The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-11-24
BABY.


Al OF us together, like leaves in gust,
Aumbied, indeed, down into the duet
BABY.
n Symposium of the Nursery.
had not seen my friend Vanessa for q
long time. She used to he my ideal wo.
man--so strong Of mind, 80 superior to the
vagueness, the tltfusences of hor---ou,
sea. When she asserted thing did not
wait to be convinced; felt that it was 80.
whether it was 50 OF not. When I wayered
in my decisions, made Of Vanessa lucky
piece, so to speak, and whether her toss
came down heads" or tails" was always
satisfied. Sho was tribe uRsympathetic
to lovers and indulgent parents, and had
rigid views on the subject Of household
discipline, but her heart was warm, and
she was s friend Of friends
One day Vanessa sot married, and then
We went our ways. with much hesrtache of
parting anil many vows Of constaney. The
years slipped by and our letters grew
scrimpy and tame, but my idea Of vanessa
remained unchanged. When some misogy-
mist sent out his fling at womanish weak
ness, would always say: "Ah, but you
never knew Vanessa." Now I was to see
my friend again, to sit at her feet, and
drink tho wisdom that fell from her lips.
Happy thought: Vanessa was coming to
visit me- With her year-oid baby. wasn't
sure about the baby, but thought it would
be laid away somewhere when tgot troub-
lesome. Vanessa was too wise to let it in
terfere with us. We lived mile or more
from delightful big village, and planned
the whole month full of pleasure to suit
Vanessa, whose tastes and habits / knew SO
we'll. went myself in the carriage to
meet her.
"Ah, how dye do?" she said, with a
strained sort Of smile, when caught sight
of her at last. couldn't shake hands with
her or kiss her, for she had the baby in her
arms-at least I suppose it was the baby,
for something squirmed under the mass OF
embroidery and bro Rn veil she held up to
me. THE nurse has gone to sec about the
luggage" she said, by way Of exclamation.
I wish you could see Baby, but I'm afraid
to uncover his face, lest he 1oighttak cold
It seems very chilly here. Is there any ma
laria in the air."
fastened to assure her Of the health
fulness Of the country, and at last we were
all bundled Il use the word advisablyl into
the carriage. Some OF the trunks and bags
had to be left for another load, and when
q
became incOnsoiable because something was
left behind which. would be needed for b.
by, and she rated the nurse sounGiy for her
neglect l was aghast. for Vanessa's seren-
aty under such petty trials had been at once
my envy and adu.iration. We drove back
to the station end recovered the missing
article, but the drive home WAS unsatlsfac-
tory. Baby walled incessantly, and Vanes-
ga ignored me entirely in her efforts to en-
terrain him. l was amused and astonished
at her stock Of @baby talk I knew what
an accomplished linguist she was, but this
last acquisition seemed more wonderful
than the rest.
There, there, petsie See little hossie
booful little hossie. Was it mamma s own Z
Well, well, we'll soon be there. Louise,
give me that blanket He's quite cold.
Would you mind putting up that window,
Karin?"
put up the window. banged on it to
amuse Baby. I clapped my hands. / tried
to take him, but he howled in derision, and
Vanessa said reproachfully:
You shouldn't have tried to take him till
beauty" etc, etc.
At last We we're at home. took Van
ssa into her room with some pride. There
were fresh flowers everywhere, alright fire
and low chair in front of it. I flattered
myself had forgotten nothing.
All, this is nice, isn'tit, Baby" said Va
MESA, in 8 tone which more than repaid
me. But she had scarcely seated herself
before she said: What lovely flowers; but
you won't mind, will you, if let Louise
take them out? I don't think so strong a
perfume is good for Baby
The flowers were taken away. Pretty
soon Tanessa began to fidget again. Baby
bad been fed, and lay in the nurses arms,
blinking at the fire in the solemn, wise way
babies have, apparently in state Of con-
plete beatitude.
What is it, Vanessa? Is there anything
well, don't want to look inhospitable,
dear, and turn you out, but I know baby
wants to go to sleep, and our talking dis
turbs him, he's 90 nervous. It's too bad
but we'er going to be together nice long
time now. 1t Is so good to see you again
And We must read together, and you will
tell me all Your plans"
frightened up imme diately. She aUas
glad to see me, then. This WAS my Va
MESA. 1t was to be our old life told over
again, and the baby was only parenthesis.
But soon found that the biggest part of
our visit, like Carlyie's "Reminiscences, "
was made Of parentheses. In the morn.
ing had to 20 into Vanessa's room to sec
Baby dressed for his walk. Then we all
hung kisses after him in the rapturous
fashion of the twenty love- sick maidens in
Patience" Then We went to drive some
times; and If Baby was left at home,
We had little chat about outside matters,
and Vanessa was FAINT semblance Of her
self; but always she carried with her new,
strange air OF responsibility. There was
serene, SELF satisfaction about her which it
would scarcely be proper to name egotism,
and yet it called on everybody to make way
Tor her, because she was mother Of Baby.
Holding the wriggling little lump Of hn-
mainly in her lap, she woula gravely de-
iberate between Yale and Harvard for his
higher education. Every year of his nom
age had been mapped ont with most intr1-
cate lines, even to diet, dress, and deport-
ment. But that..was in the future. For the
present We could not plan anything for
more than an hour ahead, for there was
danger OF Baby having pain somew lere,
to hold his mother beside him. Between
the fear Of his swallowing some indigesti-
bic plaything, Or getting cold, or having the
stomach ache, or catch some Infectious
disease, we were constantly kept
in . whirl of anxiety. I became as baby
worn as the rest, finding that possibility
OF any OF these calamities made Of Vanessn
sort OF mild. maniac. Our intercourse
was intensely aggravating-I can use no
other word to describe it. She seemed to
love mo still when she had time; but the
instant the baby claimed her attention, 1
was blotted out, and not only I, but the
whole world: Even her husband was q
shadowy being compared with baby, al
though hers had been what is technically
known as Glove match"
Every day Vanessa would say. why
don't you read aloud to me, as you used to
do" One morning, she picked up NAL
locks New Republic" haven't read
anything for two years, " she said; "is this
good?"
shrugged my shoulders impartially, IS
who should say: "Tis mere matter Of
taste"
Il know it will do for our beninning, at
any rate, " she laughed, "and I don't believe
Vou've avar looked into it.