Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-08-25

THE STORY OF SISTERS BABY.

Young Tom Collins, law-student, had just
come into strange inheritance. He sat solitary
in his little boarding room, trying to realize
it.
''If the poor child hadn't me- he said to him
self, 'it could go and apply for admission to
some institution. If hadn't il, 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 before,
during his life, made the same 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 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 hill
arity could only suggest to his mind the rather
poor consolation that he 81 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 since ceased re-
garding even the bell-pull as resort in any
extremity, so completely was he accustomed to
be let alone.
Before Tom could respond TO the knock it was
followed by cry of mingled entreaty and com
mand, such as only hungry babies know how te
emit
'Ive fetched the poor little dear around, sir =
remarked woman whose marvellous rotundity
of person showed to fine advantage as she waved
1.
wherewith to purify Toms bachelor-room.
| "Good Lord" he calculated.
YOU'D ought to get cow" said nurse, still
brandishing her charge. "There! there! there!
It's got wind this minute, mixin' milk. Have
you found nurse, sir? And baby want
| Clothes"
SITS got too many clothes now" said Tom
81 think that's what it's crying about; see hoy
red and hot it isl"
Poor, inexperienced Tom! he had offended til,
woman-cast .recklessly overheard his only an
chor
She dropped her shrieking charge upon Tom
bed, and started towards the door.
"very well, srp she said solemnly, Il 80
you know all about babies-I may go"
"oh oh i" gasped Tom, do not! In tn
name of mercy do not! 1t shall have clothes
Why do you say want nurse? Are not yo
one? 1 assure you know nothing, absolutel
nothing Of babies II never to my knowledg
touched one !"
Real despair is impressive. The woman wa
mollifed.
ST am, SIR" she said, turning confidential
to Tom, "a monthly. l am willing to sta
with YOU while can. But, sir, person in m
position is no dependence. My summons ma
come any day or hour. It's impossible to ca
. culate. Day and night is all the same to me-
There amt on earth to mo a thing so inscrutab
as this imposbility Of calculating when we sha
be sent for. I'll work for you while can, 81
but when my call comes, no earthly thing ca
keep me-"
,, Tom took all these remarks in a religious poil
of view. From person OF Mrs Primmins
3 business, they amazed him. He felt vag'
, , fear lest, as he mentally expressed it, the
might be "a bee in the old lady's bonnet"
: "oh cheer up! cheer up, Auntie," he ga
"you look hale and hearty. You've overtir'
= yourself with my poor sister. If you'll stay al
take charge Of that little thing for me, I'll ri
i your getting summons
: "Your poor sister found great consolation
. your promise for her child" remarked MI
Primmins pathetically. "Its desperate.re rese
% leaving baby to young man, but in her str
i she was fain to catch at any straw"
e Scan you" said Tom, looking gloomily at
now silent prize on the bed, "can you give
A any advice? You couldn't have waited till
ID morrow before bringing it, could yous :" he
~ n ded half reproachfully.
e "of course not" said Mrs. Primmins. "W
you're no account Nov let me think"