Gratia's Trials — page 35: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

26 GRATIA’S TRIALS. ‘«That’s just it,” said Ira Kempfield, complacently. ‘‘ Almira says he only needs a little toughening off to be just like other boys.” ‘‘Father,” cried Gratia, passionately, ‘‘I do believe that woman has bewitched you. Have you lost all care and tender- ness for mamma’s little sickly boy, the last of the flock? Oh, father, I never could have believed it of you.” Ira Kempfield stood momentarily confounded ; but as he was slowly opening his lips to reply, his second wife came smilingly into the shed. ‘‘Tra, dear, come to supper,” she said. ‘‘I’ve baked a pan of waffles, just as you like ’em. And I wish you would speak to Raymond; he has been behaving very naughty— very naughty indeed.” ‘‘] don’t believe it!” cried Gratia, impulsively. ‘‘Thats so like you, Gratia,” sighed her step-mother, with the patient, resigned smile of an ill-treated serf. ‘‘ You never had an idea of discipline. And Raymond is just exactly like you.” : -**What's he been a-doin’ of?” asked the farmer, with his eyes fixed admiringly on the serene face of his second wife. ‘“He struck at me, and tried to bite me, and called me a nasty, mean thing. Don’t look so vexed, Ira, please; I — dont mind it—I would endure a great deal more for your sake, dear.” ‘“‘Tll teach him!” said Ira Kempfield, with a dark-red flush coming to his brow; ‘I'll learn him he ain’t to ride rough-shod over the whole house, the ill-tempered little — monkey.” He strode fiercely away to the house, leaving Gratia and her step-mother looking each other in the face. | ‘‘Well, young lady,” said Mrs. Kempfield, triumphantly, for all vail of shallow pretense had long since fallen from between them. ‘‘I hope this will make you understand that Comichooks (0) =)