The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-09-09
HOW GRANDPA LOST THE BABY.

HOW GRANDPA LOST THE BABY.
A telegram from Anna Maria:
"Thc cook has gone. Rig dinner party. Go
ing crazy. Please come"
Mrs. Jones read it carefully and un-
derstood it at glance. It meant that
Anna Maria's cook had left her and that
she was incapable of preparing the din
ner. or of giving directions for its prep
aration. Anna Maria had always been
the blue stocking of the family, had
been set down as the single sister, and
had surprised every one by marrying.
rather late in life,- the erudite Professor
Potts. VI course, without a cook Anna
Maria was helpless, and Matilda, with
her fifteen years experience, would fly
TO her assistance.
''But who will take care of baby? "
said Mrs. Jones. at is wash day, and
the upstairs girl is doing the cooking.
The children are in school, and Emeline
gone to visit her friend, Miss Miller. I
wish had not let her 60. Dear me!
Grandpa. will you take care of baby
until 1 come home? / shan't STAY
longer than can help; and ,coutd you
be so good and kind as to do ita"
Take care of baby! Why of course, :"
said grandpa, who was really Mrs.
Joness father-in-law. Hell not be
any trouble. Tome to its dampa
den." He held out his arms, Mrs Jones
deposited baby in them, placed on the
desk before grandpa cup of sweetened
milk and water, and rushed away to
prepare for her trip across town. Soon
the door closed behind her, and grand
pa found himself in the unwonted posi-
tfnv, nf -
pleasant. Baby cooed and chewed his
thumb and kicked his little feet until
one sock after the other tumbled off;
and grandpa smiled and talked baby
talk. But after half an hour of this
amiability, suddenly and without warn
ing baby began to wall. AVA AVA a-a-
AVA a-a-wa AVA
whats 20 matter, petty?" asked
grandpa Baby responded by stiffcn-
ing himself in an alarming manner,
and raising his voice several notes
higher. 1t was his intention to be
walked with. The idea dawned on
grandpa's mind by degrees, and, as
soon as he fairly comprehended it, he
yielded. Up and down over the car
peted floor of his study the old gentle
man began to trot, and al last the little
head dropped down upon his coat col
lar. and he saw the little eyes shut
fast.
"Women," said grandfather, con-
ceitedly, Twill worry with child all
day, whereas, little judiciOus man.
agement will end the trouble very
sOon."
Meanwhile, Mrs. Jones flew in all
haste to Anna Maria, and finding her
about to put turkey into the oven pre-
cisely as it came from the butchers, s,
and with its long legs sticking straight
out, decided that she was not fit to be
left to herself, and remained with her
until the nine professors who had been
unexpectedly invited to dine by the
master of the house, were in the din
ing-room.
''Don't mind me, Anna Maria," she
said. 'I'm cook to-day, and I'll send
little Betty up with the dessert before
go"
Mrs. Jones performed her promise.
and then fastening her cloak about her,
and tying her blue veil over her fiushe d
face, she hurried homeward, thinking
of poor, deserted baby all the while.
She had reached the corner of her
own street when suddenly she saw a
sight that caused her to give little
scream-grandfather with his usual
amiable smile upon his countenance,
and his hands full of letters, slowly
trotting along toward the house.
"He must have left baby" said Mrs.
Jones, "but suppose he called cook
or Maggie" and she hurried on just in
time to be admitted by grandpa's latch
key.
antly, as she united her veil.
"BabyP II presume so," answered
grandpa. Then he turned suddenly
very red, and looked confusedly about
him.
"Where is hep" asked Mrs. Jones.
Where?-ah. yes-naturally-um"
responded grandpa. meditating pro-
foundly; "um-yes."
~ suppose you mean you don't know
where Maggie has taken him just nowP"
said Mrs. Jones, with exaggerated
cheerfulness.
"Oh, that's it, of course; naturally
Maggie would take him. He would be
apt to cry, and she, of course, would
come"
"Maggier shrieked Mrs. Jones, wild
ly: "Maggier'
Upstairs she ran. No Maggie was to
DC tOuuu-HO udUy cltHeT. DOWH-St1iTS
she few. Cook and Maggie, both en-
gagged in the wringing Of sheets. looked
up in surprise.
"where is babyP" screamed Mrs.
Jones.
Lord save us allr' cried cook.
"Where would he be?" asked Mag
gle.
'Sure. mann, what do ye maneP"
"WhereP' screamed Mrs. Jones again
and rushed up stairs again.
..Grandpa," she cried. ''oh tell me,
tell me, tell me where baby is!'
The guilty man looked at his daugh-
ter-in-law and looked away again.
''You see I'm not used to taking care
of babies." he said, slowly. Naturally,
I'm not. and-wellI -"
"Speakr shrieked Mrs. Jones. I'm
going to have spasm of some Sort"
"Well," continued grandpa, really,
my dear, am forced to confess that L
don't remember. But I've only been
to the post-ofiice and down to Thomp-
sons office; took the car down; sup
pose l left him in one of those places,