Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-04-12
Who Stole the BabyS

fETf.E FROM Our 10uIB rOlks
Rub-a-dub, dub r. Rub-a-dub, dub
Rat-a-tat- tail" nsod esd bIpg1 3 ~
1t was Johnny, Holmes beating his
new drum which his uncle had given
him, making noise enough to drive the
whole neighborhood distracted. a-es
He was playing soldier, going through
the most unheard of eVolutions, calling
to an imaginary regiment, who were
supposed to "haltlp and (" forward |
march p whenever he gave the word of
command -i.Af frsesa Y0n r.H e.
The backyard, with it's high brick
wall and its solitary shade-tree, was
transformed by Johnny's imagination
into the most enchanting parade
grounds. He had the whole field to
himself, and could have things all his
own way for no one of his imaginary
followers thought of countermanding or
disobeying orders. a/ 49, ID. T. pill
His two sisters, Mollie and Flora, were
in the play-room, attending to the toll
cts of their largest dolls, named re-
,spectively the Lady Geraldine and the
Lady Clara, who were going out to a
full dress reception in honor of the mar
riage of their cousin, the Lady Glendora.
There was good deal Of discussion as
to whether the young ladies should
wear their pink silks looped with white
roses or their white silks looped with
red roses; and the debate ran so high,
and took up so much time, that the
matter had to be compromised by
dressing one in white and the other in
pink. dt.# .26z2' ha.. H'', w 80. =, ~
o, how lovely they were The Lady
Geraldine, who must have been half a
yard in height, was really queenly, with
her white silk trailing as much as three
inches behind, and slightly raised in
front to- show the tiny white slipper;
and the Lady Clara, not whit less
graceful and dignifed, was completely
fascinating in her pink drapery. q"
2 Placing upon their heads bonnet
the exact size of q pumpkin-seed, and
shaking out their finest embroidered
peck ket-handkerchiefs scented with the
finest of double-distilled essence Of pep
pernlint, the young ladies were pro-
nounced ready to step into their family
carriage, which at that moment drove
up in the form of an overturned otto
man, Into which they both passed with
all the, grace imaginable, and were sup
posed to be ;whirled away. c.a e-fI Tot
1t was Monday morning. Mrs. Holmes
was looking over her housekeeping ac-
counts, having given, strict orders. to
Biddy to take care Of the baby, and on
no account allow her own quiet to be
disturbed. .na5s bnE 9gDJgoI 059s yAff
n .Biddy, who was very busy that morn
ing getting the clothes in readiness to
send to the laundry, having in addition
the dish-washing, sweeping, ,dustlng,
ETC., on her hands. considered her duty
with respect to the baby performed
when she had planted him in thecenter
of the floor, surrounded by all the tin
cups, pans and spoons she could mus
ter, devoutly hoping and, rferyently be-
lieving he would make such a racket
among them all as would keep him
quiet without further effort on her part.
AS the baby was only a year old, and
could not walk alone, she had at least
no fears of his running away while her
back was turned. !. So Johnny drummed
until it was a wonder he did not pound
ahele in the drun1-h head, and the little
girls proceeded to set forth most boun-
tiful feast, consisting of two cookies, an
apple, and some lemon drops, of which
the wedding guests, including Lady
Glendora's. relatives to the fifth degree,
were invited to epartake. ~ .s~a a4s ar
n The long summer morning was draw
ing toward close when Mrs. Holmes,
haying7 added her columns of figures
over and over again, to be certain there
was no mistake, and having arrived at
a surprisingly large sum. total, pushed
away pencil and paper, and walked
down to relieve Biddy Of the care of the
baby sdt hl9s sStl954 084DI
".Biddy ls called from the top of
the kitchen, stairs, 4 bring up the baby;
I viii take care of him now.?' 30 2nig
: ssIndade, num-" replied the girl,
g he isn't here at all, at all. Hasn't yez
got him already ghiIb q a2eu - 49,
1s"Do7yeu mean to telIimee the child
isn't hereg" asked Mrs. Holmes, her
anxious face appearing halfway down
the stairs.
"Why, you see, num-" explained
Biddy, 81 was busy, loike, with me