Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-06-16

| " Ned forgot to tell you, L put out
some tea in cup and coffee in another; SC
you can make which you choose. Keep
some hot for me. Good bye
frankie was sleeping sweetly when Ed
win Barton returned to his room, after fin
ishing his breakfast and providing for Dick,
with the directions to clear up as Mr. Bar
ton said.
Loking around the room, he espied q
picture that was not in the exact position
and providing himself with hammer, he
withdrew the hook, selected the proper
place to hang it, and went to work
This unusual noise awoke frankie, who
very soon sent forth loud wall of fright
and complaint. In vain the father tried to
soothe the little one; at length Dicks SER
vices were called into play.
Deed Mister Barton, Sc 'spects you
made racket and scared him. Tse AIM
done de dishes yit, answered Dick.
Never mind sir. | suppose there are
| more clean dishes if they are wanted. You
come here and try to quiet the baby
But frankie would scream in spite of al
Dick S endeavors. At last he struck q
bright idea.
'If you lei me so in next door and gil
Harry Blame (Blain) to cum in wid his'r
playthings, dat will muse him."
| So little Harry came, and frankie yield
ed to his influence and became quite pleas
ant
Ned read his paper, lighted his meer-
schaum, and finally found pair of scissors
and began his long threatened piece OF
work, in truth, amusement namely, cut
ting and twisting lamplighters. The waste
pieces of paper he threw on the carpet,
which were directly caught up by the little
ones, and contributed much to their amuse-
ment, and future discomfort of frankie and
his father. But l must not anticipate
Noon came, and Harry babe adieu, and
| in a short time the baby began to grow
quite restless, and continued to grow worse.
Ned took him up and to do him justice /
must say endeavored in every way to amuse
him.
Dick, what is the matter with him now,
is he hungry?'
mo deed, sir. lis fed him. 'Spect he
misses his nanny. 'Spect may be how
yon don't hole him easy"
So it seemed, for as the father pressed
the little one in his arms louder grew the
screams.
So passed the time with little intermis-
sion, until late in the afternoon.
Il mus go to de door, slr-the bell dun
rung, said Dick.
Don't you let any one in. 1 am out,
you hear, hoy?"
la few minutes Dick called up:
'Gemmen say how you will see him, an
[ tole him how you say you out too"
Ned it is only l. Let me come up:
''Tom Merryman? Oh all right Come
up, perhaps you can help me here. Do you
know anything about baby tending? This
youngster has a spell of--well, don't know
what -
And Ned proceeded to explain how it was
he was home in Fannie's place.
Yes, / can help you think. Bless you
boy it is 'toiad' that is the matter with
him. l know all about it. When sister
Jennie's baby cries. that is what they all
say is the matter, and of course it is so with
yours. They give him a little drop of gin,
and let me see, how old is your baby-yes,
fifteen months Well, fifteen drops of par
egoric, that is it. ~
you are sure, Tom, that it will not hurt
him p asked the anxious young father.
Il kno,o it will not.
So it was duly administered, and it soon
proved happy idea, for Frankies little
eyelids' grew heavy, and before many min
utes passed he was sound asleep.
Tom, you are the smartest fellow l knowl
Come, now-let us go down and get some
thing to eat | am almost famished. Luck
lily, Fannie fixed everything for lunch, ex-
cept coffee, and l can make that. under
stand it much better than tending babies. -
''Halloo What the thunder is this?
Look, Tom ~
Tom went TO inspect.
sit looks like butter, or dough, making
an exit from the pan"
Ned's face wore most comical express
ion as he answered;
You have hit it, Tom, sure It's all
dough now Fannie eft that loaf for me to
bake What can l do with it? Whew
How sour it smells Can you help me QUO
here, Tom ?''
'Yes-I guess so. Help you upwith it
from the floor and out with it, to the slop-
pail That is the way our cook does when
she burns the bread up, and should think
that might answer fer this"
At the concluding part of this speech
Ned sprang to the stove, pulled open the
oven door, pulled out the pan of rolls, now
burned to Goals.
Il forgot all about them, had so much
to do. A fellow cannot remember every
thing. wish that scamp Dick had forgot
then to fill up this stove with COAL then
they wouldn't be quite SO black. Any idea
what to do here, Tom?''
''Oh, certainly, let them keep company
with the loaf
Gall right, I'll make the coffee now, and
then well be ready for our lunch. There S
few rolls left from breakfast
Tom carried out his plan relative to the