Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-03-15

Il RA0ANo1AeA " A4GAE bO4Es 4 DA4 AO1AAAl
understand this feeling among Govern.
ment contractors, stockholders and politi-
clans, who, Notwithstanding their own
shortcomings, have still sufficient morality
to care about their ehildren's souls. Laugh
ter and applsuse) But why this senti-
ment should prevail with mechanics and
men Of buslness-not stock-jobbers-I
have not been able 10 ascertain. Howev.
er, Mr.. Noddy shuddered at the idea Of
making his son q bank-clerk, and thought
he would rather make clergyman Of him,
and SO thinking, he fell asleep. he dream
ed he saw his little sOE in the pulpit with
black gown on, expounding the Script
ures, in the midst Of which his grand
mother arose and boldly denounced his
teachings, and condemned the heresy Of
his doctrines. (Laughter.)
After little while, Mr.. Noddy received
visitors. when every one, especially the L.
dies, demanded to see the baby, not that
they cared about beholding him-for, good
ness knows, babes are nc uncommon sight
in the city Of New York-but because it is
3 requirement Of conventional politenes.
That il is not 80 bad as with foolish moth
ers who think it must be great privilege
to allow q stranger to kiss the baby, and
who thrust driveling infant up to you
for this purpose, whether you like It or
not-a very dissgreeable proceeding, and
one highly to be reprehended. daughter. J
On one ooossion, being visited by some
friends, Mrs. Crounce pronounced q the
finest baby she had ever seen, and asked if
it cried any, etc. Miss Laura took him,
and dsndling him on her knee, called it "a
sweet little opSey-popsey." Then Mrs
Wingleton dsndlsd him, kissed him, and
cslled him "the sweetest little ipsey pipSey, I"
and handed him to Mr.. Crounce, who dan
died him, and kissed him, and called him
the sweetest little gpsey m1Piey," and
finally handed him to me. was rather
embarrassed. What was l, a confirmed
bashelor, to do with baby, now one was
90 suddenly thrust upon me2 endesvored
to initiate the exercises and poetry of
Mrs. Wingleton, and commenced dan
ding him; but he didn't seem to like it,
his head hung over on one side; and ven
tured to call him beautiful little rigaby-
6iqabg. daughter
didn't know any better. was pro-
ceeding to kiss him, when, to my relief, be
repelled the advance by spluttsring
fesrfully and yelling, and l would not
attempt TO kiss him st that time. What to
do with the child did not know. They
we're kind enough not to notice my awk-
vardness. The ladies all expatisted on
ihe sweetness Of the child; how much he
Fssembled the father about the forehead,
and the mother about the eyes and nose,
and his Aunt Cora abolt the mouth and
cheek. All appealed if this was not SO,
and there was charming nnsnimity that
he was the sweetest, dearest and prettiest
little duckie darling they had ever beheld
On walking home with Mrs. Singleton ]
heard Miss Laura express her deliberate
opinion that the baby SOas a naStg IiaIs
fright daughter.
In this horid sentiment the ether sisters
agreed, saying they detesied babies, and
we're glad the baby had not screamed
more during the period Of their visit. Oh
human nature or rather feminine nature
(Laughterl. For 1 do not believe my own
sex would have bad the skill to have Gov
~-S1 SIia little nipoa of hRnoerisy. Oh I
feminine naturel what was % be gained
BY this nonsense2 and what good comes to
Mrs. Noddy by reason OF this reception OF
her ohild2 II the baby was not pretty,
Why say so2 if q nasty little fright, why
cali him the sweetest little ipSey- pipSsg, op-
seq poptey, HpSsy-mIpsey, TigGby- bigdby
(Laughter). Perhsps the offence is toe
small for the recording angel 10 write it
down against you, but it Is mean for ell
that, and If 1 should mention this among
your male acqusintanoes, think it would
confirm you ell in the idea Of being old
maids, and think il would serve you
right. (Lsughter). Meanwhile the baby
prospered and grew fat. No wonder, see
ing that the little fellow got sll he vented
to est, was not called upon to work for it.
will engage to fst myself under similar
treatment. (Laughter).
Another trouble came. Mrs. KaduggiD
b'sd the habit Of running her finger into
tba ehild's mouth, and one day she discoY-
cred the baby had little foods-which
moaps tooth. Every looked for it-nobody
oould in,S It. Several hardy persons fell
for n hut 1'ailed TO discover it, and not I'M
iii four week. after did the tooth make its
anpasrsnce anu then in an eRtirely Oppo-
site direction freu the spot mentioned by
Mrs. Ksduggin. Laughter). At length
the momentous day Of christening arrived
and when 1 repaired to the house at nine
o'clock, l found the godfather and god
mother habited in the height and breadth
of fashion, with q bonnet eighteen inches
above the top of her head, and between the
head and this remarkable machine there
were Leaves and fruits aud flowers enough
TO have furnished e stall in Fulton Market
Daughter.
Mrs. Noddy seized on me directly, and
insisted should come and hear the baby
speak. The young scamp, however, ap-
peared from the frst predjudiced TO tall
with any one but blood relation, and re
fused to pronounce in my presence. A.
length he made the sound. Here tht
speaker illustrated the noise emitted from
the month of the young scamp, which, as
the reporter is an old bachelor too, ne car
only compare to cross between 3 subdueC
sneezs and snOFe.) "Did you hear that 2
asked the mother. "Yes, heard it dis
tinctly; don't know that I could under
stand it though" why" answered tht
mother, sit is as clear as any thing in thl
word; it is plain. There again"-(an
other sttenusted grunt) "It was as pisiI
as could be, mana, papa. daughter
There, again." said the mother, tthst i
nursey." She understood the language bet
ter than I did. (Laughter)
Innumerable cards poured in from al
parts Of the city, and many friends en-
quired after the health Of Mrs. Noddy and
baby, to all of which Mrs. Kaduggin re
piled by simply saying, 1.-THE baby wa
thriving wonderfully, and Mrs. Noddy was
she was glad to say, as well as could be ex
peeted." Nothing is more common an
nothing more bold than this expression
How, thought 1. could she know what I ex
peeted might expect Mrs. Noddy as 70
bust ss coal HEAVIER. What information
do derive from the announcement, "ATI
Nod5y as OeH as could be expected? Ex
pscted BY whom II BY Mrs. Ksduggin
how could I fathom the depth Of thst zoo