The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-04-25
THE DAILY GAZETTE.
WISeFlIANEODS.
THE BACHELOR AND BABY.

N What shall ! uof hnd the old
bachelor stamped about the sitting
room in perfect rage Of doubt, look
;pp first at the babe ia The little viii :.
low cradle, and then at the busy
French clock OH the mantel-shelf.
Il sAs sure as my name ia Joseph
Phelps, that baby, that little, two fist
bed, lsrge-.unged nephew Of mine, is
about waking, and it wants one whole
topr of the time which its mother APP
pointed for her return. Whew! ] ac.
fually sweat, thinking about it. What
can | do with it-how can treat it
10 sugar what-d'ye.c IL l-'ems, or hold
Il, or tlot it, or do anything with itl'
N At this juncture faint wall from
the baby receptacle brought bachelor
JOSEPH. to his taps. With an energy
and alacrity that would not i'll become
husband and baby tender, he com
menced rocking the cradle, sending
the indignant baby into perfect tre-
NOR of kicks and squalls. Backward
and forward, from one side of the pill
low TO the other, the round, red face
rolled; the infant fists were clenched
with force that purpled them; while
from the white, plump throat came q
cry that sent the bachelor wild with
fear.
Again Joe looked at the clock.
What in the deuce can | dof' he
rexclaimed, viewing wofully the little
|inhamed face before him.
He sat down in big chair before
laby-spresd a double cradle quilt
over his knees, and with look OF ter
ror upon his face proceeded to take
baby from its resting place, He drew
the young hopeful into his lap, jus,
ss q very neat old lady would pick
rp q poke. handkerchief. with bis
thumb. and fingers. A fresh yell
from the rosy mouth of baby was the
cnly expression of thanks as he com
l,nenced the never out Of fashion baby
trot.
1T must be that something is prick
kng him. Shoe! shoo' said Joe, CON
,nencing a search for the aggravsting
pin that was driving the child into
such rage. But no pin was TO be
found, and he made an attempt to
turn baby over; but oh! the clnmsi-
ness of his fngers-th, little eel
form slid ont Of his lap to the floor,
sending forth cry that was louder,
clearer, deadlier, than before.
Lord save me! I've broken its neck.
was the exclamation as he picked ba-
,by up, and in the agony Of despair
ltried to quiet him. A thought struck
Joe. He saw a basque hanging a.
gainst the wall of the adjoining bed
room, and with a smile Of delight up |
on his countena,ce, he went tor it
Sure enough, there it was, stuthag,
bodice, and all, real monument OF
Feminine ingenuity. He was wild
with Joy. He pinned it over his coat
and fast stened the sleeves behind him.
He took baby and laid its head a
gainst the false breastwork.
Shades OF Southern plantations,
and cotton fatoriesr exclaimed DOE,
as baby rooted its nose into it about q
mile, then cuddled down for snooze
Then the bachelor commenced sing |
ing ta@ .....
n a FIN .hnw
wasa H a.lsd via sr:s .Sa stuffed vi hso~,
They okquike vsll-.'
A tap on the door stopped Joe in
the midst OF his suggestive song; and
before he had time to disarray him.
sell, the door was opened, and a ro-
guish, Laughing pair Of eyes peered IN
upon him.
Your sister is at home, is shef
ehirruped the visitor.
No ma'am,' stammered Joe, grow,
ing very red in the face; 'and have
turned nurse
Miss Hayes laughed; offered to re,
lieve him of his charge, which he
willingly consented to, sitting near by
the while, intently watching her.
She managed baby to a charm, with
out the basque, and Joe was captiva-
JoSenb Phelns married Fanny