The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-03

being responded by a cry of pain. |
hurt the mothers heart to the quick: s.
soon had she failed to shield the de
voted child! With swift, unmeanin.
resentment she ordered Tommy to b
taken from the room, needless of hi
pleadings, while she brooded the baby
laying it against her face and in he
bosom. But when the baby cries wer,
hushed she had Tommy brought back
bethinking her that he must not be Sc
against the baby; he must be trained t.
love her; to get all the good possible
from their loan, to lay by sweet memo
ries of her to which the spirit coulc
turn through life for refreshment. She
kissed his tear-stained face, and hat
him kiss baby's fists, and told him thai
he must love the little sister better thar
all the world besides.
Only in necessity would she suffer
her baby to be taken from her side, but
hung over it with a reverent kind Of
love, as for one already heaven-be.
spoken. At every waking her thoughts
flew first to baby, and her hand went
out with loving touch, and then the
little ones face was laid against hers.
And when the mother on the third
morning felt an unmistakable closing
of the warm lips, and heard the low,
soft swallowing, she lay back with
closed lids, and under them came great
thankful tears. And in Mares eyes
were answering tears.
When the baby was a week old the
mother insisted on having it's picture
taken. The same day she entered on
the first page of " Lucy's Diary, " A
week of precious time is gone; one hun
dred and sixty-six weeks and one day
are left. Every day since she came has
been JOY to me. She does not notice
any yet, but there is such sweetness in
ministering to her helplessness! When
Marc holds her feet to the fire she
works her toes as if in satisfaction; it
must be that she enjoys the warmth. /
know she enjoys the nursing. Dear
Lord, thank Thee that may get thus
near to her that she may build her life
from mine."
From this time on, day by day to the
last week, was recorded the story OF
the child's unfolding. Perhaps such
another story was never written. 1t
noted every perceptible change-the
clearing of the skin; the opening of the
fists; the first watching of the light;
the first notice of the dancing shadows
on the wall, and of the bright colors;
the first smile; the growth of the hair;
the first goo-goo; the first laugh; the
first tooth, and each after one; every
infant sickness, every frolic; the be-
havior with each new toy. Then there
was the story of the sitting alone, of the
creeping, of the standing alone, of
the walking by the chair, of the first
unaided walking. Every pain that
came to the little Lucy the mother noted
with remorseful tears-every sign of
new pleasure in the wee face was re-
corded with thankful words.
Through the whole minute record
there ran an evident solicitude to put
some mark upon each day-to so indi-
vidualize it that it might be identified
in review. And with each days rec
ord were entered the pitiless figures
which told what of the little life re-
manned.
On February IA. 1877, the mother
wrote: cone year old to-day; nearly
one-third of the precious time is spent.
She is sleeping beside me. Ihave shut
Tommy out, that he may not disturb
her; Ihear him crying for me. Itgives
me something of a heartache to lock
the door against him, but, must give
myself to her now. When she has gone
| will make it up to Tommy. We had
her tenth picture taken to-day. She
sat on my lap, with the dear head lean
ing against my palm, and the sweet,
wondering eyes watching the violin
which the operator played. The picture
is excellent, but miss the exquisite col
oring-the pale-rose complexion, the
blue eyes, and the hair unlike in color
any other | ever saw-like the yellow
of threshed wheat. Nothing could be
more beautiful than her sleeping face at
this moment. Ibegrudge the time that
to this writing"
March 2, IS77.-I have such terri
BILE times with Marc! He has never &C.
cepted the vision, and has been all along
trying to get my mind away from it.
He has proposed a trip to California
and Southern tour, and now he is
bent on going abroad for three years
but | will never, never consent to scat
ter the precious time in strange towns
and foreign hotels and along meaning
less lines of travel. My home, the ia.
mAfar objects with which my life is to
be passed-with these l must associate
her; these must help me to reproduce
her life."
april 8, 1S77.-Lucy spoke her
first word to-day, and, o dear God!
thank Thee that it was mamma II
was perfectly spoken, and three times
repeated. l try to withdraw myself
from everything else and give all my
thoughts to baby; but Mare is so un.
reasonable as to complain of this
that his comfort is neglected, and Tom.
my's. So live in perpetual conflict
l want them to get the good of her, tc
get sweet memories of her to keer
through life, but Tommy is so strong
and rough that l dare not trust him
near her. Marc frets that she comes
between me and Tommy, and so he
neglects Lucy, and INDUCES Tommy
until the boy is almost ruined"
April 80, lS7S.-Just one year left
1t frightens me to think how her life i.
rooted in mine. If hers is torn away
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