American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-09-06
NO. 36.

if, and sew for it, and dress it every which
way. 1t would be awful much better thai
| them stupid dolls; they can't do nothing
| but sit up straight Just where | put 'em
and stare like idiots. They can't cry
pretty, like Il baby. You have to squeeze
'em and pinch 'cm to make 'em squeak.
want it so bad If Theresa III trade, III
give her all my dolls for this baby FL
ask her if she won't; | wonder where
she lisp
''She went from room to room, but
Theresa was nowhere to be seen. She
looked out of the windows; she stood or
| the doorstep, and explored the yard; She
went round to the backward, and peeped
in the woodshed; she looked in the hen
house; nobody was in sight, and not &
sound of life about the house. She wen
back to the pretty baby in the cradle
She had never seen anything in her life
that she SO much wanted; and the more
she looked at it, the more she wished fol
it. Perhaps it was from the silence and
solitude that the suggestion came, but
suddenly tie thought rushed through her
to run away with it. She did not stop to
think of consequences. She lifted the
baby; it was very light, she could easily
carry it, and it did not wake. She went
with it to the door. On the step, she re-
connoitered the yard and the approaches
to the cOttage-not a person was in sight.
Carefully she picked her way down the
steps, through the little side gate into the
street. Again she looked. Up and down
the street was clear. Then away hurried
the little thief, as though forty policemen
were on her track.
people, as she passed, gazed wonder
ingly at the little flying girl and the bare
headed baby; but Mamie hurried past
them, her heart like a lump in her throat
with the fear of being stopped and ques-
toned. Then, too, she was afraid the
baby might wake, and set up a cry; and
she racked her poor, naughty brain trying
to make out how on earth she should
manage baby screaming along the
street. But it was still sleeping when she
reached her home. Into the house she
rushed as into refuge, shut the door, and
bolted it. She was painting and aching
with fatigue, but a new uneaSiness i'm
mediately possessed her. She had for
gotten until then to think of her home
folks-of how her mother would view this
baby stealing. Her first instinct was to
conceal her deed. Following this, she
lugged the baby up stairs, putting and
blowing, and reached her play-room with
out meeting any one.
'The baby still continued to sleep, for
which accommodation Mamie called it
big dolls bed, which was good fit for
baby, and then ran off to her bedroom for
some pillows. On these she deposited
her charge, and then hurried to the store
room for her cradle. How she did fly
around-lifting and pulling, and pushing
and dragging, and upsetting all manner
of things! Yet the baby slept on, never
or moving muscle. Mamie
fairly chuckled over her luck. Maybe
E,,I
got baby. If it only wouldn't cry! I'll
90 down and get it something to eat. l
wonder what babies do eat sides bottles!
When you wakes she continued conf
to the baby, I'll feed you nice
things, and show you my dolls and pretty
things, and you won't cry bit-will you ?
And I'll cook you something on my cum
ming little stove, and we'll have splendid
we, darling Minnie? I've
named you Minnie, you know
"Then, with a last look at her treasure,
she left the play-room, locked the door
after her, and descended the stairs ON a
expedition in baby's behalf. l
do wonder what babies eat!' she kept
saying, as she rummaged the pantry, with
the fear of Bridget before her eyes. In a
little paper sack she discovered some
fresh lemons. Mamie was very fond of
sucking lemon through stick of candy.
Resolving to initiate baby into the de
light, she pocketed four of the yellow
beauties. Her next discovery was a
boiled buffalo tongue. AT it she went
with carving knife, and had soon in pos
session a ragged, clumsy bit from the
sandwich, and then went back to her
play room. The baby was squirming,
and showed signs of waking. With
eager, wde-open eyes and parted lips,
Mamie stood by the cradle and watched.
The sandwich was held up, all ready to
forestall any betraying cry. After divers
of the face, and workings of
he hands, and kickings under the long
white dress, baby opened its eyes and
hen its mouth. Mamie did not wait for
he cry; she hurried the sandwich to the
mouth, examining and crowding it in.
The baby began to gag and gasp and
strangle in such a frantic manner that
Mamie was half crazy with fright. With
1 piercing scream she snatched the |
:trangling baby, and plunged down
stairs, shrieking Mamma! mammal
At every step. Doors flew open,
md into the hall, from the four
points of the compass, rushed Mrs. Pear |
son, the sewing-girl, the chambermaid,
bread dough, every individual with a
frantic question in her face.
"'What is the matter?' cried Mrs. Pear
son.
"'And is it afire the house iss' said
Bridget
Its choking. it's chokingn screamed
Mamie, rushing to her mother. The
ongue's down its throat
"'In the name of wondern exclaimed |
Mrs Pearson.
"She snatched the baby, dropped on |
he bottom stair-step, ran her finger and |
numb down the baby's throat, and deX-
rously brought forth the offending |
ongue.
",Whose baby is this?' she asked, as
;oon as the little ones condition permit
ID the question.
"'Theresa's,' answered Mamie, with
lrooping head.
"siVhat in the world did she let you
axe her baby for? Why, it can't be over
month oldn
nered Mamie Then, with sudden re
olive, she rushed up to her mother, and,
placing her lips close to the sympathizing
ar, she whispered through the raining
ears, You see, mamma, Theresa wasn't |
here so | couldn't ask her for it. And | |
wanted it $3.50 bad. never had a
,aby in my life. So l just took it, you
ee.'"
Il suppose Mrs. Pearson didn't laugh,
lor nothin'," said Charley.
stDo YOU remember there must be no
said the mother, Mrs
'earson,n she continued, carefully
wrapped mp the baby, who had gone OF
nto il quiet doze on finding itself
Then she despatched the
with it to its rightiul
,wner As the Girl with tlying feet