Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-03-13

| My NEIGHBORS' BABIEs.-What dear
little 'dimpled darlings" are our neigh
bors' babies Completely surrounded by
them, we are unable to decide which of
them occupies the best place in our heart
| but to tell the truth, we love them ALL
There is little sensitive Elite, with her fair
complexion and bright blue eyes, just as
demure and quiet cherub (while visiting)
as ever lived. COntented to sit on her
| mammals lap, she refuses all extra nurs-
ing. Does one make an attempt to take
her, she Fuckers up her rosebud lips,
makes a wry face, and then--but we for
bear all further efforts, and so she quietly
enjoys the afternoons visit, watching
those around her until the lids close gently
over her eyes, and she lies there dreaming
that the angels are playing with her. Tiny
! as she is, she makes papa stand around.
! Does he seat himself, of an evening, to en-
JOY his havana and paper, mamma at the
same time slipping out slyly to have a
minutes chat with a neighbor,) Ettie calls
his attention to herself If neglected, she
feels hurt, and let's him know it by sundry
movements and if still unnoticed, she
| tries her lungs, until the room echoes with
her cries, and poor papa is obliged to lay
aside his paper and cigar and turn child
nurse. Susan Jane meanwhile eagerly
discusses the latest style of wearing the
hair, making dresses, &C., with her neigh
| Dor, and not until her husbands
grumbling voice falls on her ear, does she
think her minute has grown to an hour.
But so EtLie controls the family.
Next door lives Leon, dear little fellow.
Unlike Ettie, he is always ready for
romp and how his black eyes sparkle
when | enter the room. No writing or
sewing done there and so / make up nay
mind to enjoy an hours play with him.
How he does laugh and talk baby talk !;
run, creep and shout, until his cheeks are
rosy with excitement, and his eyes glisten
with merriment; but the crowning point is
leaving him in his glory, among rattles,
chairs, cotton rabbits. and headless dogs !;
paythings scattered all over the room,
giving future work for the busy hand of
his mother.
Two little noses flattencd against the
window-pane two pair of bright eyes, and
four plump, rosy cheeks, can daily be seen
at my neighbours window across the way.
Fat, healthy-looking little things they are,
and well taken care Of by their careful, af-
fectionate mother, while dear little Harry
and Robbie come in for share of love for
their boyish ways and childish prattle.
josie, too, can often be seen carefully step
ping il down to her little friend Carrie, or
to the little shop at the corner, where nuts
and candies are the chief attraction, and
one cannot help but love her, especially
when. with her little hands folded, she de-
voutly murmurs her evening prayer.
Who does not love babies? God bless
them all both pretty and ugly ones for,
at best, beauty is only skin-deep, as is also
homeliuess. Could We but always retain
the innocence Of childhood, how happily
we sHOuiu SII'c uO"H the otIedih VI Hle
and could we mothers foretell the future
of some of the darlings upon our bosoms,
what think you would be our feelings ?
| " ou!d we not rather see the death-angel
fold its wings at our door See the little
| form, shrOuded in the habiliments of the
tomb lying in the casket in the darkened
chamber, and know that on the morrow it
would be laid away beneath the daisies ?
All yes the heart-strings might snap as
sunder with grief at parting, but we'd
have the comforting assurance that our
darling was with the happy angels"
Rather that, dear mother, than that we
| should see them in after-life branded as
convicts and Outcasts. HAWTHORNE.