The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-10-04
N alvina.

Young Tom Collins, law student, had
just come into strange inheritance. tie
sat solitary in his little boarding house
room trying to realize it,
"If the poor child hadn't me-" he said
to himself, "it could go and apply for ad-
mission to some institution. II hadn't
it could but Lord that's not the idea.
| must decide what | am to do"
Tom had solemnly promised to care for
the new born baby of his only sister. who
had just died.
He tried to mediate He had often
before, during his life, made the same at
tempt, but had never succeeded to any ex-
tent. He did not seem like one born to
take things into very serious considera-
tion. But this case seemed to require it,
No good joke came to his rescue. Tom
really in his twenty-five years mad never
felt such an awful sense Of gloom His
natural hilarity could only suggest to his
mind the rather poor consolation that he
"had at least over night to consider on the
business"
Here Tom was interrupted BY knock
on the door AN occurrence unusual enough
in the little upper room whore he had
long since ceased regarding even the bell.
pull as resort in any extremity, so COM
pletely was he accustomed to be let alone.
Before Tom could respond to the knock
it was followed by cry of mingled en-
treaty and command, such as hungry ba-
bies only know how to emit.
I've fetched the poor little dear u.
round, sir" said woman whose marvell-
GUS rotundity of person showed to fine
advantage as she waved her screaming
parcel as though it were incense where
with to purify Toms bachelor room
"Good Lord - he calculated.
You ought to get cow" said nurse,
still brandishing her charge There I!
there there It's got wind this mint.
mizin' milk. Have you found a nurse,
sir And baby wants clothes"
Its got on too many clothes now, said
Tom. "l think that's what it's crying
about see how red and hot it is =!
Poor inexperienced Tom He had of.
| Tended the woman--cast recklessly over
hoard his only anchor.
She dropped her shrieking charge upon
Toms bed, aud started towards the door.
Very well, sir, she said solemniy, 81
see you know all about habies--l may
go!"
"Oh oh " gaspei Tom, "do not . In
the name Of mercy do not 1t shall have
clothes Why do you say want a nurse!
Are you not onef | assure you | know
nothing, absolutely nothing of babies ~
never to my knowledge touched one =!
Real despair is impressive. The wo-
man was modified.
81 am sir" she said. turning confident.
tally to Tom. "a monthly. am willing
to say with you while | can. But, sir. q
person in my position is no dependence
My summons may come at any day oI
hour. 1t is impossible to calculate. Day
and night is all the same to me There
amt on earth thing so inscrutable to me
as this impossibility of calculating whei
we shall be sent for. I'll work for you
while | can sir. but when my call comes
no earthly thing can keep me"
Tom took all these remarks III r-lig
ious point of view From a person o
Mrs. Primmius' robustness, they amazet
him. He felt vague fear lost as he men
tally expressed it. there might be IA be'
in the old adys bonnet"
"Oh! cheer up cheer up Auntie. h
said, "you look hale and hearty You'v,
overtired yourself with my poor sister
If you'll stay and take charge of that lit
tie thing for me. I'll risk you getting
Summons.
"Your poor sister found great oonsola
ton in your promise for her child" re
marked Mrs. Primmins. .pathetically 1T
desperate resort leaving baby to
young man, but in her strait she was fai
to cath at any straw
4 "Can you" said Tom. looking gloom
lily at his now silent prize on the bee
6 "can you give me any advice 70
couldn't have waited till Tomorrow befor
. bringing it, could you ?" he added hal
reproachfully
=, "Of course not, said Mrs. primmin
"well you're no account Now let m
think"
Is "Do. in Heavens name !" calculate
. Tom
!, Mrs. Prinnius placed her arms akin
a bo
Tom iervently prayed tor lighi on h,
meditations
a have it" cried Mrs Primmins
"Malviny's got to take it =
Bless you dear soul. rssponde
Tom " Malviny's the very one VIII
: a talent you have for managing, aunt
dear :"
There was Tom, his very self Il
had hit on exactly the right eompliuer
u to pay the old nurse. He was actual
floating through life on this instinct be ha
tor saying the most pleasant things
+ everybody. Mrs Primnins ofall things q
=. sired the reputation Of maneuyer, as
I'd was, of course, the one Of all others tn
's she did not deserve.
Vi YES" she cried, chuckliog, II c'
o. manage. Let me alone And III
'' thing in the morning III 20 there wi
you. oNoW." said she seizfnc her char