The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-02-09

vi cOuFSe, SHe HAS Slepl only enough 10
make it impossible for her to 90 asleep
again, but not enough to rest her very
much.
By this time they have reached
Springfield. Papa gets out, buys cup
of tea for mamma, walks up and down
the platform, exchanges hearty word
or two with some one, jumps on again
as the train moves off, and leisurely
walks into the car just as she has worked
herself into frenzy of apprehension
for fear he is left. The recollection of
the fact that he has the tickets and the
checks in his pocket, and that she has
but fifty cents in hers, does not tend to
calm her nerves. The possession of a
little extra money is a wonderful soda
tive on such occasions, but men do not
always think of that
"What a rest it is to stop awhiler'
says he, as he settles himself down into
the seat again. She, shut up in the
sitting car in the dingy and smoky
depot, with the restless baby crawling
into and out of her lap all the while,
wonders why it has not seemed pleas
ant to her, but only wonders. A wom-
ans mind is not generally given to an
alyzing sensations. Neither of them
thought what relief it would have
been to both mother and child if he had
taken the baby up and down the plat
form few times.
"Now let us have our lunch" he
continues, and the lunch bag is opened.
Mamma eats hers in the intervals of
feeding the baby and rescuing her own
food from his reckless grasp. AS it is,
he manages to tip over cup of milk
upon the only thing she really cares
much about. Papa eats his with Wig
orous appetite, and then says:
"Well, now, you have had your nap
and | guess I'll take mine," and forth
with he proceeds to sleep good hour.
Meanwhile, mamma tries to get the
wriggling baby to sleep. But no; the
quintessence of forty eels could not be
livelier. He is on the seats, down on
the floor and up again all at once, and
her back and arms and shoulders ache
again and again with lifting him. Pres
entity papa shows signs of returning
consciousness. In sheer desperation,
mamma says:
"Don't you believe you could take
this child in your arms and get him to
sleep?' adding, with spice of worldly
wisdom, he will be so cross when he
gets there, if he loses his nap"
Papa's fatherly pride is touched; he
does not want his baby to make a poor
impression on his new friends. Be-
sides, mamma looks tired, and isn't he
taking care of that baby? So, with
great cheerfulness, he takes the restless
boy. The fathers strong arms and
broad chest are a pleasant contrast to
mammals unsteady grasp, and the child
nestles close up to him. The tired lit
tied head leans heavily on his shoulder,
the white lids drop over the blue eyes,
and, in little while he is fast asleep.
Papa enjoys holding the precious bundle
for awhile. There is slight tinge of
complacencyin thinking of the ease with
which he put him to sleep after mamma
had tried so long in vain. Presently,
however, even his stout arms begin to
ache, and he proposes to use the pillow
which has made the shawl-trap bundle
so bulky.
So mamma prepares q tempting bed,
but no sooner does his lordship's pretty
head touch it than his eyes fly open.
The father feels as if he had done so
well that he deserves little rest, and
so says:
There's a man in the next car |
want to see. | guess I'll step in there
for few minutes"
So off he goes for half an hour, and
talks politics and trade and the hard
times till he feels quite refreshed. The
baby is crosser than ever, slips down
and is pulled up, bumps his head against
the window and cries for water, but
the water-boy has apparently gone down
to the bottom of the Red Sea with Pha-
roah after it, for he comes no more.
Just as the mothers patience and tenn
per are worn threadbare, the smiling
father appears with an old army friend
whom he has just discovered, and whom
he wishes to introduce to his wife and
baby.
Mamma instinctively feels, though
she cannot see, that her bonnet is awry,
her g crimps' all out, that the marks
of baby's smutty fingers are on her
cuffs and collar, neck-tie and bonnet
oCi Ao lOl tllt DdDl HlulStl.
all sticky and standing, milk around
his mouth, dust on his sleeves, cracker
crumbs in his lap, cinders sticking all
over his moist little hands and face, and
on every spot on his white dress where
he has spilled milk or water-he is
very different little fellow from the
sweet-looking baby in his fresh white
dress and brown sack who came into
the cars in the morning Mamma is so
uncomfortably conscious of the babys
soiled dress and her own dilapidated
appearance, and so vexed at John for
bringing stranger to see them when
they are in such in plight, that she is
not very entertaining. John is dimly
conscious that his family do not appear
at their usual good advantage, and Won
ders where the baby got such dirty
face. The old army friend, being a
bachelor, is a little surprised at his COM
rade's enthusiasm over either wife or
baby, but praises the child, more or
less, according to the elasticity of his
conscience, and does not prolong the
interview beyond the demands Of po-
likeness.
However, everything must have an
end, and this journey is no exception.
Already passengers are beginning to