The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-11-14
PHILLIPS FIRST BABY

Mrs. Phillips was on the very pin.
nacle of felicity. She was the mother
of a boy which weighed eleven pound,
Mr.. Phillips bids fair to lose hi.
mind entirely. He danced and sung
and fired guns from, the top of the
corn house, whistled Yankee Doodle
while eating his breakfast, and wrune
the necks of all the fowls on the place
to make chicken pie for the celebra-
ton. fs|5 t.g ..5zsv-.
This worthy couple had been mar.
ried ten years, and this was their first
child. People. had laughed at them
for their luck-people who we're over
run with children and whose lives
were made miserable by the scolding
and spankings which they found il
necessary to infiict upon their wretch
ed little olive plants. 9sl aaw
Now, Mrs. Phillips said she guessed
they'd laugh ont of the other side.
There had never been so large baby
born in Smithfield before. Mrs. Jones'
only weighed nine pounds aud had a
pug nose. Mrs. Sawyer's was red
haired and had u mole on it's right
toot-a sure sign that it would com e
to bad end-and it only weighed
seven pounds and fourteen ounces.
She guessed folks had better look at
home before they laughed.
Baby proved to be Tartar. He had
= temper like q windmill, and seemed
determined to develop his feet and
lungs to their utmost while he had
leisure for he screamed and Kicked
twenty-three hours out of the twenty
fouI.
But his mother declared he was an
angel. We never could imagine an
angel with puffy red cheeks, heels
elevated in the air, sucking sugar teats
and being bounced about in q willow
cradle to the tune of High diddledee'
but then our Imagination is not by any
means so vivid as it might be. a1l !.
From the hour in which the baby
was born, be was autoerat to the house
hold everything had to bow to his
nod.
The scullery door creaked; it was
taken off the hinges, and the servant
was in the draft all the time, because
the creak might disturb the baby. For
the same reason the coffee mill was
removed to the wood-shed !; the dishes
must be washed out of doors-the
clatter of the plates made the baby
scream the washing was done in, the
barn the dog was muzzled, and the
cat choked-ali from fear of disturb
ing the baby. ssIt
Mr.. Phillips gave blacksmith. who
was located within a quarter of mile,
500 to move his shop and Biddy was
moved to the cockloft of the wood
shed on account of her snoring.
The child's diseases were legion. H.
was wonder that it could draw its
breath with so many ailments clinging
to it. Mrs. Phillips was continually
on the watch for some new demonstra-
ton. i9 81. braaal
"Charles ~ cried she, waking hei
husband from slnmber, one cold win
ter night, +" it seems to me the baby
don't breathe just right ouif 5afl
Mr.. Phillips sprang up and listened.
stGood gracious; he's got the sniffles,
amt he 2" 9..3 uisgt
g Oh, dear! what shall we do if the
baby is going to be sick 2" gy ads
Mr.. Phillips got a light, and the
anxious parents brought it to bear OH
the face of their child. .T9iis
"Oh, heavensv' cried his mother,
" his face is actually purple! he's GO
ing to have the scarlet fever. See that
red spot on his elbow" as.4 Ili7
1t may be where he's laid on itv'
remarked Mr.. P. s ...sr -.
Laid on it oh, you unfeeling man
you unnatural father! and there it's
sucking its thumb! I've known from
the first it wouldn't live, it sucks its
thumb so much"
"Seems to me I've heard nv mother
say it was sign of healthy child to
such its thumb, but won't be certain.
Any way its good sign or bad one
Il forget which. +" -, Z
"Run, Charles! for a doctorl IFS
going to die-I know it is. Oh, don't
stop to dress-don't, it may die while
you're waiting, Call for Granny
Bates and tell her to bring some cat
nip, and saffron, and rue, and pepper
mint-tell her TO bring all the herbs
she's got and do hurry, Charles, do!
Mercy on us it's sucking both thumbs
Run-runl"
Mr.. Phillips caught up the first ar
ticle of clothing he could lay his hand
on, which proved to be an embroider-
ed petticoat of his wife's but he was
in too much haste and altogether too
much excited to notice dress particu-
larly' He flung the garment over his
head and tied it around his waist
slipped on his shoes and then plunged
out into the keen air. The doctor was
asleep and did not care about turning
out, but on being told that it. was
case OF life and death he yielded at
once. ,g80GF
Mr.. Phillips left him dressing and
sped to the residence of Granny
Bates. The old lady was wise but she
was dreadfully superstitious, and be-
lieved religiously in warnings and ap-
partitions. Phillips gave laundering
rap on her door, and directly q night
capped head appeared at an upper
window.
What do you want at this time of
night, and who be YEP" said cracked
voice.
Phillips stenned ont and stood nlain.