Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-08-13
DAVID FULToNs ED1ron.
VOL. 3.---NO. 4S.
THE BABY JUMPER.
BY HANNAH HEMPHILL.
! had a baby Ten months old.
| bad no g hahu-inrnner

anu ocautJ DIS they VIII; people kno" Wlldt
a torment-what a never ending, still begin
ming torment-a baby ten months old is.
Very few people know what a blessing,
beyond all description, a "baby- jumper is.
Perhaps history of two weeks of my life
may serve to exemphfy these two facts.
1t was Monday morning; my husband was
to leave home at a very early hour for fort
nights visit to Washington. Over hurried
breakfast two hours earlier than usual, we ar
ranged many plans for the -ensuing time OF Sc
paration. He gave me many commissions to
execute, and talked of many little things that
he would like to have done IN his absence. i
was to look over and mend all possible articles
of mems clothing, to renew buttons and strings;
to sew up innumerable button-holes that had
become too large; TO hem nine pocket hand
| kerchiefs, and mark them with indelIible ink;
and more than all, to put the finishing touch
es to six shirts that were already in progress.
! ! was to 90 to the utmost extremity Of the
town to make inquiries respecting one John
Green.
you cannot be aware said my husband,
&c of the importance of finding out this man
To man of business when hurried, these lit
tie matters are troublesome in the extreme,
but if you could find it convenient to go up
| there some day soon> and find out if be is liv
ing yet, ii will be of great service TO me-"
Certainly,'' said |, and added, in my zeal,
"l will try to 60 this afternoon"
He departed. and | was left alone-aIone
with the baby. | must remark, that motives
of economy, few days befoIe, had induced
me to dismiss one servant; | had therefore
but one now. 1t was washing day; and she,
of course, was engaged in that operation. All
other acts Of household labor fell to my share,
which performed in haste, anxious TO get to
work at my sewing. Whenever approach
ed the staircase an upward floating scent of
sOapsuds RECALLED me. After my active duties
were concluded, | took my seat, and began to
look over the different piles of clothing--as
sorting them into smaller heaps, according to
what they required. The baby crept round
and round me- Before long began to feel
twitching at the legs and arms of the articles
| held in my hands. Next they were drawn
from me, and every attempt on my part to re-
gain possession of them was the precursor of
a short angry scream. With reluctance (for
was beginning to feel interested in my task }
| abandoned it, removed the clothing to another
room, and began to hem one of my handker-
chiefs, hoping valnly to be able to retain it in
my power After an Outburst of rage at the
sudden disappearance of his toys, the baby
next attacked my work basket. Spool after
spool rolled to the farthest corners sewing
silk was entangled TO 4 hopeless degree; all
my marking cotton and box of buttons emp
tied out Of the window. In vain | scoded.-
| Job said to be a patient man. | should
/ like to know if he was ever troubled with
baby ten months old Meanwhile the morning
passed on. 1t is useless to state that did but
little work. | became very impatient, and
putting away my sewing implements, took
book and e.Ideavored to read a short time, but
the baby took a fancy to my book. To be
sure had taken fancy to it too. The con-
test was unequal; the baby as usual was the
victor. He sat down an instant to turn over
It's leaves, and taking advantage of my being
absorbed in melancholy reflection, conveyed il
across the room and dropped it into a wide
mOuthed pitcher of water
C You naughty little monkey" exclaimed I.
Well for me if | had been a monkey. A
monkey can be turned out of doors, when you
are tired of him, or chained to tree. Not so,
alas with a baby ten months old.
Much time was spent in drying the book,
whose stfened and shapeless binding is now
before me, memorial in happier days OF my
once dreary lot
My dinner was most frugal-my solitary
servant could not wash and cook both; but
simplicity of fare should not have regarded,
if | had been able to retain my seat for three
consecutive moments; but two tumblers seized
with a cOnvulsive grasp, and dashed to the
ground, materially interfered with my comfort,
and fear with my digestion.
In the afternoon put clean white frock on
him, and took my baby to the front parlor
window; but the blinds were so violently
slapped to and fro, that l relinquished this
station and retired to the sofa. SO | spent
my time until dark-dragging the baby away
from what he should not touch, and by varI-
Gus jinglng of keys, and other similar strata
gems, endeavorng to induce him TO relinquish
his hold upon my china ornaments.
After tea my evening was spent in putting
him to sleep and afterwards to bed whittier
went myself with heavy heart,
Tuesday (beng ironing day. was but a re-
petition of Monday. was again left alone
with the merciless baby, who, though unable
to walk, went all over the house on all tours
with an agility which eluded my frequent
grasp. 1t is needless to say that violent and
frequent screams attended all my efforts to
withhold anything whatever from him. Rea-
sOning we may sregard-pursuasiOn may
not move our heardened hearts; but who can
Withstand the shrill screaming of a baby ten
months old? So gave up all attempts at ev-
lelS OCCupdIO Dul that vi dIlluSIIlS HILL ~
ended my second weary day.
On Wednesday awoke with the feelings
of prisoner set free.
&" Now" thought I, 81 shall be able to make
up for lost time. Elizabeth can spend much
of her time up stairs, and take charge of the
baby. Meanwhile shall do vast amount
of sewing"
| was mistaken. ELIAS various duties left
her but little time to devote to the baby, and,
moreover, she was not to his taste. lie had
found me always so complying, that he was
by no means disposed to moderate his claims.
| was every moment interrupted with:
''Ma'am, will you just step here moment
I do believe the baby has just swallowed
a pin'' Or, g if you please, ma'am, he's turn
ing everything out of the bureau draws"
| found, by sad experience, that it took up
my time, as we'll as Ehza's, to restrain the ex-
uberance of his mischevousness. | determln,
ed to go after John Green that afternoon, bu
Eliza said ''she must go get her clothes
What could | do but submit! Thursday at,
ternoon was < her afternoon out" So con
tlnued a prisoner. The week was passing on
Friday and Saturday it rained furiously-sc
this errand was forsaken.-One of these DAYS
the badly fell off the bed-another, he upse
and broke fine lamp.-These accidents ma
terialy interrupted my sewing. Saturday nigh
came, and when the baby was asleep sa
down wparied and sad tn reflect unOn the O.