The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-09-16
SELECTED Storu.
MALyTNA.
From Putnam. for September.


Young Tom Collins, law student. had
Just come into q strange inheritance. He
sat solitary in his little clearinghouse,
trying 10 realize It
eff the poor child hadn't me" he said
TO himself, lit could go and apply for ad-
mission to some institution. If hadn't
it, l could; but Lord that is not the idea.
1 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 consideration.
But this case seemed to require it. No
good joke came to the resene. Tom re-
ally IN his twenty-five years had never felt
such an awful sense of gloom. His natu-
raj lhilarity could only suggest to his mind
the rather poor consolation that he chad
at least over night to consider on the bus
iness."
Here Tom was interrupted by a 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 2 resort in any extremity, so completely
was he accustomed to be let alone.
Before Tom could respond to the knock
il WAS followed by a cry of mingled en-
treaty and command, such as only hungry
babies know how to emit.
sI've fetched the poor little dear around,
sir !" remarked a woman whose marvellous
TOtundity of person showed TO fine advan-
tage as she waved her screaming parcel rs
though it were incense wherewith to purify
Toms bachelor-rcom.
Good Lord !" he calculated.
"You'd ought to git cow" said nurse,
still brandishing her charge. "rhere
there there It's got wind this minute,
mixin' milk. Have yod found O nurse,
sir? And baby wants clothes"
''It's got on too many clothes now," said
Tom. 81 think that's what it's CRYING
about; see how red and hot it is.'
Poor inexperienced Tom he had Offend
ed the woman-cast Iecklessly overheard
his only anchor
She dropped her shTieking charge upon
Toms bed, and started towards the door.
''Very well, sir !" she said somenly, 81
see you know all about babies-I may
gor'
seOhI oh y gasped Tom, edo not In
the name of mercy, do not 1t shall have
clothes Why do you say want a nurse
Are not you one? / assure You l know
nothing, absolutely nothing of babies
never TO my knowledge touched one p
Real despair is impressive. The woman
was Modified.
al am, sir" she said, turning confden-
tally to Ton, ''a monthly. L am willing
TO stay with you while l can. But, sir, a
person in my position Is no dependence.
My summons may come any day or Aour.
It's impossible to calculate. Day and night
is all the same 20 me- There amt on earth
to me thing so inscrutable IS this impos-
sibiIity Of calculating when we shall be
sent for. III work for you while l can,
sir; but when my call comes, no earthly
thing can keep me-"
Tom took all these remarks in reli-
gious point of view. From q person of
Mrs. Primmins' robustness, they amazed
him. He felt a vague fear lest, as he men
tally expressed it, there might be ga bee
in the old lady s bonnet"
"Oh cheer upI cheer up, Auntie, he
said, "you look hale and hearty. You've
overtired yourself with my poor sister. II
you'll stay and take charge of that little
thing for me, III risk you getting sum
mons
Your poor sister found great consolation
in your promise for her child, remarked
Mrs. Primmins, pathetically. '1t's a des-
perate resort leaving a baby to young
man, but In her strait she WAS fain to catch
at any straw.
s'Can you," said Tom. looking gloomily
at his now silent prize on the bed, ''can
YOU give me any advice? You couldn't
have waited till tomorrow before bringing
it, could your" he added half reprcachfully
s.Of course not" said Mrs. Primmins.
'Welll you're no account Now let me
think"
''Do, in Heavens name" circulated
Tom.
Mrs. Primmins placed her arms akimbo.
Tom fervently prayed for light on her
meditations.
81 have IT," cried Mrs. Primmins; 'sAIal-
why got to take If y
BLESS your dear soul, " responded Tom.
"Malriny's the very onei What a talent
you have for managing, aUntie dear"
There was Tom, his very SELL lie had
hit on exactly the right compliment to pay
the old nurse. He was actually floating
through life on this instinct he had foI
saying the most pleasant thing to every
body. Mr.. Primmins, of all things desir-
ed the reputation of a manoverer, as 1t,
was of course, the one of all others that
she did not deserve.
''Yes," she cried, chuckling, 81 can man.
age. Let me clone! And first thing in
the morning. I'll go there with you.
Nov" said she, seizing her charge, who
was beginning to squirm, ''now I'll see
what's to be got out Of your landlady.
Wmking violently with first one eye and
then the other, she started TO go; then,
with a sudden solemnity, she reinserted her
head in the doorway.
"If I'm summoned, she said, ''it's above
all else Ii Tn called, 1 must go, day or
night =
Certainly" said Tom, much puzzled,
s'but you won't be, Auntie r. As the young
man walked abroad to get his dinner, he
felt impressed with an almost mysterious
awe of the old nurse.
ssTo think of living always with death
prinping one in the face like that, he
Inuttered.
La the night Toms dream of peace was
again dispelled..
Another knock on his door.
'sAm 1 under a ban Z" groTled Tom
s'what's the matter now :"