The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1870-09-22
MALvINA.

Young Tom Collins, law student, ha
lust come into strange inheritance. II
sat solitary in his little boarding house
trying to realize it.
"If the poor child hadn't me-" h
said to himself, it could go and appl.
for admission to some institution. II
hadn't it, I could; but Lord? that Is no
the idea, l must decide what I am t
do"
Tom had solemnly promised to carr
for the new born baby Of his only sister
who had just died.
He tried to mediate. He had otter
before, during his life, made the came
attempt, but had never, to any extent
succeeded. He did not seem like one
born to take things into very serious
consideration But this case seemed tc
require it. No good joke came to the
rescue. Tom really in his twenty-five
years had never felt such an awful sense
Of gloom. His natural hilarity could
only suggest to his mind the rather poor
consolation that he had ut least one
night to consider over the queer busi-
ness. ...-.
Here Tom was interrupted by knock
on the door-an occurrence unusual
enough in the little upper room where
he had long since ceased regarding even
the bell pull as resort in any extremi.
ty, SO completely was lie accustomed to
being let alone.
Before Tom could respond to the
knock it was folio wed by q cry of mingl-
ed entreaty aud command, such as only
hungry babies know how to emit.
"I've fetched the. poor little dear
around, sir" remarked q woman whose
marvellous rotundity showed to fine ad-
vantage as she waved her screaming
parcel as though it was incense where
with to purify Toms batchelor apart
ment.
Good Lord!" he calculated.
"You'd ought to get cow" said she,
still brandishing her charge. "There!
there there! It's got wind this min
ute, mixin milk. Have you found O
nurse, sir? And baby wants some cloth
es."
ITS got on too many clothes now,"
said Tom. think that is it's crying
about; see how rcd aud hot it is"
Poor inexperienced Tom he had Of
Tended the woman-cast reck lessly over
board his only anchor.
She dropped her shrieking charge on
Toms bed, and started towards the
door.
every well, sir" she said solemni,,
"T 500 s-e., know All about biaDIss-I may
go.''
"Oh OH" gasped Tom, "do not IN
the name of mercy do not! 1t shall
have clothes! Why do you say l want
nurse? Are not you one? l assure
you know nothing, absolutely moth
ng, of babies! Inever to my knowl-
edge touched one, aud l don't want
to-"
Real dispair ia impressive. The wo-
man was Modified.
II am sir, she said, turning confiden-
TALLY to Tom, "a monthly. I am viii.
ling to stay with you while can. But,
sir, person in my position is no depen.
dence. My summons may come any
day or hour. It's impossible to calcu-
late. Day and night is all the same to
me. There amt on earth to mo thing
SO inscrutable as this impossibility of
calculating when we shall be sent for.
I'll work for you while l can, sir; but
when my call comes, NO earthly power
can keep me-"
Tom took all these remarks in a relig'
| ious point of view. From o person OF
Miss Primmin's S robustness, they amaz'
ed him. He felt vague fear lest, as he
mentally expressed it, "there might be
bee in the old lady's bonnet
"Oh, cheer up! cheer up! auntie," ht
said. "You look hale and hearty. You
we overtired yourself with my poor sis
ter. Ifyou'll stay and take charge o
that little thing forme, I'll risk yo,
getting a summons
"Your poor sister found great consola
ton in your promise for her child,' re
marked Mrs. Primmins, pa,hetically
"It's desperate resort, leaving bah.
to young man, but in her strait sh
was fain to catch at any straw"
"Can you," said Tom, looking gloom
lily Mt his now silent prise OH the bed
"can you give me any advice? Yo
couldn't have waited till tomorrow be
fore bringing it, could you?" he added
half reproachfully.
"Of course not,' said Mrs. Primmins
"Well, you're of no account. Now Il
me think"
"Do, in Heavens name," calculate
Tom.
, Mistress Primmins placed her arm
akimbo.
Tom fervently prayed for light on he
metlitations.
II have it," cried Primmins, "Malv
ny's got to take it,"
"Bless your dear SOUL" responde
Tom. "Malviny's the very one! VIII;
talent you have for managing, aunt
dear?"
There was Tom, his very self. II