Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-04-08
Nannette's Live Baby.

A good many years ago, in the city of
Philadelphia, lived little girl named Nam
nette. One summer afternoon her mother
went to pay a short visit TO her aunt who
lived near by, and gave her little girl per-
mission to amuse herself on the front door
steps until her return. So Nannette, in a
clean pink frock and white apron, playing
and chatting with her big wax 'Didy,
which was her dolls name, formed pretty
picture TO the passers-by some of whom
walked slowly IN order TO hear the childs
talk TO her doll.
"You'se a big old GIRL" she went on,
smoothing out Didy's petticoats, ''and I've
had you for ever and ever, and Use mos
six. But you grow no bigger. You never
cry, you don't You'se a stupid old thing
and Pm tired of you, am! Ib'leve you'se
only a make-bleve baby, and want a real,
live baby do-a baby that will cry! Now
don't you see, ;" and she gave the dolls head
whack-"that you don't cry2 If any
body should hit me so, I'd squeam muir
der, 1 would! And then the p'lissman
would come, and there would be an awful
time. There, now sit up, can't you2 Your
back is like broken stick. Oh, hum, I'm
tired of you, Didy."
Leaving the doll leaning in a one sided
way against the door, Nannette posed her
dimpled chin in her hands and sat quietly
looking into the street. Presently a wo-
man came along with bundle in her arms,
and seeing Nannette and Didy in the door
way, went up the steps and asked the little
girl if she would not like to have a real lit
tie live baby.
cone that will cry?" eagerly asked Nan.
nette.
"Yes, one that will cry and laugh too,
after bit" answered the woman, all the
time looking keenly about her; and then in
hushed voice she asked the child if her
mother was at home.
mo, she's gone to see my auntie, shall
call herr" replied Nannette, jumping to her
feet and clapping her hands, from feeling
as if in some way she was to have her long
wshed-for live baby.
''No, don't call her; and if you want a
baby that will cry, you must be very quiet
quarter of dollar to pay for baby2"
81 guess SC" answered Nannette; 'Tve
lot of money up stairs" And running
up to her room she climbed into chair,
| took down her money box from a shelf,
and emptying all her pennies and small
silver coin into her apron, ran down again.
''This is as much as a quarter of dollar
isn't it?"
The woman saw at a glance that there
was more tnan that amount, and hastily
taking poor little Nannette's carefully
boarded pennies, she whispered:
''Now carry the baby up stairs and keep
it in your own little bed. Be careful to
make no noise for it is sound asleep. Don't
tell anybody you have it until it cries.
Mind that. When you hear it cry you may
know it is hungry"
Then the woman went hurriedly away,
and Nannette never saw her again.
Nannettes little heart was nearly break
ing with delight at the thought of having 9
real live baby; and holding the bundle fast
in her arms, where the woman had placed
it, she began trudging up stairs with it.
Finally putting and painting, her checks al
aglow, see reached her little bed and turn
ing down the covers, she put in the bundle
and covering it up carefully, she gave II
some loving little pats, saying softly: "hg
baby, my real, little live baby that VIII
cry!'' And then she carefully tripped out
of the room and down stairs again.
Very soon Nannette's mother came home,
bringing her fine large apple which drove
all thoughts of the baby from her MIND,
and it was only when night came ana sh'