Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-04-22

a call again unannounced. I knew th
- Mrs. Hanway had not forgiven me, as
q humbly took the two fingers which 81
y offered; and I felt like brute, as Il
: : most important member of the fami]
. condescended to leave damp spot /
a the edge of my left whisker.
i When, however, I had been swe,
D down stairs by my impulsive friend, an
+ was alone with him in his den, nv cou
+ age returned, and with it some indign,
? ton. I confronted him, and sternl
, asked why had not been told that
was father. "Not been to]d?" echoe
he; edo you mean to say that you di
, not know about the baby "Not &
, much as that it was" I replied, gloomil,
, He was overwhelmed. Of course he ha
supposed that every one knew it fro1
the queen downward. Of course fit
people ought to have told me, who {
, course had told me everything else. A
last my curiosity got the better of my in
diggnatlon, and I cut short his apologize
by beginning my questions. "Does tn
shape Of its head content you" I asked
"The shape Of whose what?" cried tn
philosopher, apparently too surprised TO
grammar. "Of the baby's head. O
course" I replied, tartly; "I merel,
wish to know i the child is likely to b
as intellectual as you hoped" "Isn'
the hair lovely?" he asked, incense
quently. This was too much, and assum
ing my severest manner I delivered nv
self in this wise: 81 thought, though NJ
doubt I was wrong, that the use Of .
baby to you would be partly to furnish
you with raw material for philosopher
partly to enable you by constant obser
walton to gain further evidence bearing
on such vexed questions as, whether The
infant gains its ideas of space by feeling
about, whether it is conscious of itself,
etc. swell" he said, laughing, "j
don't expect much help from my infant
IN those matters, unless I can get inside
her and think her thoughts" "Hc1
thoughts cried I in amazement: "vou
don't mean to say it's girl? Good
gracious you are not going to educate a
female philosopher" He looked rather
vexed. 'sOf course it's girl" he said.
"The father Of female philosopher |! ~
1 gasped. "Dear mel" said he, some
what testify; "isn't it enough to be
father of a noble woman?"
Now I have often put up with a great
deal from my learned friend, and am
quite aware that have been spoken of
as bozzy'' behind my back. But there
is a turning point even for the worm.
and nobody will sit forever at the feet
which are constantly kicking him. I
had been snubbed more than enough by
the illogical parent, and assuming nv
most sarcastic manner, inquired, with
an appearance of deference- els it not
rather early to speak of your daughter as
a noble woman
"Not at oil" said the philosopher.
I had kept aloof from the philosopher
for some weeks, nursing my wrath. like
Achilles, 1 said to myself cross as a
bear,-when I received hasty note beg
glng me to come to him at once. 7
fancied myself summoned to council of
chiefs; SO, having donned my shining
armor, left my tent with fitting dignity.
and descended with a clang into the
plain. Yet could not but be aware of
my landlady's eye piercing me through
the crack of the parlor door purposely
left ajar, and of the hasty Tapping Of
loose slippers which told Of the startled
slavey's flight into the abyss below:
An unusual silence held my friends
house that morning. The door was
opened before I had time to ring by a
melancholy footman, who, walking be-
fore me with the deicacy of an Agag,
noiselessly ushered me into the study.
1t was my lot to be again rooted to the
spot with amazement. By the bookcase,
In a shaded corner of the room, with his
head bowed low on his hands, knelt the
philosopher. Here was long stretch
from the siege Of Troy, from the simple
wrath OF the childlike hero to the most
complex embarrassment of an heir of all
the ages. What should I do? The dis
NAL mental had fed to the shades with
out a word, without even glance into
the room. If I retreated, 1 left nv
friend unaided, and remained ignorant
OF the cause Of his strange conduct. If
I advanced, I will again be the intruder
on a scene not prepared for my inspec-
ton. In an agony of hesitation I fell to
brushing my hat with my elbow; but not
finding the expected relief in the occupa-
ton, l was about to deslst, when my hat
decided that my head could not, by fall
ing with crack on the floor. The effect
was electrical. Without one glance at
the intruder, the philosopher made a
grab at the nearest bookshelf. dragged
out a volume which had not been touch
ed for half century, hand hunted for
nothing In it's pages IN frantic eagerness.
He was still at it, when I stood over him
and noted without wonder that he held
the book upside down; then, with the
poorest attempt at surprise which I had
ever seen, he rose and grasped my hand.
" You found me on the track of some
thing" he said; II was looking it out
IT. feE ~
Here it occurred to him that he did
not know the name of the venerable
tome which he had so rudely disturbed,
and with heightened color and sud-
den change of manner, he turned quick
y to me and said, "My child is i'll" I
felt positively guilty. I had been angry
with that baby for making my wise
friend foolish, for not being a boy. for
being called "a noble woman" Was it
not shameful that great hulkinr
brute should sneer at q weak thing that
could not even answer with a taunt?
We're not my clumsy sarcasms enough
% crush SO delicate plant? The poor
little 6 noble woman was in danger and
could do nothing to help her.
There were tears in the eyes which were
Ooking into mine for comfort, but I had
nothing ready to say.
could not stand being Alone" he
nuttered, after short silence; ..the
loctor is with her now, and in moment
NAV hear that nv little daughter mnat T