Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-01-19
CHANGING BABIES.

out of it to stray about the large grassy
lot. And in one corner was nice clear
pond.
Susy knew she should find many
pretty things out here, and that Baby
would like to see them, too. She walk
ed around till the little pet got sleepy,
and laid his head on her shoulder. Then
she carried him to a long, low shed,
where the sheep and cattle were fed in
winter. There was some hay in a man.
ger; she laid him on it, and, sitting be-
side him, sang softly. This is what she
sang: ~-.
| What will you give,
| What will you give,
| For my little baby fair?
! Nothing is bright as his bonny blue eyes,
| Or soft as his curling hair.
/ ",What will you bring,
| What will you bring,
To trade for my treasure here?
No one can show me thing so sweet,
Anywhere, far or near"
| moo, moo-oor' said something not
far from Susy. ssYou think that's SO,
do you?' And Madam Jersey Cow
looked very doubtfully at Baby. Said
she: s'Can he kick up his heels, and
frolic all over the yard?''
why, no." said Susy; she can't
walk yet"
"Ah; how old is hep" Nearly year
DID," said Susy. 3
"Nearly year! My chill walked
befor she was two days oldn' The COW
gave a scornful sniff and walked off with
out another look.
f" Baa-aa," said an old sheep, walking
up with a snow-white, downy lamb.
''Let me see. He is a nice little thing,
sure enough. But has he only two
legs?'' That's all,'' said Susy.
ssThen mine is worth twice as much,
of course. If you had tUo babies, now,
we might make a bargain. But he
seems to have no wool?''
"No, ma am,'' said Susy, ''but see
what pretty, curly hair he has, Il
don't think I would wish to trade, thank
you," and she and her lamb trotted
away and went to eat grass.
"Quack! quack! quack! Let me take
a look" and Mrs. Duck flew up on the
edge of the manager.
ssHis feet don't look as if he'd make a
good swimmer she said, looking at
Baby's pink dimpled toes.
'.Oh, he can't swim at air. said
Susy.
Goodbye" said Mrs. Duck. ''All
my darlings can SWIM
| s.Chip! chip! chip!'' was the next
sound Susy heard. From il nest in an
old elm-tree which stood near, robin
flew down, and perched on the end of a
pitchfork. She turned her head from
side to side, gazing at Baby in a very
wise way. 'sWhat can he sing?' said
| she.
ooh, he can't sing at all yet said
Susy; ''he's too little
"Too ittIer' exclaimed Mrs. Red
breast. ''Why, he's tremendous! Can't
he sing: 'Fee-fee-filly-filly-weet-
weet?',''
"No, no." said Susy.
'All my children sang well at four
months. Has he little red feathers on
| his breast?''
| NO. said Susy.
81 shouldn't like to hurt your feel
ings, but you see how much should
lose on an exchange, and I'm sure you
would not wish that"
mo, shouldn't said Susy. And
Mrs. R. Redbreast flew away.
.'Cluck! cluck! cluckr' s'Peep!
peepr' Mrs. White Leghorn Hen came
along with her downy chicks. No
wonder she fused and fumed and
cackled at such a rate, Susy thought,
with twelve babies to look after.
81 haven't much time to look" said
the hen, ''and l should hardly be willing
to trade. Can your baby say peep
peep when he's hungry?'
''When he's hungry he cries-but not
'peep-peep,' said Susy.
81 see his legs are not yellow, either,
SO I'll bid you a very good afternoon"
Off she went, ruffiing her feathers, and
clucking and scratching till Susy
laughed aloud.
81 don't wonder you laugh" purred
something near her. Susy turned in
great surprise. There, at the other
end of the manager, in a cozy cor
ner, was her old gray cat. That
wasn't all. There were three
little kits; white one, a black one and
a gray one. Susy had not seen them
before, and she fondled them lovingly.
''She's SO proud because she has
twelve!'' said Mrs. Puss, looking after
Mrs. w. L. Hen. ''Now think small
family is much better-three, for in
stance. Don't you think three enough?"
Indeed said Susy, 81 think ones
enough; if it's teething.''
Mine never have trouble with their
teeth. And perhaps l can never teach
your baby to purr, or to catch mice.
Still, believe I'll take him, and let you
have one kitten, as have three
"Oh, no; you don't understand me-"
cried Susy, 81 don't want to change at
all. I'd rather have my little brother
than anything else in the world" But
Mrs. Puss took hold of him as If to carry
him off. Baby gave scream and then
Susy-awoke! Then she looked around
with laugh, as she thought of all she
had seen and heard in her dream, since
she had sung herself to sleep beside the
baby.
Madam Puss sat by hole watching
for rats. There wasn't a kitten any
where. Mrs. Hen was Tuning snd cack-
/ ling and scratching harder than ever,