The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-02
Mammals Little Darling Baby )


Oh, but it was hot. A September day,
and the sun shining down as if August
had just begun. Bertha in the lane, half
a mile from her mothor's house, had
scratched her arm and torn her dress,
and was just as warm as she thought it
possible for girl to be, yet she picked,
picked, picked away. She had an OBJ
Ject; tomorrow was to be the wonderful
excursion up the river to spend the day
on a lovely island, and it would cost
twenty-five cents to go: unless Bertha
picked and sold berries enough to amount
to twenty-five cents, there would be nc
excursion for her; for, however willing
her mother might be, twenty five cent
pieces were by 10 means as thick a,
blackberries, but had to be worked hard
for. The basket on Bertha's arm was
nearly half full; she calculated that il
would have to be quite full, in order tc
make sure of the twenty-five cents. Sc
she worked away.
"Hark what was that" Bertha stops
with handful of berries half way to her
pail, and listens; long, loud, wailine
cry from baby voice. Down went the
basket under the bushes, and the picker
started in the direction of the cry Sure
enough, there was a little blue-eyed
golden-haired, white dressed, kid-slip-
pered baby, looking ready to die with
WEAKNESS and grief
Who are your" asked Bertha, in a
wondering, yet gentle voice
Else mammals little darling baby
sobbed the blue-eyed wonder
/ should think you were. Where is
mammal"
Baby don't know baby wants to go
to mamma" And here began another
most pitiful wall.
ooh, dear me ~ said Bertha al al
most know you must belong to the people
at the hotel" That was summer board
ing house, fully two miles away, right in
the broiling sun, and it was easy to calcu-
late that by the time Bertha got there
with her little charge, and tramped back
again, there would be no more time for
picking berries that night. She must go
home and get tea for mother, who was
out ironing all day and after tea, there
was Carrie to put to bed and Ned to look
after. No wonder she drew such heavy
sigh: she had very few excursions.
Baby might wait until I filled my
basket, she said, doubtfully. "Then l
would take her home"
But one thought of the distracted
mother who was probably hurrying
through the wood for her baby, and
one more look at the tears stained face of
the poor tired baby decided her.
" Here goes !" she said, bravely ex-
cursion or no excursion. Mammals little
darling baby must be got home, right
straight off. Now, baby, don't you cry,
and away you shall go on horseback; l
as good as know that you belong to the
new boarders down there"
STOPPING down, she lifted the tired
darling in her arms, fastened the old
sun-umbrella in such way as to shade
her head, and started Wasn't it hot
and weren't those long miles that stretched
between her and the hotel? Oh, but
what a shout of welcome greeted her, as
the tired feet turned in at the carriage
drive, and mother, bareheaded, and
with drawn face, and frightened eyes,
held out her arms, and little darling
baby" hoped into them. Perhaps you
think Berthas basket almost half full OF
berries, was lost. Not bit of it. "A
fine coachman, in livery, got down from
the elegant carriage and went to get it,
while Bertha herself sat back among the
soft cushions, and watched him, and
played that she was Cinderella on her
way to the ball. Perhaps you think she
did not go on the excursion? All but
she did, and the twenty five cents that
paid her passage was taken out of small
shining five dollar gold piece that mann
mas little darling baby" herself put into
Bertha's hand The little girl who had
bravely given up her pleasure to help
the frightened baby, had humdred-fold
reward.-We ParlSy