The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-17

| III IS very kind in her, said Hetty, in-
terrup,ing the sentence, "snd Pm sure che
would be good to him. But indeed, Mrs
Wilder, can't let him 60. feel just as if
should die II they were to take him away.
You don't know how l do love him."
but you are 30 young, Hetty. Almost
child yourself You cant take care of
baby. And then, who is to be house
keeper ?"
| "Ive thought it all over, Mrs. Wilder
over and over again-and Mary and can
do it ALL" said Hetty.
"Mary and You Why, Mary Is only
seven years DID," answered the neighbor.
"Shes handy little thing, for all that
Oh, we con get along, if they won't take
baby"
"What does your..father say aboutIt1 Has
Mrs Florence spoken to him ?"
| eyes. heard them talking it over. Mrs.
Florence wanted to take baby right off;
but father said wait until tomorrow.
at would, perhaps, be better for the
| baby"
at wouldn't be better for anybody"
spoke out He ty, in strong and decided
manner. "And in particular, it wouldn't
do for father !"
why not for your father ~ asked Mrs.
Wilder.
Hetty's face grew hot and then pale and
her voice chOked little at first
You know about father, how dreadful
1t is 1t will get worse if the baby goes.
I'm sure OF that. He loves baby. And
now mothers gone, I've thought his loving
baby 50 might help him to--to--"
Hetty paused; she could not speak the
word that was on her toDgue-but the neigh
Dor understood her.
"You are a wise little girl" said Mrs.
Wilder, laying her hand on the chld's head
tenderly, land in the right, I'm thinking
NV tell me freely sll that is in your mind ="
ats just this, Mrs. Wilder" "a he ty,
her manner taking On the thoughtful sell
BUSINESS of a woman. Father loves BABY,
and now that mothers gone he will feel
softer towards us all. Mary and l will d.
everything to make it comfortable for him;
aud we'll always keep baby 10 king so sweet
and clean that he'll love to come home Just
to see him, instead of going to the tavern
when he shuts down.the mil. If Mrs
Florence will give baby nice white frock,
and one with pink or blue spots in it, and
a pair OF new shoes, 1 could keep him look
ing, oh ! 80 lovely. Father couldn't help
coming right home from the mill to st G him;
and who kuows, Mrs. Wilder" Heity con
tinued, growing warm and hopeful, shut
father might stpp drinking altogether o.!
il Mrs. Florence would DO this, and not
think of taking baby away y
"Ill see Mrs. Florence, ard talk with
her," said Mrs. Wilder, rs Hetty stopped
speaking.
Twill you? Oh do please, and ct once
Tell her that IL won't be good for us to let
baby O."
Mrs. Florence, when all this WAS related
to her, was deeply moved. She had | st a
dear baby twp y,a-s before, and the clothes
il used tU wear had teen folded away In a
BUREAU drawer untouched since then.
Tine dear child shall have her way"
che ats wered Then going to the dra wer,
into which she la1 n looked for many
months, she ,ouk out three most new
frocks, o c of white mu5lIn and Two of d l.
cateiy figured chm q; also three pairs of
st ckings, pair of morocco shoes, and
some underclotuing, and sent them to the
mo. herless baby.
On the next day, the miller, sobered by
the loss Of his wife, kept away from the
tavern, and tried to settle in his mind wi at
was best to be done. He had promised the
baby to Mrs. Florence, but baby had given
him so tight hug as he kissed and pared
from him AT breakfast time, that he felt his
dtar little arms clinging around his neck all
the morning as he went about the mill.
How could he lit him go2 And Hetty
was good and thoughtful, and go fond OF
baby. 1t would break her heart to give
| him up.
"What handy little girl Hetty is !" the
miller said to himself, as he remembered
how nice breakfast she had got tor him,
and how clean and orderly everything was
about the house.
| AS it grew towards noon, the miller be-
| gan to feel little anxious about his prom
| ise to Mrs. Florence. She was to have ba-
| by that day. What If she had come for
him already, aid that when he went home
at dinner-time, there should be no Laby TO
spring into his arms, and hug him round
the neck?
In the mtantime, Hetty had received the
bundle of clothes, and with the bundle had
come message from Mrs. Florence, say
| ing that she had changed her mind about
taking the baby.
"Oh, darling darlinR" exclaimed Het-
ty, almost with jov hugging and kissing the
baby, who crowed and laughed aBd hugged
and kissed her In return, rs if he under
stood and shared in her delight.
"Oh but won't he look sweet - she eX-
| claimed, as she opened and admired the
beautiful baby clothes, finer than anything
| he had ever worn.
Mary. "You Set the table. and I'll wash
| Petty, and dress him in this pink slip with
the white ruff ed apron, and tie up the
sleeves with bows of blue ribbon. He'll
| look so sweet that father will hardly know
| him."
So baby was washed and dressed IN the
new clothes and can tell you he did look
lovely. There was not a handsomer baby
in all that reighborhood.
"Hes going TO sleep" said Mary, who
saw his eyes beginning to droop. "Oh
wish he'd stay awake until father comes"
But even as she sp Ike the long, dark lashes
fell lower and lower until tley rested on
his cheeks.
"You hold him until put on a clean pill
low-ca'e" Aud H>tty placed the sleeper
in her sters arms. A soiled pilow-case
was changed for one of snowy whitene,s,
and baby laid upon the bed where only a
few hours before his mother had slept the
sleep from which none ever awaken in this
world.
How lovely he was No wonder the lit
tie sisters fingered about the bed, so en-
tranoed by his beauty that 1t seemed i'm
possible 10 tear themselves away.
Father is coming" said Mary, who had
turned her eyes TO the window.
Hetty looked out and saw him crossing
the road His steps were quicker and firui-
er than usual.
al want MIN to se baby I'll alone by him.
SELF" Aud Hetty q, she spoke drew Mary
from the room.
They heard the same exclamation of sur
prise from their father when he entered,
and then all was still still for 80 long
time that Hetty began to wonder, and then
to feel uneasy. At 'a,t pushing the door
open softly, she looked iu and saw her fsth.
er On his knees by the bed,ide, his face
buried in the clothes. A little while she
stood, almost holding her breath. She was
about closing the door, wheu he lifted his