The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-08-23

PANsIEa.

=
one May. Their home was one of many
houses in line, all alike, with little or
namental balcony at one side, bay win
dow on the 9th er, and tiny grass plot in
front, which gfandiloquently called itself
a gar'en. Opposite was row of houses
very similar, and the dwellers on both
sides came to take lively interest in the
family.
Very soon heir refined taste evinced
itself. Vines peeped through the fieecy
curtains of the bay window, aud cana
ry's cage hung from the centre. The pi-
azza became gay with baskets and stands
of flowers. p assers-by had glimpses of
books and pictures, and piano, where,
every evening, when Rob Roy came home,
the clear touch and tuneful voice of Helen.
his wife, was heard.
Thus they CO mmended themselves to the
cultivated. But greater company by
far, the mothers, approved them for their
adulation of the baby And the baby
was surely as lovely as the heart could
wish. A wee, round, delicately fashioned
creature, pretty from the top of the head,
crowned with little rings of sunny hair,
to the rose-pink soles of her feet; with
great, smiling blue eyes. dainty little
nose, and sweet cherry mouth.
When the baby went to drive in her
perambulator her course through the
streets was a royal progress. One loyal
ist after anothe err stayed her chariot to do
her homage. Baby was friendly Great
ure, sweet tempered as well as merry, and
she patiently aired her gifts and graces
before her pc pple bat she was artfuI,
too, and kept her sweetest smiles for home.
What famous day it was when she took
her first steps, We saw the exhibition
and it was as good as Christmas panto-
mime. At Rob Roy's ring Helen opened
the door, and the greeting kiss given, led
him to the bal lcony and plunged into de-
scription, quite Ineligible to US by her
gestures, how she had set baby against
the wall and knelt before her with open
arms to lure her, and how baby, after some
hesitancy, sud denly flew to her, and how
she had tried her two or three times to
make sure she could do it, and there was
no mistake. Then Rob shook his head
and put on the most incredulous, teasing
expression, and Helen, persisting, looked
very pretty with her bloom heightened
and rippling brown lock straying into
her earnest eyes, Asseveratlon prov
ing vain, she went off for the champion
walker of the universe
Baby came. fitly arrayed for the SOL
emnity in a short white frock much be-
frilled, and a blue sash tied in big but
terfy bow behind. She greeted her father
with effusion, but when he derisively re-
quested her c cpmpany for promenade in
the park she grew calm. Being put in
position the kneeIing pair-for Rob, the
skept1c, stralg ghtway became devotee-
enticed her to them by all their arts. But
none of those Establishments moved Baby
until she chose to set out. Closely press
ing herself against the wall she watched
her parents for minute with tranquil
and cunning smile. Then catching her
dress, danseuse wise, at each side, she ad-
vanced, not as hitherto, with the skimming
motion of the sparrow, bat with stately
step until just in front of them, where she
paused in the prettiest attitude of coquet-
ry and irresoIntion in the world, and sig
nalized her ictory by casting herself into
her papa's ar ms.
Only a week after we heard that baby
was i'll. Very i'll, the report was as the
day wore on, and more than one pair of
eyes filed when it grew plain that there
was small hope Of her recovery. Baby
lay on the be a with the clutch of dipthe-
ria at her soft, milk white throat. She
suffered, moaning constantly, and turning
entreating eyes on her mother, who bowed
over her with deathIess love in her face,
who was faih to suffer torture for her
child and could not, who was smitten
with the sense that in her physical case
she was unjust to her.
@Oh, God p she cried, take her TO
Thyself if It be Thy will, but give me her
pain, ! pray.p
She would stand for hours caressing
Baby with lips and hands, soothing her
with all her store Of fond words, looking
st her with 4 smile-such smile! In her
eves
sYou must take rest" kind friends
said. aIre4tr' she would snswer, point
ing TO the restless child.
God was good The day that Baby
lay dying she had no pain. She knew
her father md mother, and constantly
smiled . weak litsie smile upon them, and
often held up her mouth TO be kissed. AT
sunset she ttrned her CREST pathetic eyes
upon her mother and held out hsr arms,
| and when Helen raised hsr hesd fron
that embrace she foand Baby bad BID her
| good bye.
| For ! Iistie uhils ske Isy = pale.
| Isvsly sleep! within she ssouy dr.pesiss d
ker eE7h. N an os9 ogwerk sid thsn fh6se