Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-09-19


still, and all the great round earth to
,rembe and culver in mute, breathless
expectation. Then, in tine hush Of the
morning, a new little life began. and we
laughed and cried over each other, and
praised Gods goodness, which We had
dared to doubt only a half an hour earlier.
II was funny to seq Harry. He had
been lifted in a moment from the valley
despair to the sunlit heights Of hope, and
the poor fellow was dlzed He stood
leaning over her whore she lay like a
wilted lily, but with heaven shining in her
eyes .
"Oh, Harry, look at him
That was Just what Harry was doing
with all his might. Presently he touched
the baby's cheek with his finger. | think
he had had suspicion that it was by no
means real flesh and blood, but only Il
waxen hoax.
"IIes little fellow" he said, con-
templatively.
All the mother awoke in Dot.
Little! why Harry how can you :?
He weighs eight pounds"
Harry did notrccoil under this monstrous
fact. He took it quite calmly.
docs he? Well" still dorbtfully a
suppose be will grow"
"Grow ~ cried Dot, sobbing and laugh-
ing. a should think he ILL., It's only
question of time Give him time enough
and he will be rs big as you are. Oh,
YOU precious, conceited fellow. didn't
know you thought you were born gov:
up!p .sE u y
Dots baby did grow. 1t was in re-
fined, Suitable fashion, nfter my own
heart. i never could understand the
ecstacics people go into over their huge
baby, who only represents so much adj.
pose tissue.
"Look at his arms /" they cried "Look
at his egs!"
"Dear friends, do look at them, and
don't like them They remind me Of
pork It's u dreadful thought | know,
but can't help 1t. suppose it betrays
some horrible cannibal pedigree, but |
mover see one of these over-c orpulent
babies without thinking how nice he
would be cooked. As for soul | should
despair of finding one such mass of
avordupois.
You may think it is only nepotsm which
makes me declare that Dots baby, as
baby, was absolutely perfect. His ex-
ausite limbs would have delighted
sculptor. Indeed, they were modelled
more than o ce, and we might have had
quite museum of casts, only Dot declar-
ed she wouldn't have pieces Of her baby
lying round over the house.
The little fellow has name of his own
- very pretty name too-but he was al
ways spoken of as Dots baby. When he
was three years old went to spend the
winter with Dot.
alt is really time You were married
Ruthy,n said Dot. 81 have Il foreboding
that YOU will be an old maid. | read the
ether day that there were seventy thousand
more women than men in Massachusetts.
The papers didn't say that the most of EN-
lived in the country towns, but | know
they do. You shall stay here this winter
Ruthy, and if you don't get lover by
spring Harry aud will pay your fare to
Colorado. Only you mustn't make love
to Harry, or soduce tho hahy,s young af
fections.o '.
"1his was week before Christmas,
and our principle work Just then was to
~ shoppin for presents. One day we
had been unusually busy, had lunohed
down town, and didn't start tor home till
the short winter afternoon WAS just closing
in '...
Il am wild to see the baby" said Dot,
Is VIC crowded into the car, -lready cram
med as cars are at the holidays. " | al
ways think when Pm going home, What
if anything has happened to him2o
+" " hat.shuuId happen to him ?"
Dot knit her two alsstocratic eyebrows
into frown.
"Don't be goose dear, and pretend.
You know II thousand things might have
happened to him. But can't tell the
man To drive faster because | am worried
about my baby, c.n
smiled in my maiden superiority. |
believe | sad something about ed
young women who fancy that their haby's
cradle is the axis of the planet. Poor
darling Dot Why Couldn't have fore
seen the awful trouble that was to come
upon her?
We 90 home at last, and Dot ran up
the steps before me and rang the bell.
Mary, the second girl, opened the door,
smiled at first glanced past us inquiringly,
and then gave short scream,
What's the matter ?" demanded Dot,
turning upon her with white face.
"Sure, an it's baby ma'am."
"rhe baby > shrieked Dot "W What