Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-11-30
Our Baby.

| never could see the use of babies. We
have one at our house that belongs to
mother, and she thinks everything of it.
| can t see anything wonderful about it.
All it can do is to cry. pull hair and kick.
1t hasn't half the sense of my dog, and
csn't even chase a cat. Mother and Sue
wouldn't have dog in the house, but they
are always going on about the baby and
saying. "Ain't it perfectly sweet -
The worst thing about II baby is that you
are expected to take care of him, and then
get seolded afterward. Folks say, "Here,
Jimmy ! just hold the baby minute;
that's good boy and then rs soon as
you have got it they say. Don't do that
Just look at him That boy will kill the
child! Hold it up straight, you good-for-
nothing little wretch -
1t is pretty hard to do your best and
then get scolded for it, but that is the way
boys are treated. Perhaps after ! am dead
folks will wish they had done differently
Last Saturday, mother and Sue went ont
to make calls, and told me TO stay ut home
and take care of the baby There was a
base ball match. but what did they care
for thate They didn't want to go to it, so
it made no difference whether | went or
not. They said they would he gone only
a little while, and if the baby walked up
was to play with it and keep 1t from cry.
ing, and "be sure and not let it swallow
any pin :"
OF course had to do it. The baby was
sound asleep when they went out so left
just few minutes while went to see if
there was any pie in the pantry. III was
woman / wouldn't be so dreadfuily sus-
piclous as to keep everything locked up,
When got back up stairs again the baby
was awake and bowling like he was full OF
pins. So | gave him the first thing tha'
came handy to keep him qnlct. 1t hap
pened to be bottle of French polish with
II sponge on the end of wire, that Sue
uses to black her boots, because girls are
too lazv TO use the regular blacking brush
The baby stopped crying as soon as
gave him the bottle, and sat down to read
tie Young Ropie Thenext time looked
at the baby he'd got the sponge, and about
half his face was jet black. This was a
nice fix. for knew nothing could get the
back IF his face, and when mother came
home she would say the baby was spoiled
and | had done it. Now | think an all
hiaCk uhDl Is ever 50 lnuCH more etyliSn
than An nll white baby, and when saw
that the baby was part black, made up
NY mind that ii blacked it all over il
would he worth more than it ever had been
ami perhaps mother would be ever so
much pleased. So hurried up and gave
Ii good coat of blacking. You should
htve seen how that baby shned The poi
lsb dried Just as soon ms it was put on, and
| had lrst time to get the baby dressed
a4a n. when mother and Sue came in.
wouldn't lower myself to repeat their
unklnd language. When you've been cal
ed numbering little villain and nm un-
natural son, it will rankle in your heart
for ages. After what they said to me |
didn't mind about father, but went up
stairs with him almost as if was going
TO church, or something that didn't hurt.
Tne baby is beautiful and shiny, though
the doctor says it will wear off in few
years. Nobody shows any gratitude for
al tina trouble l took; and can tell you
it lsp I easy TO black baby without get
ting it into his eyes and hair. sometimes
think it is hardly worth while to live in
tins cold and unfeeing world. Jimmy
b. OUn, in Harper's Young People.