Year: 1860

not this inviting? The light from the par
lor mantel is sending out welcome, and
here the first to greet is our little Edward y


"Ere l could reply, an eager voice cried
out:


"Father has come! father has come
and the next moment a bright>eyed little
lad of ten summers came bounding into the
hall.


"He was folded lovingly to his fathers
heart for moment, and then presented to
me. l do not think be had noticed my
presence until his father placed his hand in
mine, saying, as he did so;


"'This is our son, Louisa. Edward
darling, this is your mother


"He looked up into my face, his lip quiv-
cred, and then his eyes dropped upon the
floor. / bent over and kissed him, and
whispered, for dare not trust my voice to
speak aloud, the tender name his father
called him, Edward, darling He drew a
long breath, as if he were sufocating, and,
withdrawing his hand from mine, ran of
into the kitchen, and called his Aunt Easy,
who was out experimenting supper.


Aunt Easy soon made her appearance
and gave US the warm right hand of friend
ship with an earnestness that could not be
mistaken making me feel from the first
always easy and at home in her presence.
But Edward was as shy of me as young
partridge, hiding his face on bis fathers
shoulder if spoke to him. and replying in
monosyllables to every question answereble
in that manner. l thought l would try
and get acquainted with Edward as soon as
l could, for wished to become next to his
father in bis affections, but all my endeavors
to please and interest him seemed vainly
spent.


"The first evening passed away and he
only looked at me once. He bade me good
night when be retired to his sleeping room,
but his back was toward me. Aunt Easy
excused him, saying he was so bashiul. l
pitied him for his bashfulness. knew very
we'll how to pity bashful children, and that
raised me several degrees in her esteem. l
had made the good woman my friend by
sympathizing with her favorite nephew.
She opened her whole heart, and took me
in for Augustine's sake, as we'll as for that
of his child. She knew be would get along
well after few days that there was moth
ing like sympathy to win the hearts of the
little ones. Children would be children,
and we must not look for perfection in them.
Edward was very good boy, but rather
odd about some things. When l came to
understand his whole heart, should almost
worship him. So 1 brought out the kind
hearted lady, and Augustine allowed her to
enjoy her opinion while she sat with US, but
when we were alone, with grieved look,
he informed me of his sons determination,
confessed to him that evening, not to own
me for mother.


"' did not expect this from him., said
Augustine he has always been so affec-
tionate toward me, and l cannot account for
it unless some one has biased his mind
against the idea of having a stepmother ;
for he seemed almost wild with delight when
l informed him who would take kind care
of him, and that after she came to live with
US we could live together at home all the
time. There has surely been mischief
wrought during my absence but, Louisa,
my love, do not be disheartened. l will
teach him obedience to you, while the same
power in you that taught the father cannot
fail to teach the son respect, confidence and
love. Be hopeful my little wife my warm
est sympathies and desires are with you.'


"Thus comforted and encouraged, rest>
ed happily upon my hopes. How very con-
ident | was that we should be the very best
friends soon. l, who never yet had an enc.
my in my life, surely would not look for one
in the heart of little child. No, the warm,
sunny heart of childhood was no lurking
place for coldness and distrust. Children
naturally love women they always want
some one to call mother, especially in their
hours of sorrow. He would, he must, come
to me and find friend and comforter, when
his heart was weary of its burden of child.
ish sorrows. Thus l confidently reasoned,
but days, weeks, and even months, rolled by
without giving me even token that my
theory was correct. Edward was always
civil and obedient, and even respectful in his
department toward me, but oh so cold,
distant, and sunless, that my heart ached
painfully beneath its load of crushed and
dying hopes.


0uuV GoOy ACiV I'D oItCl o lcW UoyS W
return to her family, and after she was gone
l thought surely he would return to me in
his loneliness, but no, he clung closer to his
father and retreated further and further still
from me. Augustine was panied to witness
the coldness of his child toward her whom
he had taken to his heart and home to fill
the place of the departed wife and mother,
but he forebore saying aught to him, fear
ing that some i'll timed remark might only
tend to widen the gulf between the two
with whom he shared his whole heart.


"Thus the summer passed away, the
autumn was nearly spent; all the uncles,
aunts, cousins and grandparents had visited
US, some spending week or more with u.s.
and each leaving the effect of their visit with
clouds or sunshine, as their natures were
cloudy or sunshiny.


"Then we were left to ourselves until the
commencement of the Christmas festivities