The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-04-13
syOURNAL
WEDNFsDAY, APRIL IS, 1s70.
AUNT MABEL,s STORY.
BY EDNA BROOK.

ScD
HE is, indeed, a beauty" replied
aunty, as she took the ten months old
baby in her arms and fondly kissed
his soft, dimpled cheeks.
But little Walter did not at all APP
prove Of this, and his mother took
him 10 the other end Of the room,
where tho bright rays ofthe afternoon
sun, shining through the end window,
fell on a wine decanter standing on the
table, lighting up the cut glass with a
variety of brilliant eolors. Forget
ting his troubles, little Walter crowed
with delight, and stretched out his
tiny hands to grasp the attractive OBJ
iect. His mother laughed merriiy as
She danced him up and down. "You
can't have that, my son.; that's no
plaything for you, pet" but the baby
Screamed afresh and reached toward
il. "Fie! baby; what a noise for aun-
tic to hear-there, little tyrant, will
that do?" and she placed the stopper
of the decanter in his hands, and set
him on the carpet; then drawing a
footstool to Aunt Mabels side, she
exclaimed, NOW, dear auntie, / can
talk to you; baby will be quiet a long
while with that new toy to play with"
Oracle, dear, don't spoil that boy
of yours"
Grace laughed 'IIl try not, auntie,
but he will have his own way, ifpossi-
BILE; !" and she passed her hand over
her boys curly Head, as he sat gravely
on tho floor, thrllsting his new play
thing into that general receptacle OF
all babies-his mouth.
Look auntie, , said Grace. after o
minute or two spent in admiring cor
temptation of her treasure; only see
how the rogue is sucking that stopperl
I do believe he likes the taste of the
wine on it; that's beginning early at
n rate. isn't it?" And again she
laughed merrilv as she spoke.
But Aunt Mabel did not laugh.
"Grace," she said, seriously, do you
mean to bring up your boy to be a
water drinker?'
I'm sure I don't know, auntie; I've
never thought about it; why should L?
A little beer. or wine either won't hurt
him when he is older. Roland and l
always take it for dinner" IA
Your husband is not q teetotaler,
then?D
"Ohl no, he says it is carrying things
10 KIEhb GAAAGAAG2 w 0L1 dAAOhOtAr
err: a little ale with his dinner, and a
glass or two of wine after, does him
GOOD; and he is never pleased unless
/ take some too. / am not strong
enough to do without it, he says;
thoygb, as | tell him, that's just non
sense, for I'm p we'll as ' g l can
be" -
ssYou look so, at any rate, my dear"
rs L. -4-N. tt~w1 uom t4wuo1o
should like to tell you q short story
about the friends in the North, whom
/ only left last week. You know j
have been staying there q long time"
Indeed you have, dear auntio; for
[ have been wanting you for the last
three months, and couldn't get you;
do let me have your story; but l know"
she added. glancing at the mourning
dress Of her relative. 1T has been a
ycrv meurnfuI time for you.
INDEED it has, dear; a very. very
moursfuI time. But 1t is not of that
I want to speak first; my story must
date back many, many years; to a
time when [ was not much older than
Won. Gracie, and as full of life and
nepe az you can possibly be now /
was payr1g a long promised visit TO
soEae friends, when D day l was SUR
priged BY receiving o note from an old
and much loved schoolfellow. to invite
me 10 spend q long day with her that
week. and to come to her for q longer
stay when ny visit to the Duncan's
should terminate. / was, indeed, de-
lighted at this opportunity of renew-
ing our friendship, and / did not fail
10 90 over to Willowby Hall on the
appointed day, and was welcomed by
Isabel with the greatest pleasure and
affection. With eagerness she showed
me OYER her house and gardens, re-
serving till last the introductin to her
chief treasure, her only child, a lovely
boy of three summers,
Isabel always dined early with her
bow when there was no company ex-
neeted. and to-day was to be no excep-
non to the rule, for "she would not :
aha said. make a stranger of her old
sqheol friend Mabel" There was an
otber visitor present, however-Isa-
bel's eldest brother, who had just re-
turned 10 this country after many
wears absence and had arrived only
tie night before on a short visit to
his sister. Mr.. Willowby was away
from home on business, much to Isa-
bePs regret, who wished to introduce
roe to her husband; so we were a small,
hut very merry party; the quaint re-
marks volunteered by little Cyril add
ed not.a little to our amusement. 1t
was evident Isabel spoiled the precious
nov. but [ thought it was not much to
be wondered at-he was such a bright,
loving. intelligent little fellow.
When the servant IN waiting filed
our glasses from the jug of fresh
drawn ale, which, however, | noticed
chat Mr.. Stewart declined to touch, it
was with some surprise [ sawthe little
bov's silver cup was lhalf-flled too,
and that he raised it with eagerness
to his lips. Mr.. Stewart spoke the
thoughts that were in my mind by
exclaiming, Isabel surely you don't
LET that child drink ale2" Isabel
laughed. Yes, Gordon, he always
has q Httle-he u DOT strong, and il
does him good; ne likes 1t, too; don't
you pet?"
'sDoyou think it wise and right.
Isabel, to let that child get a liking
for drinks of that kind while he is so
youne2'
Why; Gordon, what harm can it
do him?'
"A great deal. I should say. Ale is
quite unit for a child of his years
especially for n so sensitive and ex-
citable as Cyril"
But, Gordon, it is such a little
drop he has-scareely more than a
tablespoonful-it can't possibly hurt
him. naa Bea aEA 81 .i.rr n
sWeli, setting aside the physical
harm it may or may notdo to him. IL
may do him an immense amour of
moral injury; while he is too young to