Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-07-11
II.--NO A. WOODSIOCK"VT, WEDNESDAYkJUIYs 1888
BABY.
He Went Down Town with Grandpa,
but Won't Go Any More.

lie Went Down Town with Grandpa,
hut Won't Go Any More.
Grandpa loved the baby. The baby
is three years old, with the prettiest
| big blue eyes, the plumpest reddest,
cheeks, the dearest, dimpled mouth,
and the cunningest ways in the world.
Baby has sturdy little legs, and rest
less, strong little arms, and is an exam
pie of perpetual motion. Baby's grand
pa accompanied him on various walks
but grandpa's ambition was to take
baby down to the store, where the
boys could see what a phenomenal
child he is, and what cunning ways he
has. One morning grandpa dressed
baby up, and when he started away
with grandpa he looked, with his wayy
golden hair, bright eyes, and little
brown cloak, like one of Kate Green
ways creations imbued with life.
When the passengers in the car smiled
at baby and remarked how sweet he
was, grandpa was happy, and chucklcd
as he thought of the enjoyment of hav-
ing baby with him at the store. Once
at the store, baby was the centre of an
admiring crowd of grandpa's business
companions. Baby was shy at first,
and one fat fist was pushed into the
little mouth, while baby's eyes were
cast upon the floor. Pretty soon,
though, baby regained his usual spirits
and started on tour of investigation.
His first venture was to pull over a
lot of ledgers and account-bOoks that
had been undergoing an investigation,
and on top Of this pile he poured the
contents of a big bottle of violet ink.
Pursuing his Investigations further,
baby found himself in the Office where
the brightly vanished safe, witt its
impossible landscapes. at once attract
ed his attention The heavy iron door
was closed, and baby, by standing on u
chair, could Just reach the combination
knob the brightness Of which had
caught his eye. He Played with the
pretty knob, turning it round and
round ever so many times, and laugh
ing to himself. But the man who
came to open the safe. and who was in
a dreadful hurry, didn't laugh, for the
lock had been worked for years on Il
part of the combination and laby had
destroyed it completely, and three
hours were required to find it again
Out in back room baby found ham
mer and some tacks, and filled some
new desks full Of pretty tin tacks.
Then following the promptings of his
busy little mind he pulled piece of
string to see what was on the other
end of it. There was Il mantel Orna-
ment belonging to one of the boys on
the other end, and when the baby
pulled the ornament tipped over and
4 was shattered. Baby was frightened
at the muss he had made, and hid him
self in a box that stood on end near
the door, and that had been used to
hold soft coal during the winter.
Grandpa found hiln there, but in what
plight! His little face and hands
and his beautiful white dress were be-
grimed with the nasty coal-dust.
Grandpa brushed him off and washed
his face and hands, and made him
somewhat presentable, after which he
set him down in big chair, and told
him to set still. Baby sat still about a
minute and then slid down out of the
chair, and wandered away into the back
room, where he suddenly spied Il little
dog curled up asleep on the top of a
box. Baby stood on his toes, got Il
good grip on doggy's tail, and pulled.
The dog woke up. And the next min
ute baby's little legs were working for
dear life as he fled towards grandpas
quarters. Grandpa met him, kicked
the dog, and quoted baby, tried to
J patch up the places in babys dress
where the dogs teeth had made ragged
rents, and began to club himself for
bringing baby down town. Finally
baby capped the climax by upsetting
on himself can of lard oil, and grand,
pa quit work for the rest of the day
wrapped the baby in thick brown pa.
per, tied string around him and took
him home. 1t will be some time be-
fore grandpa will take his pet down
town with him again. Baby had a
good time, though.