The Home Mission | Page 8

particular reason for wishing to wear your new bonnet,
this morning, Mary?"
"Yes, ma'am, I have." The voice of Mary was changed considerably,
and her eyes fell beneath the mild, but penetrating, gaze of her
step-mother.
"May I ask you the reason?"
There was a pause of some moments; then Mary replied:
"I promised one of the girls that I'd wear it. She asked me to. She
wanted to see it."

"Did you tell Hannah this?"
"No, ma'am. It wouldn't have been any use. She never hears to reason."
"But you'll find me very different, Mary," said Mrs. Arnold, tenderly. "I
shall ever be ready to hear reason."
All this was so far from what Mary had anticipated, that her mind was
half bewildered. Her step-mother's clear sight penetrated to her very
thoughts.
Taking her hand, she drew her gently to her side. An arm was then
placed lovingly around her.
"My dear child,"--it would have been a hard heart, indeed, that could
have resisted the influence of that voice, "let us understand each other
in the beginning. You seem to look upon me as an enemy, and yet I
wish to be the very best friend you have in the world. I have come here,
not as an exacting and overbearing tyrant, but to seek your good and
promote your happiness in every possible way. I will love you; and
may I not expect love in return? Surely you will not withhold that."
As Mrs. Arnold spoke thus, she felt a slight quiver in the hand she had
taken in her own. She continued:
"I cannot hope to fill the place of your dear mother, now in heaven. Yet
even as she loved you, would I love you, my child." The voice of Mrs.
Arnold had become unsteady, through excess of feeling. "As she bore
with your faults, I will bear with them; as she rejoiced over every good
affection born in your heart, so will I rejoice."
Outraged by the conduct of Mary, the housekeeper had gone to Mr.
Arnold, whom she found in the parlour, and repeated to him, with a
colouring of her own, the insolent language his child had used. The
father hurried up stairs in a state of angry excitement. No little
surprised was he, on entering the nursery, to see Mary sobbing on the
breast of her step-mother, whose gentle hands were softly pressed upon
the child's temples, and whose low, soothing voice was speaking to her

words of comfort for the present, and cheerful hope for the future.
Unobserved by either, Mr. Arnold stood for a moment, and then softly
retired, with a gush of thankfulness in his heart, that he had found for
his children so true and good a mother.
With Mary there was no more trouble. From that hour, she came
wholly under the influence of her step-mother, learning day by day, as
she knew her better, to love her with a more confiding tenderness.
Wonderful was the change produced on the children of Mr. Arnold in a
single year. They had, indeed, found a mother.
It is painful to think how different would have been the result, had the
step-mother not been a true woman. Wise and good she was in her
sphere; loving and unselfish; and the fruit of her hand was sweet to the
taste, and beautiful to look upon.
How few are like her! How few who assume the position of
step-mother,--a position requiring patience, long-suffering, and
unflinching self-denial,--are fitted for the duties they so lightly take
upon themselves! Is it any wonder their own lives are made, at times,
miserable, or that they mar, by passion or exacting tyranny, the fair face
of humanity, in the children committed to their care? Such lose their
reward.
POWER OF KINDNESS.
"TOM! Here!" said a father to his boy, speaking in tones of authority.
The lad was at play. He looked toward his father, but did not leave his
companions.
"Do you hear me, sir?" spoke the father, more sternly than at first.
With an unhappy face and reluctant step, the boy left his play and
approached his parent.
"Why do you creep along at a snail's pace?" said the latter, angrily.

"Come quickly, I want you. When I speak, I look to be obeyed instantly.
Here, take this note to Mr. Smith, and see that you don't go to sleep by
the way. Now run as fast as you can go."
The boy took the note. There was a cloud upon his brow. He moved
away, but at a slow pace.
"You, Tom! Is that doing as I ordered? Is that going quickly?" called
the father, when he saw the boy creeping away. "If you are not back in
half an hour, I will punish you."
But the words