St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-06-23
LES CITY, FLOYD COUNTY, IOWA THU RSDAY JJNE % 1870

performance in the morning, and tn,
new y-made father contented himsel
with sitting across the foot of the
cradle, gazing earnestly upon his
child until the little, expressionless
eyes of early infancy were opened
and the face of the unconscious bab,
was puckcred up for cry. Instead
of putting him out of patience, the
child's screams sent fresh thrill OF
JOY to his heart, as they seemed to the
proud father more realizing evidence
that his happiness was not a dream.
How he longcd to embrace his child
to press her to his heart, but there
was the ever watchful nurse, whom
he had learned to look upon as his in.
veterate enemy, ready to thwart his
slightest attempt to touch his little
one. She always had some excuse
ready whenever he offered to take her,
either she was hungry, or fretful or
sleepy, and Mr.. Thurlow would turn
away with firm conviction that wo-
men could always get up some excuse
for having their own way. One day,
however, the important guardian OF
the little stranger was suddenly called
| out of the room. She looked around
for some one to take her place-there
was no one to whom she could consign
her young charge but Mr. Thurow,
and with many Il warning to him not
to jump the child, nor to squeeze it,
nor drop it, she laid it gently in his
outstretchcd arms. He remembered
his awkwardncss on the first morning,
and the indignation with which it was
hailed, and he resolved this time Ia
give no cause of offence. According
y he held the baby on his outstretched
arms, not daring to move, and he
even breathcd more gently, for fear,
as his wife declared, of giving the ba-
by cold. The nurse presently re-
turned and took the child from him,
when, with a sigh of relief, he ex-
claimed,
How that little thing grows, she is
really heavy, declare she has made
my arms ache
"No wonder" replied Mrs. Simmons,
with consequential toss of the head,
" | should think it would be enough
to make your arms ache to hold them
out in that style, even if you had
nothing in them"
Mr.. Thurlow was puzzled He felt
very sure that he had held the child
nicely he had obcyed the nurses di-
rections implicitly with regard to not
jumping, or squeezing, or dropping
her tic had not even rumpled the
child's clothes, still Mrs. Simmons
seemed to regard his efforts with con-
tempt, and he couldn't understand it.
Soon came the grand question of
name, and numerous were the consul.
tations held on this momentous sub
.jcct. Mrs Thurlow left the business
to him, wishing, as she said, to see
how the child would fare when left to
its fathers mercics.
Wife," said he, one day, "what
shall we call sissy"
"Why not name her after me ?" re-
piled Mrs. Thurlow, smiling quietly as
she watched the effect of her words.
For a moment the literal Mr.. Thur
low said nothing. There was a strug
gle going on in his mind-he loved
his wife dearly, and could he refuse
to name his child after her? But
there rose before him the name Jeru-
sha could he bear to have his babe
called by so hideous name? No,
that would never answer and turning
to his wife, he remarked,
"My DEAR (he always avoided
speaking her name if possible,) II
should love, Of course, to have our
darling called after you, but just
think what name for baby Jerusha
would be-"
How should you like the name of
Mary ?" suggested Mrs. Thurlow.
" 1t is very pretty" replied her hus
band, but SO very common"
81 wish we could manage to call
her after you. Now ifyour name was
only Edward, or Frederic, or some
thing that we could just alter a little"
Yes" replied Mr. Thurlow, :" but
don't see as we can make Timothy suit,
twist it as we will"
1ouI illotncES , haiic 10 very pref
ty," continued his wife. How would
it do to call our baby Caroline, after
her ?"
Very well, | should think but |
wish we could contrive to get in your
mothers name too, somehow" OBJ
served the perplexed father
Caroline Henrietta would be rath-
er long, think"
"Ycs, that is true, but I'll tell you
how We can manage tive will cut
off both names, and call her Carrictta,
that, | am sure, is very pretty, and we
have the two nicely combined" and
Mr.. Thurlow rubbed his hands-in de-
light at SO happy thought.
His wife raised No objections, and
the grandparents were Immediately
informed of the child's name, and SO
pleased were they that they settled
upon their namesake sum of money.
Time passed on, and the little Carrie
grew to be as pretty baby as any
one need wish to see. Her father felt
worried whenever the nurse carried
|
or to bribe her for the child, for he
seemed to think that others must be
as much enraptured with the little
cherub as he was himself and Bridget
was cautioned, whenever she went out
to walk with her young charge, not
to go far from the house, and on no
account to cross the street, nor was
she to let the little Carrietta go out of
her arms, however much people might
admire her. Once Mr. Thurlow car
ried her out himsclf-his mother had
come to town, and he felt anxious to
display his treasure to her at once
Bridget was sick, and he felt too i'm
patient to wait, and he remarked to
his wife,
"Just dress the baby won't you
and I'll carry her around to see moth.
er."
you'll carry her?" exclaimed his
wife, in surprise, as she remembered
his former autipathy to such per