Catoctin clarion., 1901-01-10
DITA'S S1DP--IMOTnBR.
II @ T.,

oh, such care!
v told you so, Mary Jane said old
Aunt Arabella, sourly, when you suould
insist on marrying widower with a
childv
'But l loved him. said the little bride,
wistfully.
Stuff and ponsensev said Aunt Ara
bella. Tbe woman never yet lived who
could get along with another woman's
child
Well, I mean to try said Mrs. Con-
slant. And 1 think l should manage
splendidly if ouly the first Mrs. Con-
stant's old.maid sisters would keep
away, AMI Mr.. Constants mother in law
by his first wife wouldn't persist in
coming here every day to see if Dita
has enough f1annels on and eats her reg.
ular quantum Of oatmeal and says her
catechism regularly
Tell Bridget not to let them in, 'sug-
gested Aunt Arabella, who looked as if
she herself were capable OF doing single
combat with all the Moors of Spain.
'And make mischief between John
and his first wife's relations! said Mrs.
Constant, shaking her curly head Oh,
I couldn't do that'
Just then the door flew open, and lit.
tie Dita herself trotted in, golden
tressed, pink checked fairy of three
years old, in volumlnous white frock.
blue sash and gold sleeve-loops. with
blue kid boots, buttonel with little
knobs of pearl. And close beside her
stalked her maternal grand mother, Mrs.
Cartwhistle, with the two Misses Cart
whistle, following in the rear.
u am surprised, Mary Jane said the
step.mother in,law Git such relation
ship can be), TO hear from Bridget that
Perdita is allowed to wear her best
white frock for every dayr
she locks so pretty in it, said Mrs.
Constant, pleadingly. And she will
soon outgrow it,
TITS not the way my girls were
brought up said Mrs. Cartwhietle.
I've just been counting over her
dresses said Miss Malina Cartwhistle.
Sixteen white dresses, dozen sashes
eighteen ruffled and embroidered skirts
"A child like that needs great many
ohanges.' said Mrs. Constant.
And that big doll of hers added
Miss Susanna CartW histle, with the
faxen hair and the eyes that open and
shut. declare, Mrs. Constant (these
sour spinsters never could be gotten tc
call their brothef.in laws wife by hel
christian name its positive idolatry
that's what it Is. 1t makes me think
of the golden image that King What
Do You.Call. Him set up for The Israe-
lites to worshipp
Mrs. Constant WINGED.
But, indeed. Susanna, sand she. y
didn't buy tine doll 1t was gift from
her grahdmamma to Dita.'
u think it ought to be sold for the
benefit of the heathen.' Miss Maline
said.
And I was shocked to see Bridge
giving her jam-yea, raspberry jam
upon her bread and butter, for dinner,
added the old lady.
ITS very plain apologized the young
step. mother. v made it myself, las
summer. And Dita is so fond of it,
Me yike wabbery DAM solemnlJ
enunciated their email bone of conten-
ton, who had been looking gravely from
one to another of the speakers.
rs child's digestion of no conse-
quenceT demanded Mrs. Cartwhistle.
Are the rules of hygiene to be sci
entirely at aefance?' Miss Malena
questioned.
The seeds of disease to be implanted
even at this early age?' added Miss Sus
anna.
But her Aunt Arabella rose up, bust
ling and indignant, in her niece's de-
fense.
ut strikes me, ladies' said she, tha
we are all Of US meddling with what is
none of our business. My niece. MARY
Jane, as the wife of Charles Constan
and the mother of this little child, il
doubtless a better judge of these mat
ters than we can pretend to be! Mary
Jane, if you are going out shopping with
me, it's high time you put on your bon
metz
The bride looked timidly around.
'If Mrs. Cartwhistle and Malina anc
Susanna will excuse me- said she doubt
fully.
'Oh, we are Of no onsequence,' sait
Miss Malua, with toss of the head.
Pray don't remain at home on oul
account said Miss S.