The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-05-14

Philosopher, apparently too surprised
for grammar. "Of the baby's head,
of course" replied, tartly; 6 merely
wish to know if the child is likely to be
as intellectual as you hoped" "Isn't
the hair lovelyP' he asked, incense
quently. This was too much, and as
-suming my severest manner l deliv-
cred myself in this wise: II thought.
though no doubt 1 was wrong, that the
use of baby to you would be partly to
furnish you with raw material for q
philosopher, partly to enable you by
constant observation to gain further
evidence bearing on such vexed ques-
tons as, whether the infant gains its
ideas of space by feeling about, whether
it is conscious of itself, etc" "Wcll,"
he said, laughing, 81 don't expect
much help from my infant in those
matters, unless can get inside>her and
think her thoughts "Her thoughtsT'
cried /, in amazement; "you don't
mean to say it's girl? Good gracious!
you are not going to educate female
philosopher?'' He looked rather vexed.
"Of course it's GIRL" he said. "The
father of q female philosopher!'' I
gasped. "Dear metz said he, some
what testify; "isn't it enough to be
father of 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 turning point even for the
worm, and nobody will sit forever at
the feet which are constantly kicking
him. 1 had been snubbed more than
enough by the illogical parent, and as
Stunning my most sarcastic manner, in
quired, with an appearance of Difference
&c Is it not rather early to speak of
your daughter as a noble woman?''
had Kept aloof from the Philosopher
for some weeks, nursing my wrath, like
Achilles, said to myself-cross as
bear, overheard my landlady say in
the passage-when I received has.y
note begging me to come to him at
once, l fancied myself summoned to a
council of chiefs; so, having donned my
shining armor, left my tent with fit
ting dignity, and descended with a
clang into the plain. Yet I 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 / had time to ring by a
melancholy footman, who, walking be-
fore me with the elaborate delicacy 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 upon
his hands, knelt the Philosopher.
Here was long step from the siege of
Troy, from the simple wrath of the child
like hero to the most complex embar-
rassment of an heir of all the ages. What
should I do. The dismal mental had
fled to the shades without a word, with
out even glance into the room. If I
retreated. I left my friend unaided
and remained ignorant of the cause of
his strange conduct. If advanced, I
was again the intruder on scene not
prepared for my inspection. In an
agony of hesitation I fell to brushing
my hat with my elbow; but not finding
the expected relief in the occupation,
was about to desist, when my hat
decided what my head could not, by
falling with crack on the floor. The
effect was electrical. Without one
glance at the intruder, the Philosopher
made grab at the nearest book shelf,
dragged out volume which had not
been touched for half century, and
hunted for nothing in its pages with
frantic eagerness. He was still at it,
when stood over him and noted with
out wonder that he held the book up
side down; then with the poorest imita-
ton of surprise which have ever seen,
he rose and grasped my hand. ''You
he said; II was looking it out min"
Here it occurred to him that he did
not know the name of the venerable
tome which he had so rudely disturbed,
and with a heightened color and a
sudden change of manner, he turned
quickly to me and said, "My child is
ILL.," 1 felt positively guilty. l had
been angry with that baby for making
my wise friend foolish, for not being o
boy, for being called noble woman"
Was it not shameful that great hulk
ing brute should sheer at a weak thing
that could not even answer with taunt?
Were not my clumsy sarcasms enough
to crush so delicate plant? The poor
little "noble woman was in danger
and I could do nothing to help her.
There were tears in the eyes which
were looking into mine for comfort. but
1 had nothing ready to say.
Il could not stand being Alone" he
muttered. after a short silence; "the
doctor is with her now, and in a mo-