The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-08-12
OLD SERIES, VOL. 10, NO.2A
! TEAMS, $3.50 In Advance.

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TEAMS, $3.50 In Advance.
I, The Plague Of our, first Baby.
The first baby was great institu-
ion. As soon as he came into thet
world, he took command in our house.
Everything was subservient to him.
The baby was the balance wheel that
regulated everything. He regulated
the temperature, he regulated food, he
regulated the servants, he regulated
me. For the first six months of that
precious existence he had me up on
an average six times night. "Mr.
Blifskins," says my wife, "bring that
light here, do; the baby looks strangely
l am so afraid it will have a. fIt?' Of
course the lamp was brought and of
course the baby lay sucking his fist like.
little white bear, as he was. ..sMr.
BElliffkins," said my wife, 81 think i,
feel adraught of air, / wish you would
get up andisee if the window is not
lopen little, because baby NIGH get
sick" Nothing was the matter with
the window, as / knew very we'll.
"Mr. Blifkins, says my wife, just as I
was going tosleep again, sthat lamp, as,
you have placedEit, shines directly in
the baby's eyes-strange you have no
more consideration" Iarranged the
light and went to bed again. Just as
| was dropping to sleep again, .Mri
Bhfkins," said my wife, adid you
think to buy that brema to-day forthe'
baby9" ''Mydear," said l, evil you you
do me the injustic to believe chat Icould
overlook matter so essential to the |,
comfort of that inestimable childp''she
apologized very handsomly, but made
her anexiety the scapegoat. I forgaye
her, and without sayiug word more
to her, | addressed myself to Sleep
HMr. Blifkns, ''said my wife, shaking
me, "you must not snore so, you win
wake the baby I" Jest SO, ''said /,
half asleep, thinking I was Solon Shin
lgle. "Mr Blifkins,"' said my wife,
will you get up and hand me the warm
Cruel from thenurse lamp, for the baby
the dear child ! lift wasn't for his moth
er, I don't know what he would do.
How can you sleep so, Mr., BGfkens?'
suspect my dear" said ssthat it is
because ] am tired" Oh, it is very
well for you men to talk about being
tired" said my wife; / don't know,
what you would say if you had to toll,
and drudge like poor woman with
baby" / tried to soothe her by telling
her she had no patience at all, and got
up for the posset. Having aided in
answering the baby's requirements
! stepped into bed again, with the hope
ofsleeping. s'Mr. Blifkens," she said in
alouder key. sOh dear!'' said
that estimable woman, in great ap-s
parent anguish, chow can man, who
has arrived at the honor of a live baby of
his own, sleep, when he don't know
that the dear creature will live till NOR
ning" I remained silent and after. d
while, deeming that Mrs. Blifkins,
had gone to sleep Istretched my limbs
for repose How long / slept, / Idon't
know, but Twas awakend in short
time by furious job in the forhead
by some sharp instrument. / started
up, and Mrs. Blifkins was sitting up.
in the bed, adjusting some portion of
the baby's dress. She had, in q state
Of semi-somnolence, mistaken my head
for the pillow, which she customarily
used for 9 nocturnal pincushion. i
protested against such treatment in
somewhat round terms, pointing to
several perforations in my forehead. -
She told me I should willingly bear
such triling things for the sake of the
baby. insisted upon it that didn't
think my duty as parent to that young
immortal required the surrender of my
forehead for pincushion. This was
one of the many nights passed in this
way. The truth was, that the baby
was what every other mans first baby
is, an antocrat-absolute and unlimi-
ted. i s 'ea s
When you wish to know what the weather,
is to be, 60 out and select the smallest cloud
you see, keep your eye upon it, and IL il de-
creases and disappears it shows state ofths air
which will be sure to followed By fair wealth
er; but il it increases in size, you may Is wslf
take your great coat with vou 70 vo,, -. -