Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-04-11
THE BABY's JOURNAL,
By ETHEL LYNN.

| am here. And, if this is what they call
| the world, don't think much of it. It's a
very fannelly world, and smells OF paregoric
| awfully. It's dreadful light world, too, and
makes me blink, I tell you. Aud don't
know what to do with my hands; think I'll
| dig my fists in my eyes. No, won't. I'll
| scrabble at the corner OF the blanket and
chew il up, and then I'll holler whatever
happens, I'll boiler. Aud the more paregor
| ic they give me the louder pll yell. That
old nurse puts the spoon in the corner Of my
mouth in very uneasy way, and keeps tast.
| ing my milk herself al the while. She spill
ed snuff in it last night, and, when | holler-
ed she trotted me. That comes of being a
two dave old baby. Never mind, when I'm
man I'll pay her back good. There's pin
sticking in me now, andi say a word about
it I'il be trotted or fed, and / would rather
have catnip tea. I'll tell you who / am.
found out to day. heard folks say, "Hush,
don't wake up Emmeline's baby" That's
me. I'm "Emmeline's baby" and suppose
that pretty, white faced woman over on the
pillows is Emlueline.
No, was mistaken, for a chap was in here
Just now and wanted to see Bob's baby, and
looked at me and said / "was a funny little
toad, and looked just like Bob" He smelt
of cigars, and Pm not used to them. / won
der who else belong to. Yes there's anoth-
er one-that's "Ganma," Emneline told me,
and then she took me up and held me against
her soft cheek and said, at was Ganma's ba
by, so it vas" declare, I do not know who
do belong to; but I'll holler, and may be
I'll find out
There comes Snuffy with catnip tea. The
idea of giving babies eatnip tea when they
are crying for information I'm going to
sleep. / wonder If I don't look pretty red in
the face? wonder why my hands won't 60
where l want them to. / wonder what Snuff
fy has in that big black bottle, and Why she
don't give Ganma's baby some.
Here's Bob; he's one of the people belong
to, you know. He kisses me and scratches
me with his MOUTH don't wear a nous
tache myself like Gamma She treats me
like gentleman and parts my hair on the
side. Snuffy parts it in the middle.
NJ 81 III.
Pm year old, and I've got name. Pm
10; and Uncle 10 gave me silver cup this
morning, but they won't let me have it to
bang on the table. Gamma would give it to
me in minute, and think some day, when
catch her alone, I'll get it yet.
Cousin Lizzie is staying here. She is a
nice girl, only she won't let me pull her hair,
l think she might-such long, soft. yellow
curls. She won't let Uncle 10 touch a curl
either. He just lifted one up the other day,
and she drew it away and bent over her head
and kissed me ever so much, and Uncle 10
walked away.
guess he was only trying to see if it was
the same color as his mustache.
Oh! I've got the prettiest mamma; her
eyes shine so bright, and her little hands are
so soft; | declare am proud OF her.
Snuffy don't live here now; Annie takes
me out, and we go to the park, and gentle
men with caps and great many buttons on
their coats talk to me a great deal, ask An
ME how old am, and where / live. They
are very polite to me, but don't think it is
quite right of Annie to keep my cap over my
eyes so much it is rather tedious.
I've had lots of toothache, and I've raised
a few teeth they don't come out as Grand
mas do, though. My pretty mamma tells me
to show my toofes, and then / have to grin
for everybody. bit Bob's finger yesterday,
but he didn't seem to mind it.
III.
I've got short clothes on and Cousin Liz
zie is teaching me to dance. Uncle 10 helps
her too. When / am through my lesson, she
catches me up and kisses me, and then I'm.
Gle 10 kisses me too, right on the same spot.
Isn't that queer?
Cousin Lizzie is going home soon; I'm sor.
ry; SOS Uncle 10. l heard him tell her so
and then she stopped to tie my sleeye-ribbon
and grew very red in tie face about it. That's
funny, too.
I've got little sister. She looks pretty
well for girl. remember when / did not
look any better. l think I'll be good to her;
but she must understand at first that she must
mind her elder brother.
Cousin Lizzie has a new bright ring on
her finger guess Uncle 10 gave it to her.
She don't scold when he pulls her curls
now.
Oh amt glad I've got Gamma? for
Cousin Lizzie forgets me now sometimes,and
mamma Emmeline is so white and still. But
Gamma don't forget-not she; and she isn't
so taken up with this girl baby that she can't
remember fellow who used to be No l.
She says my nose is out of joint, but it don't
feel broken.
l don't want to be ugly, but do hate to
see the new baby in my place and hear
them tell her that she is the dearest little dot
that ever lived.
They used to tell me just So And don't
like to see my dear mamma so very still, with
her eyes shut.
knew it was sorroUful world when /
came, and that is why cried.
I've tried to-day to wake dear mamma,
and cannot. She will not speak to me. or
move, or open her bright eyes. She GUvs
not even turn when the baby cries. Both
her little hands are laid upon her breast, and
full of flowers. And Cousin Lizzie and Gan
ma are all in black frocks, and Fve got black
ribbons on. And Bob sits by her with his
head in his hands and Uncle 10 cries as he
stands beside them both and lays his hand
on his shoulder, and says, "God help you,
brother" And all the while the sun is shin
ing in the street, and the people go by as
they always do. The canary might know
this was no time to sing-when dear mamma
will never wake again. 80
She held me in her arms last nigh, and
kissed me, and said, "Goodby, my little Jo."
They tell me she has gone to heaven; but it
is no comfort to me. don't know where
heaven is, or how to get there. looked up
at the stars, but liked the shine of mammals
eyes better. And / wanted her here. /
must be good to the baby, and mean to be |;
whatever happens, I'm going to stand by that
baby.
Pleasant Paragraphs.
II -