Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-28
BABY, is IN INDITIDUAL.
Mrs. Burnett, in St. Nicholas for February

Mrs. Burnett, in ST. Nicholas for Februsry.l
tJeIn has had hard day Of il. poor child! she has
tie house till her feet have ached auarrelied with
Der gnod but hastY1emEsred Aunt Hetty; seen her
the great blazing wood fire-and now in some mi.
Tae,lious way She hnas herself eoing up the chin
..Well.' she said. this is funny;
But the next thing that happened was fun
nier stu. She found, that without thinking
what she was doing. she was knocking on The
white brick with her knuckleS, as if itwaS door
ana she expected somebody to open it. The
next minute she heard footsteps and then a
sound as If some one was drawing back little
bolt.
9. is door said Jem, "and somebody is
going to open it,"
The white brick moved little. and some
more mortar and SCOT fell, then the brick moved
little more, and then it Slid aside and left an
open space.
ITS room. cried Jem "There's room
behind it,"
And so there was, and before the open space
$1,000 pretty little girl, with long. lovely hair,
ana a fringe on her forehead. Jem claSped her
hands in amazement 1t was Flora, herself, as
she looked In the picture, and Flora stood laugh
ing ard nOdding
Come in" she said. 81 thought it was
YOU
g But how can come In through such a little
s. Oh, that is easy enough said Flora "Uere
give me your hand"
Jem did as she told her, and found that it was
easy enough. In an instant she had passed
hacK TO It's place, and she was standing by
Flcras side In large room the incest room
she had ever seen. Ii was big and lofty and
lieht, and there were all kinds of delightful
things in it-books and flowers, and playthings,
aud pictures, and in one corner great cage fui
Of love birds
q Have l even seen it before?" asked Jen
Gldncing Slowly round.
Yes said Flora, .'you saw it last nlght-in
Jonr mind In d. Don't you remember it?"
dem shook her head.
- feel as If did. bIlt ~
Why" said Flora, laughing, OTIS my ROOM
the one you read about last night"
so it is" said Jel. But how did you come
heIe?"
Il can't tell you that; myself don't know,
put am here, and So" rather mySteriOuSly
are a. great atm many any, other things"
What things? Burned things? | was lust
Cndeling--n
Not only burned things" said Flora. nod
something"
She led the way out of the room and down a
little passage with several doors in each side OF
IL, and she opened one door and showed Jen
what was on the other side OF it. That was a
room, too. and this time it was funny as well as
pretty. Both fOOr and walls We're padded with
rOse-cOlor, and the floor was Strewn with TOYS
Ihere were big soft balls, rattleS horses. WOoIly
dogs, and doll Or so: there was one low c;Isn-
Toned chair, and low table.
lou can come IN said q shrill little voice
behind the door. 'Only mind you don't tread
On things"
What funny little voice :" said Jen, but
she had so sooner said II than she jumped back.
The owner OF the voice who had Just come
forward was no other than Baby.
Mhy,, exclaimed Jem, beginning to feel
frightened, - left you fast asleep in your
crib"
Did you:' said Baby, somewhat scornfully.
- nat Just the way with you grown-iIp pe0-
Ile. You think you know everything, and yet
you haynt discretion enough TO know when a
pin is sticking into one You'd know soon
enough If you mad one sticking into your own
"But I'm not grown up" stamn1ered Jem.
wall, nor talk; you're not six months old :"
Wen, MISS retorted Baby, whose wrongs
seemed to have SOured her disposition some
what, you have no need to throw that in my
teeth; you were not six months Old, either
when you were my age
Jem could not help laughing.
- GU haven't got any teeth,i she said.
"HaVen't l." said Baby, and She displayed
Two beautiful rows with some haughtine3S OF
manner. :" When am up here,n she said, IL
am supplied with the modern con"cniences,
and THAT'S why never complain. Do I ever
CRY wren am asleep? It's not falling asleep
OBJECT TO- it's falling awake"
noW?n
I'm what you call asleep. can only come
mere Wien I'm what you call asleep. Asleep,
indeed! It's no wonder we always cry when
we have 10 fall awake"
but We don't mean to be unllind to you"
protested Jem meekly
Hht IoNINl liOG ItIp tililhIiiS Dduy was very
severe.
Don't meant" said Baby. .tWeil, why don't
YOU think more, then? How would YOU like to
nave al the nice things Snatched away from
you, ana all the Old rubbish packed off on you
as II you hadb't any sense? How would you
Ike TO have to sit and stare at things you
wanted and not be able 10 reach them, or il
you cid reach them, have them fall out of your
hand, and roll away in the most unfeeling man
ner? And then be ScOlded and called .croSS!'
It's no wonder We are bald. You'd be bald
yourself. It's trouble and worry that keep us
bald until We can begin to take care OF our
selves. had more hair than this at first, but
1t fell OF, as we'll it might. No philosopher ever
thought of that, suppOse!'
''Nell,' said Jem, In despair, Il hope you
ENJOY yourself when you are here?"
Yes, / do" answered Baby. .:That's one
comfort. There is nothing to knock my head
against, and things have patent shoppers on
them, SO that they can't roll away, and every
thing is soft and easy to pick up.''
There was slight pause after this, and Baby
seemed to cool down.
81 suppose you would like me to show you
round, she said
mot If you have any objection, replied Jem,
who was rather subdued.
. would as soon do 1t as not" said Baby
" You are not as bad as some people, though
you do get my clothes twisted when you hold
me-"
Upon the whole, she seemed rather proud
OF her position. 1t was evident she quite re-
gaIded herself as hostess. She held her small
bald head very high indeed, as she trotted on
before them.