Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-12-17

TOMSSTEPM0THER
BY RANDALL LEXINGTON.
(Copyright.)

tCopyright.)
The head master Of Washington pre-.
paratory school gazed at the youngest
boarder %curiously over his spectacles.
The youngest boarder, wholly un-
abashed. returned the gaze, his hands
plunged in his tiny pockets. and his
bare. brown legs planted firmly apart,
Thomas" began the head master,
II have received this morning a letter
from your father, in which he wished
me to inform you that he-er-that
you-er-in fact, that you have a step.
mother"
Eyes, sir" The tone was politely
noncommittal.
"Er-do you know what a stepmotb
er is, Thomas?"
mo, SIR"
The head master looked surprised.
Before he came to Washington pre-.
paratory school his world had consist.
ed Of cook, James and the ~housemaids,
with rare glimpses of q delightful in.
dividual called father.
"Well your stepmother is
your-er-your fathers second wife,"
Eyes, sir" Again the tone was po'
lite, but uncomprehending.
THAT will do, then, Thomas. That
was all I wished to say to you. You
may CO."
Eyes, sir"
The blue eyes lit up with sudden in
terest. please. sir" eagerly. "are
they nice, sir?"
The head master again regarded the
youngest boarder over his spectacles,
What, Thomas?"
"Stepmothers. sir"
"Er-some are and some are not
Yours probably will be" He thought
o. the handsome, perfectly hammered
gentleman who was Thomas father
AID corrected himself. Sure to be-
he ended.
Il Eyes. SIR"
Thomas shut the study door after
him and wandered off toward the
schoolroom.
He bad a new possession-a step
mother, but he was not quite sure
whether It raj q creditable one or not
In the schoolroom was William with
a crowd Of boon companions. William
was a boy Of prestige.
He was the tyrant Of his form-it
was Thomas. too-and he had a ia
Their who had shot a lion.
Thomas approached him.
i've got a s%tepmother," he an.
nounced. The reception of his news
was fattering. Williams mouth opened
to its fullest extent.
What" he roared. "A stepmother!
say, you chaps, Thomas gorra step.
mother"
Thomas was Immediately the center
Of an admiring crowd of small boys
to whom he solemnly confided his ig'
norance on the article in question.
There was a babble Of voices.
Why, they're big, ugly black WON
en-" They beat YOU" They starve
you" They lock you up in dark
rooms"
Thomas received the information
stoiidly. In the same way he received
all subsequent glances Of envy or
sympathy.
For Thomas life suddenly changed.
All the rest Of the term he was the
central figure, the observed of all OBJ
ervers William regretfully, but Of
his own accord, relinquished his posi-
ton.
The head master had patted each in
dividual head, and shaken each indi
vidual hand, and hoped that each in
dividual pupil would be a good boy
during the holidays, and there they
were on the platform, waiting for their
trains.
There were many parting presents
for Thomas from plying, sympathetic
little boys who we're going home to
nice. kind mothers and nurses, instead
Of cruel s%tepmothers.
In the train Thomas feelings were
those Of %pleasurable excitement. He
had never been starved, he had Ger.
tainly never been locked in a dark
room, he did not remember ever hav.
ing been beaten.
All these sensations would have the
charm Of novelty. At the station he
leaped out eagerly. Was she there?
No. there was no ugly. black woman
on the platform; only James and the
trap at the gate.
The drive home was also exciting,
James manner seemed to have an
added respect, a touch Of that sym.
pathy that had made those last few
weeks at school SO pleasant. !.
At last they were there. Up the
long, shady avenue they drove to the
great front door.
Your fathers in the library, Master
Thomas" said a housemaid, who was
new since last holidays.
Halo. son." said his father, as he
entered. How have you been getting
on? Carried of all the prizes. eh!
What a'tall young man you are grow.
ing. ! wonder what we can do to keen
you small. Seen your stepmother?"
NO" said Thomas. His blue eyes
danced with excitement In his eager.