Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-07-30
The Autocrat of the Household,
by MIGNoNETTE.

There lies the little Sovereign, with
imperial sleep upon her brow. Her tiny
mouth, that ten minutes since was terri
bly, stretched in "white squall, is
dalntiy parted by the soft robin breath |;
the pearIy dimpled hands, that were just
now clenched in doubtless a" righteous
Indignation" are lying like bits of match
less sculpture upon the gay cradle quilt;
and under some skirts embroidered with
all the fondness and foolishness of ma
ternal love, l catch glimpse Of rose-tip-
ped toes that have forgotten their stormy
assault upon the offending cradle foot,
and now nestle together in enchanting
repose. Slumbering little volcano, lull-
ed tempest, sleep conquered tyrant-
there you are!
How she lords it over us! Talk about
monarchies and oIigarchies-does not
this little unconscious queen WELD a
more rigid and absolute sceptre than was
eve. waved from throne or palace? If
her ladyship wills it, are we not to rise
before Il g day has even thought of CON-
il o up ia the east, and make her com
Portable with trcttings and warm milk
and a journey of mile or so back ard
forth across the chamber floor? And if
she decides to be sleepy at that most out
door able part of the day, sunset, IRE we
not to hush all gay and cheerful sounds,
aud HE away to the dim, religious light
of the nursery and assist her capricions
nerves into luxurious repose? And then
her forenoon maps: do we not rise from
back breaking postures-where we have
" stopped to conquer her wakefulness-
as breathlessly as if we were playing
jack stones, lest the rustic of a garment
or the creak of a shoe may penetrate the
thin crust of her first sleep! With what
trepidation and with what consciousness
of failure do we ply her with playthings,
on bland afternoons, when there are calls
to be made or jobs of shopping to attend
to, and with what serene contempt does
she fling them, one by one, behind her /!
She sees through artifice at glance.
She will have none of it. She knows
you are planning an escape. Though
Won might sit beside her half the after
noon and receive scarcely glance from
her imperial eyes. you undertake to put
on your bonnet aud you become sudden
ly dear. You are cried after, and that
settles the business. You put the bon
net away and come back to your alleg
lance.
Terrible Baby!
But bistl There is perceptible quiv-
err in toes and fingers. There is an indi.
cation Of disunion in the eyelids. Let
every breath be hushed! Rock, rock
softly and gently as zephys rocks the
topmost bough of the willow; and sing
in your tenderest voice the faintest dream
of lullaby! No go. Her Majesty
will take only catnap this morning.
Her left ear tingles and tells her some
body is saying bad things of her. One
of her many attendant fairies twigs the
little gold curl lying upon her forehead
and tells her that her subjects are going
to steal away and do the marketing be
fore she wakes, and at that she starts -
Two bright eyes suddenly fy open. A
diminutive hand thrusts itself upward.
A small voice distinctly articulates.-
Ah-dah" and the great autocrat of
the household is awake.-EUening WIS
cOnsia.