Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-07-16
Stltttt0 Storp.
BABERRY MOSS.

"l's 100 bad to give the child such a
ridiculous name, said the old nurse. as
she showed red-iaced baby to man
sitting on s doorstep, one pleasant Sep
tember noon.
"See how the little thing grows"
Yes, answered the man. 'she is as
red as q lobster. as tat as 8 young pig,
and ss homely as her father. Rather 8
commonplace baby. born in q common
place home"
John" called soi, voice from the
depths Of pillow.
Yes, little mother"
Il don't mind. Call her so. If you
like. No one else will haze a name just
ike i,n
Il see" said John, laughing. "BabJ 5
mother doesn't want common name.
Well. as We live here in the middle Of a
baberry- patch. and you are moss-sny-
how, think Baberry Moss will be q
pretty name"
Ii we could only look forward, and
tel whether she would like ii.' said the
mother.
Might try it now" said john
Here. nurse give her to me. Now, red
face, open your eyes. Ii you want to be
called Baberry Moss, wink. Ityon don't,
keep your eyes shut
The unconscious baby snapped its deep
blue eyes and Yawued.
Good said tie father. She con-
sen;s. So that vexed question is settled"
When the christening day came, she
behaved much like othe: babies and held
fast by her fathers whiskers
"She isn't a pretty child said
maiden lady to her sister in the front pew.
No, nothing uncommon. And such
q pretty mother. too" was the reply.
Baberry went out in her fathers arms.
sud neither knew nor cared.
Time went on, as it always does. and
Baberry grew 70 be q girl OF twelve. Nu-
merous changes had taken place. Where
the bushes once stood a pretty lawn and
garden we're seen. Other babies were
10 the house. and every rybody was busy.
The tall, slender girl was never idle
She must work before school, and walk
two miles 10 reach 1t. She must work
after school and all holidays, and study
when and where she could. Little
Eph, - her roguish brother. followed her
about everywhere. The twins were sure
to need tending and her mother was
always tired. Berry learned TO make
bread when standing on bench TO reach
the table; and, although her arms sched,
she was rested when her falhel praised it.
She made some OF the children's clothes
and knit her fathers stockings but 1t
never occurred TO her that she was over
worked, and no one else thought OF it in
that busy home. Little Ephrslm thought
she was au angel. Her father called her
"his little woman" and her mother
couldn't get along without her."
With sll this hard work. Berry was
getting more out OF life than her school,
mates, although they pitied her.
Come, Berry," they said one day.
I'VE haven't any school this afternoon.
Get some potatoes and 60 to the pond
with Us. We will carry cake and bread
and make Dice fire down there"
'Yes, come, Berry. You never go any
where, hardly"
81 will ask mother" said Berry. But
she went home 10 find her mother tired
out with her ironing, the twins cross, and
more clean clothes to be "doue mp" so
the girl said nothing about the pleasure
party, but began to work.
When dinner was over, she ironed the
coarse towels and hsndkerchiels. while
her mother took nap with the baby.
When mother came back to finish up
she found very little to DO, and told Berry
she was 8 real comfort.
Then the twins must go out for ride.
So Berry dressed them aud was drawing
them up and down under the trees, when
the girls came for her.
"Going, Berry - they asked.
Mo- said Berry. Mother can't spare
me-.
Tease her, said Sue Rainy, who
sometimes teased her own mother.
Yes" said Mary Bruet. Coax her.
We are going to have 8 jolly time