The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-04-13

chievous babies; babies of all shapes,
all sorts, all sizes and all ages-that is,
from one month to five years.
"Pshawn' said Mr.. TrueaX, with an
expression of disgust on his expressive
countenance, as he entered the room
and glanced hastily about. "FU go
no further, Winnie, but wait for you
here" and he retreated into dark
corner-by the by, the only obscure
corner in the hall-while his sister
tripped gayly away on tour of inspec-
! ton.
But as he impatiently waited, frown-
ing with all his might, and hoping that
Winnie would not exceed the ten min
utes he had so ungraciously accorded
| her, it suddenly dawned on him that
somebody not entirely unconnected
with the show was in his immediate
vicinity, for a not unmusical murmur,
a sweet-voiced mothers Groom to her
baby, reached him, and turning he saw
young and girlish creature in widows
weeds with tiny child on her lap.
As Mr.. TrueaX turned, this young
creature raised pair of the most won
derful blue eyes, fringed with the most
hoHbClIul SOlueH IdSllcS, anu CdSG Il
half-shy, half-appealing glance at him.
Mr.. TrueaX began to feel very I'M
comfortable. He, the hater of women,
the despiser of babies, shut in, as it
were, with dangerous member of each
species! For moment he felt inclined
to flee, but the thought of his pretty
sister wandering disconsolately about,
in search of him nipped that inclination
in the bud; and the next moment that
blue-eyed girl was hold up the blue
eyed baby, and saying, in a low, timid
voice: "She's very pretty, SIR
And the child aCdS very pretty. Steeled
as he was against the innocence and
beauty of childhood, he could not deny
that. A little angel, lacking only the
wings, with bonnie blue eyes like its
mothers, faint golden hair, red rose
bud mouth, and chin and cheeks like
the inmost petals of a pink-white rose.
And just then Winnie came back, with
two cards in her hand, commencing,
eagerly: 80 John, we must vote. You're
to vote as | tell you. Let me see the
handsomest mother, the. prettiest
baby y; and her eyes falling upon the
wee girl being held up for Johns APP
proval, she pounced upon it at once.
You loveliest of darlings! Why,
Brother John, this is the prettiest baby
eUer saw, and Good graciousm-
dropping the baby back into its moth
ers arms (rom which she had taken
it) with precipitancy that must have
astonished that lovelieSt of darlings-
Little Red Riding hoodr'
YES said the girlish mother,
"Little Red Riding-hood. But, Winnie
Miss TrueaX, mean-I don't expect
you to recognize me now. Times have
so changed for the worse with me Gas
you have guessed, no doubt, seeing me
here) since we went to school together,
and | wore the scarlet cloak which
gained me my pet name, and you made
me your own happy little friend"
"Oh, indeedr' said Winnie, arching
suddenly and kissing the quivering red
lips: "Allow me to decide that matter
for myself, Miss Daisy Bower But of
all places in the world, to meet you at
"a baby-show, and with baby! Come,
tell me all about it, dear. Brother
John, you may 90 to the Academy and
hear your great man, and II stay here
and listen to my small woman, and you
can stop for me on your way back"
But Brother John never stirred. The
baby had reached out her dimpled hand
and clutched his watch seal, and was
examining it with exceeding interest,
telling him, meanwhile, in gurgling
language apparently founded on the
- .ho 4
mired it; and he didn't want to rudely
wrest it from the little fingers, g or
something" as Winnie would have re-
marked and so, as | said before, he
never stirred.
go on, dear" said Winnie, seating
herself beside her new-found friend.
''Don't mind John. He's q regular
wolf, I'll confess, but I'll take care he
don't hurt YOU"
With timid glance at the wolf, who
stepped few steps away-baby having
turned her attention to the bird in Win
MES hat, but not so far but that he
caught every word uttered, in soft,
clear voice Red Kiding-hood began:
"When you finished your education
three years ago, and | was called home
to Maryland by the death of my mother
my father, you know, died three
years before-I was left with no rela-
ton in the whole world but my dear old
grandmother. She had comfortable
income at the time, and for a year
everything went well; and then the
bank in which all her money was de-
posted broke, and we were penniless.
Grandmother sank beneath her mis-
fortune and became almost helpless, and
l always was spoiled, good-for-noth-
ing"
"You always was a darling burst
in Winnie, impetuously.
And-and married grandmamma'
lawyer, and he was very, very kind to
us both, and we were very comfortable
until about three months ago-the day
wee Daisy was half year old-when he
died, and oh! Winnie, he left no will
but one dated long before he knew me,
which bequeathed all his fortune to a
nephew in some far-distant country,
and again we were left penniless.
Grandmother grew weaker day by day,
until she became utterly helpless, and
now she lies from morning to night and
from night till morning again on her
bed unable to move; and we were al