Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
Maria's Portrait.
lat are you going to do with
WXW that, pa? Why do you take

A1AN P~ way NS '" e~A
~ 1t DOWN."
Mr.. Bretman did not answer. For
the first time in his life he pushed his
child from him and called harshly for
the nurse to take him away. Little
Fred made no resistance, but his
grieved lip and %quivering chin told
that he felt hurt and injured. And,
up in the nursery, he appealed to Mag
gle, the maid.
cross? Why didn't he tell me what he
was doing with mammals picture?
'Twasn't any harm to ask"
"Och, l doubt he was ashamed, dar-
lin" said Maggie. BE aisy; you are
not to blame"
And she took the widower's little
boy upon her knee and patted his
round head. .
why ought he be ashamed?" asked
Fred. 4
You mustn't say 1 said So" cried
the woman. "Masther has the right
to do his own will. It's none O. my
business"
But why did he take the picture
DOWN. asked Fred again.
There's somebody coming that
wouldn't like to see the face of the
lady that was MISTRESS here but a
year ago." said Maggie. your pa is
after givin' ye a step-mother, Fred
de-" .s
whats that?" asked Fred.
"A new mother" said Maggie. "Ah,
don't be spakin' Of what I've said, or
she'll send me away, and there'll be
o. to love We. She'll turn your pas
heart, and have 1t all her own. It's
always so, poor bairnie!"
And the old nurse wept over the
child and with him.
Mr.. Bretman carried his first wife's
picture up to the great garnet, where,
truth to tell, he shed a few tears over
1t before he deposited it in its cor
mel. 1t was impossible for him to
have those sweet eyes looking down
upon him while living ones shone from
her chair and her place at the table.
He loved the dead woman still, though
he also loved q living one.
Maggie did not know this. She
thought as she said, that 1.-THE missus
was forgotten quite" What she
thought she taught the child; and the
young lady who came smiling into the
parlor n bright morning and knelt
down when her husband said, Come,
kiss your new mamma, Freddie" look
ing so sweet and gentle and pretty
that, left to himself, the boy would
have liked her, was surprised by an
earnest slap OF the face and the angry
words, go away. You made papa
put dead mammals picture up garnet.
I don't want you for a new mamma;
I won't have you. Go away"
And at that the bride, almost a child
herself, started up, flushed and angry,
and returned to her husbands pro-
tecting arms, quite overcome by this
greeting, and the face of the old nurse,
in which she saw no pleasant greeting,
but defiance and anger instead.
The father, stung by the child's
words, seized him, for the first time in
his life, roughly by the shoulder and
turned him from the room. ~
Go, SIR" he said, land do not come
back until you can behave decently.
It is that ignorant woman's fault" he
said to his young wife, and led the
way to the dining-room.
But the shock Of the brides recep.
ton had robbed both Of any appetite,
and Helen even wondered whether she
had been wise to break her resolution
and marry q widower who had chill
dren."
"No one ever has any comfort with
step-children," she thought.
And who a say what was in the
mans mind? They were silent, both
of them. And. after lunch was owe
the husband marched Into Maggie's
nursery and addressed her sternly.
You have been filling the child's
head with wicked thoughts" he said.
"How dare you do It? He has in
suited Mrs. Bretman, and you are the
cause. 1 have half a mind to send you
packing: you deserve It,"
"Have just a bit OF pity on M and
on the boy, and niver do it. I'm all
he's got now" sobbed Maggie. Don't
blame me. I'm ould and reminder
better than a young man She was g
swate lady,
"You wsrs good 10 her and are sttll
Ose9 y ~ child" easd IN Fate'