The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-11-09

there was more lIlaH lHal a!n9uAt ana
hastily taking poor little Nannette's
carefully boarded pennies, she whis-
pered:
Now carry the baby mp stairs and
keep it in your own little bed. Be
careful TO make no noise tor it is
sound asleep. Don't tell any body
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.
Nannette's little heart was nearly
breaking with delight at the thought
of having a real live baby; and hold
ing the bundle fast in her arms
where the woman had placed 1t, she
began trudging up stairs with it.
Finally, putting and painting, her
cheeks all aglow, she reached her lit
tie bed, andsturning down..the cover
ing, she put in the little bundle, and
covering 1t up carefully, she gave it
some loving little pats, saying softly.
"My baby, my real, little live baby,
that will cry!" And then she care-
fully tripped cut Of the room and
down stairs again. Very soon
Nannetle's mother came home, bring
ing her a fine, large apple, which
drove all thought of the baby from
her mind, and it was only when
night came, and she was seated at
the supper table with her papa and
mamma that she remembered her
baby; but at that time suddenly,
from somewhere that was surely in
the house, came a baby's cry; and
clapping her hands, her eyes dancing
with Joy, Nannette began to slide
down from her chair, saying, with
great emphasis, That's my baby!"
Her mother laughed. Your baby,
Nanuette?"
"Y es, mamma, my baby; don't you
hear it cry? It's hungryW And she
started To run up stairs, but her moth
er called her back.
"Why, Nannette, what ais you?
What do you mean about Your ba-
by?" she asked in surprise.
"Why, MY BABY, mamma! l bought
it for quarter of q collar! baby that
crles-nui mis'able make b'leve
baby. Oh, now it does cry; it must
be awful hungrym And away she
darted up stairs.
Her father and mother arose from
their seats in perfect amazement, and
followed their little girl 10 her room
where, lying upon her bed, was a
bundle from which came a baby's
cries. Naunette's mother began to
untasten the wrappings, and sure
enough there was "a wee little girl
not more thai. two or three weeks
old looking up at them with two
great wet eyes.
OF course Nannette vas questioned,
and she related all she could remem>
Der of her talk to the woman from
whom she bought the baby. Her
papa said PERHAPS the baby had been
stolen, and that something had been
given it to make 1t sleep.
But what shall We do with il?"
asked both the father and mo her,
DO with i,?" cried Nannclte.
avn it's my baby. mamma! l
paid all my money for it. 1t cries,
it does! l will keep j. always"
So it was decided that the baby
should stay, if nohody came to claim
it, which nobody ever did, although
Nannette's papa put all ADVERTISE
ment i'll a newspaper about it.
IL would take larger book that
Wide Aecake in which to tell all
Nannelte's experiences in taking
care OF my baby" as she called the
little girl, whom she aiterWard named
Victoria, IN honor OF the young
Queen of England.
Victoria Is now woman, and she
lives as does Nannel,e, in the city OF
Philadelphia. She has "a little girl
OF her own, mos six" VINO is named
Nannetle tor the good little SISTER
! mother" vino once upon her time
bought her mamma ot "a strange wo~