The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
HELEN'S BABIES.

HELEN'S BABIES.
With Some Account Of their Ways.
It was an enticing invitation from my
only married sister, Helen Lawrence.
that moved me, Harry Burton, salesman
of white goods, bachelor, aged twenty
eight, to spend my fortnight's vacation
at Hillcrest. Tom Lawrence's cigars
and claret and horses, splendid flower
garden, plenty of handsome girls, and
unlimited leisure for reading-these were
the inducements offered me. Inciden-
tally, as Tom and Helen were to be abb
sent on visit, was just to keep an eye
on the children, who, I was assured,
would Eot give me "the slightest
trouble 81 : z #SsEE
Remembering Bulge, the elder, as a
boy%of five, with a serious, noble face
and great, pure penetrating eyes, and
Toddie rs happy little know-nothing of
three summers with head of tangled
yellow hair, I set out for Hillcrest with
out apprehension of impending woe.
At the end of the trip hired hack
man to drive me 10 Toms. On the way
our horses SHE'D violently, and the driver
exclaimed:
"That was one of the 'imps that
little cuss that scared the hosses. There
he comes. runllin'. Wonder where
t'other is We call 'em the imps,'
cause they're so uncommon likely at
mischief ="
The offending youth was, Bulge, in
very dirty sailor suit, and the other
"imp, who bore down on us in cloud
raised by thrusting branch into the
dust of the road was Toddie!
"They're my nephews.". 1 gasped.
The recognition was mutual.
you're Uncle Harry" said Bulge.
"Did you bring us anything?'
Bring us anything ?" echoed Toddie.
"I wish 1 could have brought you
some big whippings," said I, severely.
"Get into this carriage"
In they climbed, each with very
z dirty towel, knotted in the center. h.
"They're not towels explained
Bulge, "they're dollies we don't like
buyed dollies; these is lovely"
"I want to shee yours WATCH" re-
marked Toddie, rolling into my lap, fol-
lowed by Bulge.
9 Obediently | showed them the dial, of
my Observation-Disclosures timekeeper.
l. S"Want to ~shee wheels go wound, I"
said Todde.
"No," said I, fearful of dust.
"Want to shee wheels go wound,
E repeated Toddie; "want to shee the
wheels go wound"
II tell you I can't, Toddie; dust
spoils Watches"
"Want to shee the wheels 60 wound,
murmured Toddie again.
3. Abruptly pocketed the watch. To-
dies jaw dropped, and he cried:
Ah-h-h-h. Want-to-shee-the
wheels-go wou-ound ~
"Stop that noise this instant! p
"Yes--oo-oo-waIts TO shee" -
"Toldie, I've got some candy in >
Wheels go wound All -h-h-h -
"Tollie, dear, don't cry so. There
are some ladies coming in carriage"
"Ah-h-h-h. Wants to shee
wheels -.
Madly I snatched my watch from my
pocket, opened the case, and exposed
the works to view. The passing carriage
stopped; my name was called, and,
looking up, I saw-bright eyed, fair
faced and smiling-Miss Alice Mayton, a
lady whom for about a year had adored
from afar The ease with which she
greeted me, praised-actually praised
those dreadful children; and let me dis
r. cover that bouquet from the Lawrence
garden would be an acceptable offering,
converte my confusion into delight
When the carriage started again, Toddie
murmured:
"Ueken Hawwy, does you love that
lady?'
= SSNo, Todde, of course not"
"Then you's badly man, an de Lord
won't let you go to heaven if you don't
love peoples
%, You may believe I was glad to get
those children home and turn them over
to the girl At dinner they found fault
with my blessing, and taught me'the one
their papa says. Then they condemned
my version of Jonah, and Bulge gave
one certainly much more graphic. And
nnally, alteT TeQullluS INC W eay Hy
prayers; first, that performance, too, was
boldly criticised Bulge prayed with
a face fit for an angel, and then Toddie
closed his eyes, wriggled, twisted,
breathed hard and at last began:
"Dee Lord not make me sho bad, an
besh mamma, an papa, an Budgie, an
doppity (grandfather), an both boggies
grandmother), an all good people in
dish house, an everybody else, an my
dolly 3A-a-men ~
"Now give us candy" said Bulge,
echoed by Toddie. r-E = q
gave them the candy and escaped at
last to the parlor, where I passed de-
icious evening with my books. That
night Teddy howled for his dolly like a
young demon, and made me get up and
fnd it for lin; and next morning, before
. he was fairly awake, Twas appalled, to
hear him rlurmur:
-. ""Want- nt--to-shee---wheels-go--
wound. )" ''
At breakfast he remarked:
"Ucken Hawwy, daysh an awfoo
funny chunt up 'tairs-awfoo big ch1,nt.
I show it you after brepspup."
"Toddie's a silly little boy" said
Bulge; "he always says brepspup for
brekbus (breakfast."