The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-05-02
LANCASTER G. H., S. c., MAY 2, 1866.

seated, and both hands at work, than
With ayell it would throw itself back.
"ard' bump its head in my face, and
't'tfsn out like the expressed esssnc. Of
g"'vanism. Fortunately a pair Of scissors
lay on the window sill, and I cut ev.ry
string, only scratching the baby once and
sticking it twice.
The bath sootEed it. From the mo,
ment when the warm water touched ;,s
body It stopped screaming and b.ean 10
beat the water in a playful! style, that
might have enchanted il it had not sa,u
rated me. The hmpid fluid few up INV
nose, into my eyes. and down my throat,
tnckled from my hair down nv neck in to
my bosom. and reduced my collar to a
p's'fully limp state. ANYTHING, however,
was better than screaming, so patiently
held up the slippery young lady. and le,
her toes and fingers dabSIe in the water.
Her favorite plan WAS to hold both hand.
above her head, and then strike them
down with full force, sending between a
pint and quart into my face and ewes
| When my back seemed nearly broken
with my stooping position. I lifted her out,
and began TO wrpe off the water with a
towel. She made no objection, but the
little head bobbed about from one side to
the other, the blue eyes were los, under
the white lids, and my charge was fas.
asleep. There WAS a basket full O. cloth ..
IN the room, and, wrapping her all up in
a shaw, laid her gently in the basket
and flew up stairs. OF went my heavy
shoes; | found clean stockings, slippers
and collar. and dar,sd back to the
bath room. Baby s.ilI slept; so, locking
the door. | took the longsd for bath.
had just finished p;nning in my coll. r.
again. when Mrs. Hall tried the door.
"Ths baby dropped asleep, ma'am."
said, as I opened it, so wrapped her up
and put her here"
al. is not necessary to .fas,en the door,
Kitty" she said. coming in.
ii though, perhaps the geut,aman''-
"Thsre are no gentlemen in the house
Thsss are my brothers children. and thsi
mother diod when Lulu was born. Thei,
father and my husband are both sway on
business. to Be gone for two years, aud
came to take care Of thsm. Now, ycu
understand p
"Ys, ma'sm !"
"You will. have the sole charge o.
them-six little girls, the eldes, j US, tel
and co not expect you TO do anything
else. The nurse who has always had III.
baby lsf. me last week. By the way, i
you think you can manage the baby .,
night you cad sls-p. as sbs did, 10 tn.
nursery, and be ready to take her 10 tn.
morning"
l caught eagerly At this idea, for I bat
not conceived any great admiration 70
my last nights quarters, and then
frankly cot fsssed my ignorance with re-
gard to babies. and asked a little ins,ruc
ton. My mistress good ns,ursdly OK
planned the use OF each little garment a
she took it from a basket beside her, an,
told me how to put il on, and, As sh
spoke. FIVE nigh'go~ned figures suddenl
dashed IN at the door to see the ne,
nurse.
"Bush ! baby's asleep" cried ,hei
aunt, to still the Babel Of voices. "Yo
will ba,ne and dress them every mornipl
bsfors breakfast, Kitty, and again in ,b
afternoon. Jennie will show you whsr
their clothes are kept" Jennie, the old
est, a pretty blacksyed child, whose fac
besmsd with mischief, nodded, and Sc
the water rur ming to gil The large tub.
/ ooScLUDsD Mkt WEEK.
|