Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-06-05
My Little n efghbor Oakley.
BY Ro5ELIA RICE.


peep out and watch Oakley, and his
dog Prince. Prince is big, yellow,
rollicking young dog, and he is all the
playmate Oakley has. ,,
Oakley used to wish he had a little
brother to play with, he said Prince
couldn't talk, and couldn't understand.
and couldn't sleep with him, nor read
in his little primer, and he'd rather
have a brother than dog.
One morning early, this winter he
woke, and the room was warm and the
lamp burning, and out in the kitchen
his grandma was getting breakfast, and
it smelled so good that he raised up in
bed and looked all around. His aunt
Becky, who lives over the river, was
helping his grandma cook, and his
aunt Rozana, who always wears red
flannel round her throat, she was
there He felt down to the foot of the
bed to reach his little nubbins of pan
falcons, and Just then he heard fine,
wee cry of baby IN the bedroom.
cob, N.Y. goody goodyp' he said
with big round eyes, and gave the
blanket fling, and his pillow toss
away to the foot of the bed.
=" Tll see what in the world that is,
said he, as he tumbled out of bed on
his shoulders, and looking as much
like little boot-jack as boy-baby,
he darted off in the direction of the
cry.
"Grandma, he squeaked out, "t'ot
I.heard a baby cryl'
cit aOas baby, Oakley" said she
smiling.
'sWho b'longs to-who's baby is it p"
said he, catching his breath.
"Ours, said his grandma, stopping
over to turn the steak.
Gus nv pas an my mas and mine
and Prince's?'' said he bending over to
look in her face and nearly pulling her
apron off.
/" Yes" said she, with feigned gray
ity.
'EOh dearl Oh, what1l [ do?"
said he, in transport of delight, as he
pulled her apron, and jumped up and
down in his JOY.
''Why, the first thing will be to
have your breeches on, and go and see
your little brother, and make him well
come"
II don't care for my breeches, y
shouted Oakley ''snow don't make
me cold. [ don't want to wear them
they're too much trouble; Oh, what1I
[ do? what'll [ do2n and he was so
excited he jumped up and down, and
round and round.
just then he heard his mothers voice
from the bedroom, calling, "Oakley,
come and see your playmate"
There was flip of brief little shirt,
and transient glimpse of two pretty
bare legs, and Oakley was gone
He sat on the side of the bed in q
crumpled-up heap, and his mother held
his hands while he sparkled over the
wee baby. He was very much excited.
He begged to feel of 1t, and promised
to touch it very gently She was al
most afraid, yet she told him to spread
out the palm of his hand, and she laid
the tiny baby-hand in his.
"What hand what hand !" said
he, it'll be so nice to lead him by it
in the summer days, an when he gets
tired I'll let him ride in my new wheel
barrow. 0 mother, won't he be glad
to see the new railroad bridge, and the
blinds to the 'cademy, and won't he
like Prince, and won't he Ike to ride
on Princes furry back, ma? NY!
what nice, stout hand He took up
the little finger and Strengthened itout.
and said, Pail say, See the mus
Gle !" won't he mother2 He-he-he
Does everybody know we've got baby,
spose mother2 Oh-oh what will Z
do, you little wee dear, you? Can't
you come out, and look around, and
see how you like things, eh?' and he
lay right over on the new baby, and it
screeched out like little mouse.
: Make him squeak more, MOTHER
more,--l like to hear it-punch him
there, like [ do my doll, and hear if
nell squeak more-that way-punch
him, mother -he-he!'' and he thrust
his chubby fist into the tender breast
OF the baby rather roughly.
Grandma came and took the little
fellow away, and told him to get his
breaches, and she would put them on
him.
g tell you, grandma, I don't want
any more of these little breeches," he
whispered, as he drew her head down
to his face. "I'm big now, and mean
to have them made like my pas, with
buttons on 'em, and s'penders, and
knife and pencil. in the long pockets.
Give mine to that little wee baby O
grandma, folks ought to know bout
our baby said he, suddenly, and he
jumped off his grandma's knee. and
ran into the bedroom, and snatched at
something to put on before he would 90
down street
The first thing that presented itself
to his hurried hand was his mothers
breakfast shawl. Hewhirled it over his
head, and started, holding it at the
throat. He had nothing on but his lit
tie shirt
"We've got baby! We've got a
baby!" he shouted, as he ran down the
street, in the gray, morning twilight.
He had only passed three or four
houses when he met man to whom he
loudly impaired the joyful tidings.
Why, Oakley Oriville is this you.
and in such plight2" said the famil.
lar voice of his father.
81 wanted 'em to know it pa" chat
tered the shiverlng child.
His father hung the shawl on his arm,
and folded the boy inside of his warm
ooyercoat, and carried him home and
dressed him warmly.
While the family were at breakfast
they heard crash in the pantry. and,
on going in, they found Oakley had
fallen from chair and smashed an old
teapot IN which he kept his worldly
possessions
L onl y wanted to find a cent, said
ne, : SO l could buy a hat for the baby
before l TOOK him out in my wheel
barrow. HIS grandmother told him
the baby had soft little head and q
nat Would hurt it-that it must wear .
zephyr hood
Poor little excited Oakley he hand
led the baby SO roughly that his Grand rand
ma took him home with her he So
a soft place in the top of it's head, and