Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-08-25

And the changes that were made in our
household for his sake were made on
tircly without me. Sometimes, after
the most important things were decided,
my consent was then asked. awe are
obliged to have n nurse, | hired one
Ansclm VI nodded silently" We
must fit up nursery; that room is too
warm for the child" / nodded silent
", but | heard the sound of workmcn,
who were already busy in the hail.
What could do bettcrp Was it not all
done for our child?
My wife and did not talk much about
the child, and when we did mention it,
We. used only the name "lt.h But this
~ - could be heard through the house
at almost any time of the day.
Hush! not so much noise! II sleeps
1t must have its dinner! 1t should be
taken out for drive. II has hurt it.
sc,fp' And so the whole house began
TO turn round our alt" This namccss
neutcr veXcd me.
at must have its own name" said !,
one day.
al entirely forgot to ask the mother
i mean the woman-what its name
is" answered my wife. "Shc intended
10 come again. But she does not come,
she is certainly sick. Now, | call it
Max. Max is n pretty, short name; is
il notP "Hcm," returned /, Ictwcen
two draughts of my cigar, Fritz would
also be u quite pretty name" "Onc can
not change the name now, on account of
the domcstics,n answered she, shortly,
and then called out loudly: "Is Max
up alrca1yP Never mind, was it not
our child?
Once, though, played my justifable
part toward our child AT dinner it was
always served at little table in an adj
joining room. At such times we could
hear, between the scantily dropping
phrases OF our conversation its merry
prattling, accompanied by the clatter-
ing of its spoon. My wife ha no rest
there was continual going and com
ing between us and him; the soup might
be too hot, and perhaps he might eat too
muchi
"Wife," said l, very quietly but very
decidedly, " from tomorrow it shall eat
with us at our table. 1t is old enough
now, with It's two years.
From that time on "lt' ate with us.
He sat there in his high chair like a
Prince, close 10 my wife; both opposite
to me like declared enemies, as it were.
yielded TO fine aristocratic pink in his
, little checks, which, now becoming
quite chubby, sat com 'ortablc on the
stiff folds of the napkin. 1t worked
powerfully at its soup; and now that it
had finished, set up the spoon like n
/ scepter in its lite round fist on the ta-
BILE. My vile and had exchanged u
few words, and now again we sat ST.
M nn mt nT 10 si
lencc, its large eyes began to open wider
p and wider. They stared on me, stared
! at my wife, with u surprised, almost
1 frightened expression, as ii they had II
. presentimcnt that all was not right be-
. tween us. | confess that these eyes
i embarra ssed me. and that | had feel
r ing of relief when Frederick entered
! with dish. And think that my wife
n felt the same.
And the following days, there were
p the same large, wondering eyes, Ike an
appealing question, staring into the
d pauscs OF our conversation. 1t sounds
n ridiculous, but it is nevertheless true;
/, we were culprits before the child we
two grown persons! And by degrees oul
If conversation became more animated.
l. The occasional prattlings of the littl,
is one We're noticed and spoken about
indeed, sometimes there was mutua
Is laughter at his attempts to speak
,r All! how light how bell-likc pure hcl
Il laughter sounded? Had | never ther
a. heard that before? and what was the
), matter with me, that | sometimes bent
~ over my writing desk listening Il.
l. though heard from u distance thest
rs same silvcry tonesp
+ With the first sunny spring days st
Or began to play in the garden, which
a. could overlook from my seat in my of
If flee. She was generally with him.
could hear the sound of his little feet OIL
), the pebbles, and then her footsteps
p Now she would playiully chase him
and chorus of twittcring sparrow:
If would join their merry notes with tho
ri merry laughter Now she would catcl
is him and kiss his cheeks over and over
'o Once | opened my window; warm
II balsamic air streamed around me, ant
butterfly nuttercd in and lit on my
IS inkstand. just then she came out of /;
"a green, vine-grown bower she wa
IS dressed in dazzling white negligce
trimmed with costly lace; all over her
"a streamcd the golden sunshine, excep
: that her face was overshadowed by the
+ pink OF her parasol.
n How slim she appeared! how grace
/ full in her movements! Had | beer
blind? Truly the aunt and cousin:
were rights she was in reality beautiful
:, A sweet smile transformed her features
II she was happy-certainly in this mo
h ment she was-and her happiness came
n from her child. Then voice made it.
2 self heard in my breast, which said very
IS plainly: You are monster?n go
n up and walked to the window. 1t il
q beautiful day." called |. | know
!. how cold and prosaic it must have
). sounded to her. 1t came like heav,
cloud-shadow over sunny landscape
n She answered something that did moi
r understands; but the brightness was
II gone from her little face. Then she
y took up the child. who was strctchin.
out his arms to her, and kissed ant
9 caressed him before my eyes.
. There it was when the first feeling o
jealousy was aroused in me; II jealousy
n truly, but what strange jealousy
!, which could not make clear TO itself wht
y was its object If IT. said mamma
+. to her there came Il pain in the heart
| and the caresseS with which she over
/ whelmcd him almost drove me wild.
a. was jealous of both! Itpained me tha
IT i had no part in this weaving oil love
!. that l was not third in the union.
u eXerted myself TO gain II part OF thei
love. | did it verJ clumsily. The chill,
Ia lersevcred in II certain shvness, an'
10 she had | not kept myself forcibl.
il away from her during these long, lon
" years?
One day at the dinner table, after
az skirmish of words, came great still
NJ ness between us, u stiffness more pain
~ full than it had ever been. glance,
q. down at the flowers on my plate o
70 Saxon porcelain, my dlsplcasurc show
fe ing in my face; but felt plainly tha
re "It' had its eyes fixed on me, and ais