if necessary, stand them all
on their heads, with cleavers still in
their grasp"
But Pm afraid" said Frederick,
gravely, though kindly, that, in case
of slepmother's favoring us with her
presence here, the six. footer would have
to go. A young fellow like 1 am, tattooed
allover with faults and petty vices, would
be of no use to stepmother. 1t was
n do co. al, x,I
me, I'm afraid -
A pathetic silence followed the re-
mark. This family had never been
able to mention their own mother and
then keep on talking as if nothing had
happened. 1t took a little while to send
back certain tears that always seemed
to think they were called, when she
was mentioned. The silence was broken
by Daisy, aged twelve, who crept into
her fathers lap.
81 am sure could never give up this
place to another" she murmured, not
knowing that ere many years she, her
self, would have found a second lap in
which to cuddle.
" l was reading, the other day." sud-
denly said Lionel, "an article which 1
think bears upon this subject"
Lionel was only ten years old; but
known in the family as "The Philos-
opher," and already looked up to in a
half jocose, half serious way. The fam
lily all had pet idea that he would be a
college president, clergyman, or at
least member of congress, some day.
So they listened.
1.-The article reads something like
this" continued Lionel. CO Filial and
paternal love do not entirely satisfy the
heart. There is something more needed
to keep it in harmony with itself and
the world"
4" Lionel's author is right" said Mr.
Walworth, speaking for the first time
during this conversation. And then
there was another silence.
The Walworth children had already
begun TO form their own little attach
ments outside the family. But it had
not occurred to them that their father
was liable to do the same thing; that he
needed sympathy and cooperation,
aside from what they could furnish.
Now they began to see into it little,
although very much surprised They
were loving family of children, and
very humane to each other, when they
could understand the correct method of
being so; and they held a board
meeting that very night, after their
father had gone to his room.
81 think begin to see how it isl
said Marguerite, dolefully. "The poor
that we don't know how to bestow upon
him. We must be reasonable, and let
him have wife. He would do as
much for u.s."
eyes, agreed Eleanor; che has
never denied us anything we ought to
have"
"And Frederick must not leave
home until she positively orders him
out" said Eugene. I" 1t may be that !
shall have to do the marketing yet; in
which case shall need him."
81 have read in some author," said
Lionel, that circumstances which at
first seem utterly intolerable to us, may
with patience. tact and kindness, be
turned into the most fortunate and
pleasurable incidents of our lives."
This statement had a considerable
effect; although Daisy murmured thai
she had never yet known of step
mothers being turned into fortunate
and pleasurable incident. But the
young people decided that they mus
make the best of it, and try to har
monte as much as possible; and they
meekly kissed each other goodnight.
Mr.. Walworth, for all his kindness t.
those whom he loved, was a man O
strong will and purpose, and never an
nounced course of action until he bat
fully considered it. But il he coulC
have seen the looks of sorrow on tn,
faces of his children as they babe eacl
other goodnight, he might have beer
shaken in his resolves. An ordinar,
man would maybe have said:
" Since their poor mother died, thes
children have been doing their best an,
bravest to make this happy home, an
have succeeded. They are hundre
times as harmonious as most familie
would be under the circumstances
Why should | introduce possibly dis
cordant element here, for the sake of
EtfIa adda6 hoppipaou tn y,u oxu, Co.