The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-23

with open heart and ready sympathy but
If she tries to make man instead of
spoiled baby of him all the relatives and
neighbors hold up their hands in holy hor-
ror. They never stop to think of the whip
pings and worse which they administer to
their own children. " 1t is different with
stepmother!" So what is the mother going
to do and what the child? Fortunately
have a mother who went ahead with her
duty in spite of gossip though must admit
she was more lenient with me than most
own mothers are. II ever have any chill
dren they shall never hear of wicked step
mothers If l can help it, either from stories
or from me. II l should die before they
become of age l would much rather have
them in the hands of a woman who will take
an interest in them and try to bring them
UP right than with gossipy relatives who
are often more ready to talk than to do a
kindness. Here's to that tender little wom-
an with the mother heart who takes into
her love the motherless child and gives
him what he will never find anywhere else
a second mother! H. D."
You are entirely right in your idea of
much of the foundation for the objection
to stepmothers and stepfathers on the part
of those who have no practical experience
on the subject. Gossip and foolish talk Is
at the bottom of most of the misunder-
standing, as you say. and 1t Is indubitable
that measures of correction one would take
for granted by an own mother are held up
to condemnation when bestowed by step
parent. But I am afraid you will have
hard work keeping stepmother literaturs
away from children. Beginning with Gin
derella the cruel step-parent has been a
favorite character in fairy tales and other
fiction. and you will have to exercise a close
censorship to keep this sort of thing from
the nursery. 1t might be better to put the
step-parents on the level of the witches
and fairies who exist only in books and
don't appear in real life. am not STEP
mother myself and did not have one but
none the less I thank you for your good
word on behalf of much abused and
worthy and honorable class.
+ "
Thanks the Cipers.
Several weeks since wrote to the
Corner asking for silk pieces with which
to finish silk quilt and the dear ladies have
responded nobly. Not being able to reply
to them individually take this method of
thanking each and every one who has sent
silk pieces. ! am delighted with their lib
erality and hope they will accept this
method for returning thanks.
Mrs J. E. j."
1t gives me pleasure to print this ac-
knowle dgment and 1 know all of you who
gave to this correspondent will be glad to
know of her appreciation of your kindness.
\:
Wants Some Old School Books. :.
wonder If any Of the readers of the
Corner have the third and fourth readers Of
the McGuffy's series of readers that were
used in common schools many years ago.
I have been shut-in for many years with
no prospect or hope of ever being any bet
ter I am alone in the world with more of
its sorrows than it's joys. and If any of your
readers have these books-I care not how
much they have been used-I will gladly
pay postage. I am deaf. SO I cannot join in
the conversation of friends. so pass much
time in reading. The books for which ask
were used in school when was girl
Mrs. g."