American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-09-25
0ur Bogs ard girls.
BABY BLUE-EYES, NAP.


| and the soft, peachy cheeks were getting
scarlet and warm, as she trudged back and
forth in the sun.
| Away down in one corner of the garden
was Baby Blue-Eyes' palace, that indul-
gent grandpa had the day before con-
structed, with the fence for two sides, and
a door with truly hinges,'' the merits
| and strength of which the empress of
this habitation was never tired of test
ing.
had said half apologetically, when ques-
toned as to the great sounds of carpenter
| ing that had issued from that remote
corner, whittier he and Baby Blue-E Eyes had
betaken themselves directly after break
| fast. 1t was odd enough to hear dear,
stately old grandpa lapse into the half-for-
gotten Scotch provincialisms of his boy
hood whenever he spoke to or of his pet
grandchild. She always understood him,
and occasionally, to grandpa's great de-
| light, some quaint Scotch phrase would
| ripple off from her baby tongue. She al
ways called her pretty gray kitten g puir
wee beastie," and candies were always
"sweetie" to her.
II was Sabbath morning, and everyone
had gone to church excepting Janet, the
gray queen goddess of the kitchen, in
whose charge was left the precious baby.
The week before Pet had gone with them,
and in the midst of long and somewhat
prosy sermon she had electrified everyone
by saying, in a clear, distinct voice: !" Use
stremely tired of hearing that nassy man
talk. fink I'll do home, flank co." and
she started, much to the amusement of
all the young and worldly members of the
congregation, and to the utter horror of
poor grandpa, who attempted to detain
the small lady as she tried to pass him on
her way out, to her extreme indignation
and SURPRISE as she was not used to hav
ing her movements questioned. No telling
minister had not taken the hint and re-
duced the length of his Finally" and
closed his discourse. This morning they
had held &C council of war; over the
matter, and had finally concluded not to
risk a repetition of the scene, so, with
many charges to Janet to be careful OF
their treasure, and with many commands
laid on the golden head not to go near the
sea-shere, the glancing waves of which
were plainly visible from the piazza, they
had at last driven off, followed by per-
feet shower of kisses from the darling elf.
Left to her own desires, she wandered
through the stately rooms where the dark,
somber hues of everything showed they
did not belong to the g Veneering" school.
Alone in the dusky drawing-room, Pet
paused before the long mirror, half
duIiSutcu dt tllc Wulte-duu-SOlu IeucCIlOH
pictured there. 1t was study for Rem
brandt, the dark, gloomy background,
with this fairy child in the midst, her
bright head crowned by dusty sunbeam
that had in some way worked itself in.
Only moment she paused, then was
dancing up and down the hall. Looking
at the forbidden sea, at the piazza door,
she concluded finally to visit her hoosie
and make a little sea for herself, SO when
Tor of torn +, I,ar
tons for the great Sunday dinner, and
glanced in, she begged for her white SUM-
bonnet, and after solemn promise not to
go down to the beach Janet gave the bon
net to her, went back to her work and for
got all about her charge. So Pet dug a little
hole with stumpy bit ofcase- knife she had
among her treasures, and when she had
completed it sat back and surveyed her
work with infinite satisfaction. The next
thing was to fill it, so she ran to the well
to get the gourd dipper hanging on the
side. That dear old well! with its long
sweep and dripping stones, enjoying a
green old age, and the quiet mirror of
cool water at the bottom. Pet could not
quite reach the dipper, but Janet, coming
out very opportunity to draw up fresh
bucket of water, took it down and handed
it to her. Then she threw down the bucket
with splash that would have made Nep-
tune himself thirsty. After filling her
pail she left the dripping bucket half-full
on the little brick platform outside and
our little heroine filled her dipper and
started back to fill her ocean. It was
somewhat discouraging to find one dipper-
full soaked up by the time she got there
with another, but she persevered bravely
until the little feet grew so tired that they
carried their little mistress into temptation.
The breeze scame up very temptingly
from, In h.lh CT
nearer and nearer until she was clear
down on the beach and into the Rock
cave, where Uncle George had taken her
the day before Then she curled ap, and,
refreshed by the cool, shadOwy retreat she
had chosen. she sat watching the hungry
waves as they came rolling up, dying of
their own ambition, clinging reluctantly
to the shore, then falling back they would
gather new strength and try it again, each
time coming a little higher. But Pet saw
nothing of that She knew the song of
the waves made her very sleepy and di-
rectly she was fast asleep, with the tide
coming up nearer and nearer and she I'M
conscious of it all, while Janet was watch
ing her turkey and the clock but had for
gotten the BARN.
Meanwhile the great family carriage,
drawn by the fat, lazy horses, and filled
to running over, drew up, and everyone
they expected would come running to
meet them, but everything was so still.
Mamma tried her best not to look anxious
but she saw grandpa look toward the
beach, where the tide was coming in, and
sprang out in a moment
:" She is doubtless at the wee hoosie,"
said grandpa, trying to reassure poor,
frightened mamma, and not in the least
succeeding.
1t was the work of a moment to look
through the rooms and grounds, while the
sweet Sabbath air thrilled and vibrated
with the calls for their lost one.
Mamma ran to Janet, and found grand |
pa already there, engaged in an angry |
alteration with her.
Hoots, woman; talk ma Inair of yer
turkey, and we greeting for the BARN. |
Why did We neglect watchin' over her, as
We were bid? grandpa was saying when |
mamma reached them.
&c babe her bide ABBOTT the hOose, and |
ma 90 near the shore, and it wasa' I could |
do, or | kennel weel the blcssin' in store |
for me if the dinner were na "a richt,' re- |
torted Scotch Janet, strong in her selfde-
tense.
=" oh, no." broke in mamma, eve
don't blame YOU l Should not have left
her, my darling, my darlingn' and mann
mas voice qllivered, and she would have
cried if there had been time. But time
was very precious now, so they went out |
to search the shrubbery carefully, hoping |
she had fallen asleep somewhere in the |
grounds.
Uncle George stood on the walk, think |
ing intently, then he walked rapidly |
toward the kennel where Bruce, their |
noble Newfoundland dog, lay fastened.