Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-12-20
81 do wish Martha wouldn't be SO dread.

! 81 do wish Martha wouldn't be SO dread.
fuJ choice of that baby!" exclaimed Mrs.
Timothy 10 her husband, on her return
from one Of these visits "she really seems
to be afraid that we'll eat it, or do .so,ne.
thin to it! l wanted it over hefe to epehd
the day-I thought 1t would be 50 nice to
have. it here, for once-~it's n dear, little
thing, and knows me as well as it does its
mother; but Martha opened her eyes as
wide as saucers, and said that she couldn't
think of such thing at presentr'' y
at ,couM be NICE" said Tim, reflective
lyj he having vision of model baby that
never cried, behaved with all the considera-
tion of grown person, and went quietly
to sleep when people were to busy too at
tend to it. "Yes," said he, "I should really
like to have i, here." ..... ....'
Mrs. Cornwall sat nursing her wrath In
the rocking char, and thinking what an
ungrateful creature Martha was. that she
wouldn't lend them the baby for little
while!
The months wore on, and the Briggs
BABY had got to be quite an old story. 1t
now seemed like a kitten that has COM
menced growing, and lost its prettness;
p, except, that il was a fat, good.natursd, little
thing, and daily increasing in strength a nd
beauty. 1t was now ten months old; as.
pired to eat and drink like other people;
and, as its father said. behaved ia all re-
spects, like a christian.
Sam and Martha were not much given
to jaunting it took time and smoney: but
quite suddenly, one morning, they made up
their minds to attend a STATE Fair, about
fifty miles off; for, as Sam said, "he jest
wanted to see il them pumkns, and squashes
and things, toas any such great shakes,aft-
er ALL"
They would he gone but one highland
after considerable hesitation, Martha listened
favorably to Mrs. Cornwal's proposal of
taking charge Of the baby. Sam laughed
at his wife's fears, and declared that "the
young one was we'll enough in such ha nds;
the only danger was, that hav,rg tried the
delights of having baby in the house,
they might insist upon keeping it altogeth.
er." And Martha fully agreed with him
in the latter idea.
They would take the afternoon train,an
return the next evening; and it was set
tied thing that the baby was to be left
with Mrs. Cornwall.
When Timothy came home to dinner, he
found his wife radiant With smiles. She
informed him that they were going to have
visitor, and told him to guess who it was
"Fm sure, don't know" he replied,
half-absently. ,.
"Well, guess" rejoined his wife, quite
provoked at his indifference, "l'm sure
you're Yankee enough for that!'
But Timothy's perceptions were very
much clouded; and, when in despair, his
wife was obliged to divuge the secret, he
seemed fairly staggered by it.
The Jaby!" he repeated, "afe you sure
it's quite we'll! Maybe it'll have fit, or
somethin'."
"Nonsense," replied his wife, "aH babies
don't have fts-Martha's never had fit
in it's life.'
Timothy was rather fearful; but, being
reassured by his wife; lie ventured to give
himself up to al. tile pleasur of the an
ticipated enjoyment.
But suddenly his anxiety assumed new
form.
"How are you goin' 10 feed it!" he in
quired; "wont it want a teapot, or some.
thin'!"
| The expression of intense contempt in
Mrs. Cornwall's eye, as she repeated the
word "teapot," effecturlly slenced her hus-
band, who meekly admitted that che ddn't
know much about babies"
! Martha came over herself, with the baby
carefully bundled up, to reiterate her charges;
and almost bewildered good Mrs. Corn
wall with the multiplicity of Girections.-
! Timothy listened in considerable awe, and,
at first, gazed upon the baby as though
afraid that it might hurt him. The object
of all this solicitude looked remarkably
well satisfied with the arrangement, and
parted from its mother without single
whimper.
didn't | tell you it was a darling"
said Mrs. Cornwall, as she sat down to
unite its cloak and hood
The baby laughed and crowed, gazed
from Timothy to the fire, and from the
! fire to Timothy, and sucked its thumb in
perfect contentment.
The old gentleman shook his newspaper
at it, but the Daby started at the sudden
noiseI and then Timothy started, because
the baby did, and looked so frightened that
his wife laughed at him. The child @as
playful, however, and after puckering up
its mouth little, concluded net to cry
and amused itself with pulling at Mrs
Cornwall's cap.
Timothy gazed upon it with the utmost
yearnng; he fairly longed to take the child
in his arms, and yet he didn't dare to say
so. He was afraid that his wife would
laugh at him; he couldn't imagine how she
held it SO nicely; and he sat there, watch
ing and endeavorng to learn something
He tried all manner of devices to attract
the child's attention; but 1t looked upon
his efforts with such evident contempt, that
Timothy really felt hurt.
At length, watching his opportunity, he
snstehsd il suddenly from his wife's arms
and began dancing violently around the
room with it: But Timothy was not ac-
custemed to babies; he handled the child
awkwardly; and, frightened by his violence