Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-12-27

mediation, as she drew it up to the table
and looked with il-concealed scorn upor
Timothy, who was shaking his wfe's thin
BILE upos pair CT scissors, for the amuse
ment of the little responsibility.
Baby gruciously recovered from it's dis
pleasure at the china bow for being broken
and requested, by signs, that the sugar idisf
and preserves should be handed to it imme
dately. Mrs. Cornwall answered this de-
mand by placing it carefully in the high
chair, and her husband seated himself be.
side it with much satisfaction.
|, What should the baby have TO cat, was
, .he next question. Mrs. Cornwall was
very much at loss what to substitute fol
the arrow:.root, and the child seemed in q
fair way of getting no supper at all.
n At length, bright idea struck her,while
Regarding dish of apple sauce-that was
soft enough, in all conscience-and limo!
thy Immediately hesped a liberal allowance
upon the young visitors plate. The baby
liked it, that was very evident--Mrs. Corn.
wall was famous for her appIe-sauce--and
it dabbed in the plate with its little, fat
fingers, and conveyed the palatable CON-
! pound to its mouth with astonishing rapidi-
ty. i-t
The two old people sat gazing upon the
child in sort of delighted surprise, as
though they had not expected to see it eat;
and finally, Timothy placed crust of bread
| in the little hand, in order to diversity the
performances. Poor man! whatever he did, l.,
was done with the best intention, but
somehow or other, it slways seemed to be
the thing that he should not do; for, after
pu ting the crust into it's mouth, and at
tacking it in manner that delighted its
entertainers, the youthful scion Of the house
of Briggs suddenly became grave, and ex-
hibited symptoms of choking. Timothy's
evil genius again beset him. and jhe lifted
the cup of milk and water to the child's
lips--it was swallowed the wrong wav, and
the baby began to grow black 10 the face.
"For mercy's sake!" exclaimed Mrs.
Cornwall. as the child gasped for breath,
"pst its back, quick, or it will choke to
dealh"
Timothy patted with frightened vgor,
his wife patted and Sally, too, lent her
services with a zeal that looked very much
as though she considered this a fRe op-
portunlty to revenge herself upon the baby.
Having been pounded with an inch of its
life, the child stopped choking in self-de-
fence; but Timothy continued to pat, as
though resolved to prevent all future uc-
Cidents.
Mrs. Cornwall wiped the perspiration
from her face, and sat down -esnosdcsably'
absorbed.
"For PHYS sake" said she, "give it
! nothing but appe-sauce-thars safe enough
for took out all the cores myself. | wish
10 gracious Martha'd come and take It,,
while it is alive!"
Another supply of apple-sauce was plac
ed before it, and baby finished its supper
without any more mishaps.
When the candles were lighted, he
visitor became sleepy and cross; and, after
sending Sa ly up and down, much to that
damsel's dsprasure, to be sure that the
room was warm and comfortabe Mrs. Corn
wall wrapped the baby in its cloak and
hood, and her husband conveying the cradle
they proceeded up stairs to put their charge
to bed. A roaring fire, luxury to which
they were qu'e unaccus,omPd in their sleep
ing apartment had been made on baby's
account; and Timo,hy declared that the
room felt like an oven. .
The undressing was a complicated busi-
ness; first, Mrs Cornwall took things off,
aud then upon holding n consultation with
Timothy, she put them on again, fearing
that it might take cold; and baby, indignant
at being thus trihed with, ,rubbediis eyes with
its fists, and squrmed about in aH uncon-
trolable fit OF passion.
Z "There -there!" said Mrs. Cornwall
soothngly, "hush, now that's darlirg"
J But baby wouldn't hush, and kicked and
screamed; while the husband and wife sat
regarding it in perfect 6ewldermeht
"I know what that young'un wants"
observed Sally, who stood by the door With
an expression of intense disgust upon her
features; ga few good slaps would bring 1t
to its senses mighty quick"
4 This, however, was not to be thought
Of; Mrs, Cornwall rocked vigorously, with
the baby on her ap--Tnorhy keeping up
an Industrious compartment to her con-
stant "s-h"-ant, at length, the baby be-
came too sleepy to cry, and dropped of
like lamb. 1t was deposited in the cradle
its nurses sank into their respective seats
by the fire.
81 feel dreadful tired" said Mrs. Corn.
wall "knd of aching, like the rheumatism v
$50 do l." rejoiHed her husband, sand
yet we don't seem to have done anythin
either-I haint even fixed that corh-crib.' .
II don't see how Martha gets along sc
WE'LL" continued Mrs Cornwall, "doin' al
her own work, and takin' care of the baby
too" ~ 80 st .'
She must have kind of knack at il, ;
observed Timothy, cor perhaps the young
+, one knows it can cut up with as and take
advantage"
"Wrl," replied his wife, with a decided
yswn. "one thing is pretty certain; shal
20 to bed before long, and try to get rest
ed with a good nights sleep-its com
tort that people can sleep"
y And to bed they shortly went, nothing
d doubling. Baby behaved beautifully, pein!
o raped in the calm sluInber of innocence
I and except tina the room was uncomfort
= ably warm, and q light in ones eyes no