Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1861-02-14
Mr. Blifkins's Babv,

That first baby was great institution. AS
soon as he came n this :" brea hing world" as
the late w. Shakespeare has it, he took COM
mand IN our house. Everything was subservi.
ent to him. The baby was The balance wheel
that regulated everything. lie regulated the
temperature, he regulated the food, he regu-
lated the servants, he regulated me. For the
first six months OF that precious existence, he
had me up, on an average, six times night
MIR. Bilt kIns, says my wife, bring that light
here, do; the baby locks strangely; I'm so
afraid il will have a fiji! OF course, the lamp
was brought, and, of course, the baby lay suck
ing his fist, like little white bear, as he was.
Mr.. Bill kins, said my wife, | think feel a
draught OF air; | wish you would get up and
see II the window is not open little, because
baby might get sick. Nothing was the ma er
with the window, as knew very well. Mr..
BlIklns, says my wife, just as was going to
sleep again, that lamp, as you have placed il,
shines directly in baby's eyes-strange, that
you have no more consideration. | arranged
the light and went 10 bed again. Just as was
dropping to sleep, Mr. Bliikins, said my wife,
did you think TO buy that brona to day for the
baby! My DEAR SAID |, will you Go me the in
justice to believe that | could overlook mat
ter so essential to the comfort of that ineslima-
bic child? She apologized very handsomely,
but made her anxiety the scapegoat. forgave
her, and, without saying a word more to her,
addressed myself TO sleep. Mr.. BlIfkins, said
my wife, shaking me, you must not snore so
you will wake the baby. Jest so-iest so, said
|, half asleep, thinking | was Scion Single
Mr.. Bllfkins, said my wife. will you get up
and hand me the warm Cruel from the muse
lamp for baby! the dear chIN if it wasn't for
his mother, | don't know what he would do
How can you sleep so! | suspect, my dear,
said |, that it is because / am tired. Oh, it's
very well for you men to ak about being tired;
don't know what you would say, if you had to
toll and drudge like a poor woman with baby.
| tried TO soOlhe her by telling her she had no
patience al all, and got up for the posset. Iiav-
lug aided in answering the baby's require
ments, stepped into bed again. with the hope
OF sleeping, Mr.. Bhfkins, said she, in a loud
er key. | said nothing. Oh, dear said that
estlmable woman, in great apparent anguish,
how can a man, who has arrived at the honor
of live baby Of his own, sleep, when he DON,
! know that the dear creature will live ill
morning | remained silent, and, after q while,
decmlng that she had gone to sleep, stretched
my limos for repose. How long slept don t
! know, but was awakened by furious jab IN
| the forehead by some sharp instrument.
started up, and Mrs Biik ins was sitting up in
bed, adjusting some portion ofthe baby dress.
She had, in state, of semi somnoIence, mis-
taken my head for the pillow, which she Gus
tomariy used for a nocturnal pin cushion.
protested against such treatment, in somewhat
round terms, pointing to several perforatons
in my forehead She told me | should willing
ly bear such lrlfing things for the sake of the
baby. | insisted upon 1t, that didn't think
my duty, as parent to that young immortal,
required the surrender of my forehead for pin
cushion. This was one of many nights passed
in thus way The truth was, that baby was
what every other mans first baby is, al auto.
crat-absolute and unlimited. Such was the
story of Blifkins, as he related 1t TO us, the
other day. 1t is little exaggerated picture OIL
almost every mans experience. -S0turday
Evening Gazette.