Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-09-02
MALVINA.
BY MRS. J. v. EAMEs.

YOUNG Tom Collins, law-student, had
just come into strange inheritance. He
sat solitary in his little boardin q. 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. If hadn't
St, could; but, Lord that is not the idea.
must decide what am to do"
Tom had solemnly promised to care for
the newborn baby Of his only sister, who
had just died.
He tried to mediate. He had often be-
fore, during his life, made the same at
tempt, but had never to any extent sue
ceeded. He did not seem like one born to
take things into very serious considera-
ton. But this case seemed to require it.
No good joke came to the rescue. Tom
really had never in his twenty-five years
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 where he
had long 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
1t was followed by cry Of mingled en-
treaty and command, such as only hungry
babies know how to emit.
i've fetched the poor little dear around,
sir J" remarked woman whose marvellous
rotundlty ofperson showed to fine advan-
tage as she waved her screaming parcel as
though were incense whereWith to purify
Toms batchelor room.
Good Lord p he calculated.
You'd ought to git cow" said nurse,
still brandishing her charge. "There
there therel It's got wind this minute,
mixin' milk. Have you found nurse,
sir And baby wants Clothes"
ITS got on too many clothes now" said
Tom. Il think that's what it's crying
about; see how red and hot it isl"
Poor inexperienced Tom he had Of
tendedsth woman-cast recklessly over
board his only anchor
She dropped her shrieking charge
upon Toms bed, and started towards the
door.
Every well, sir p' she said, solemnly,
u see you know all about babies--I may
gor'
ooh! oh p gasped Tom, "do not In
the name Of mercy, do not Itshall have
clothes! Why do you say I want nurse?
Are you uot one? / assure you I know
nothing, absolutely nothing of babies l.
never to my knowledge touched one!'
Real despair is impressive. The woman
was Modified.
81 am, sir" she said, turning confden.
. TALLY to Tom, ''a monthly am willing
to stay with you while I can. But, sir, a
person in my position is 10 dependence.
My summons may come any day or hour.
It's impossible to calculate. Day and
night is all the same to me. There amt
on earth to me thing so inscrutable SIS
this impossibility of calculating when we
shall be sent for. I'll work for you while
can, sir, but when call comes, no earth
ly thing can keep me-"
Tom took all these remarks in reli-
gious point of view. From person of
Mrs. Primmins' robustness, they amazed
him. He felt vague fear lest, as he men
tally expressed it, there might be "a bee
in the old lady's bonnet"
"Oh cheer up! cheer up, Auntie," be
said, you look hale and hearty. You've
oVertired yourself with my poor sister.
II you'll stay and take charge of that lit
tie thing Tor me, I'll risk your getting a
SuIlIUOAS.
"Your poor sister found great consola-
tion In your promise for her child,n re-
marked Mrs. Primmins, pathetically. 'Its
desperate resort leaving baby to a
young man, but in her strait she was faiu
TO catch at any straw"
"Can you,n said Tom, looking gloomily
st his now silent prize On the bed, I" can
you give me any advice? You couldn't
have waited till tomorrow before bring.
ing it, could your" he added, half re,
proachfully.
"Of course not" said Mrs. Primmins
"Well! you're no accountl Now let mt
think" $2
"Do, in Heavens name," calculated
Tom.
Mrs. Primmins placed her arms
akimbo.
Tom fervently prayed for light on the
meditations.
II have it," cried Mrs. Primmins; "Mal.
why's got to take iti'
"Bless your dear soul, responded Tom
''MalViny S the very one! What a talent
you have for managing, Auntie dear"
There was Tom, his very self He had
hit on exactly the right compliment to
pay the old nurse. He was actually float
ing through life on this instinct ne had
or saying the most pleasant thing to ev-