The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-08-08
THE BABY DOWNTOWN.

Grandpa loved the baby. The baby is :
gears 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
restless, strong little arms, and is an exam
pie of perpetual motion. Baby's grandpa
accompanied him on various walks over on
the West Side, but grandpa's ambition was
70 take baby down TO the store, where the
boys could see what phenomenal child he
is, and what cunning ways he has. Yester-
lay morning grandpa dressed baby up, and
when he started away with grandpa he look
ed, with his wayy golden hair, bright eyes,
Ind little brown cloak, like one of Kate
Ereenway's creations imbued with life.
When the passengers in the car smiled at
baby and remarked how sweet he was,
grandpa was happy, and chuckled as he
thought of the enjoyment of having baby
with him at the store. Once at the store
baby was the center 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 q tour of investigation. His first venture
was to pull over lot of ledgers and ac-
count-books that had been undergoing an
investigation, and ON top of this pile he
poured the contents of big bottle of violet
ink. Pursuing his Investigations further,
baby found himself in the office where the
brightly vanished safe, with its impossible
landscapes at once attracted his attention.
The heavy iron door was closed, and baby,
by standing on a chair, could just reach tho
combination knob the brightness of which
had caught his eye. He played with the
pretty knob, turning ii round and round
ever so many times, and laughing to him
self. But the man who came to open the
safe, and who was in dreadful hurry,
didn't laugh, for the lock had been worked
for years ON part Of the combination and
baby had destroyed it completely, and three
hours We're required TO find the combination
again. Out in a back room baby found a
hammer 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 a
mantel ornament belonging to one of the
boys ON the other end and when the baby
pulled the ornament tipped over and was
shattered. Baby was frightened at the
muss lac had made, and Ind himself in box
that stood ON end near the door. and that
had been used to hold soft coal during the
winter. Grandpa found him there but in
what a plight! His little face and hands
and his beautiful white dress were begrimed
with the nasty coal-dust. Grandpa brushed
him off and washed his face and hands, and
made him somewhat presentable, after
which he sat him down in big chair and
told him to sit still. Baby sat still about
minute and then slid down cut of the chair,
and wandered away into sp back room,
where he suddenly spied Il little dog curled
up asleep ON the top Of box. Baby stood
on his toes, got good grip ON doggy's tail,
and pulled. The dog woke up. And the
next minute babys little legs were working
for dear life as he fed toward gIandpas
quarters Grandpa met him, kicked the
dog, quieted baby, tried to patch up the
places in baby's dress where the eog's teeth
bad made ragged rents, and began to club
himself for bringing baby down town.
Finally baby capped the climax by upset.
Sing on himself can of lard oil, and grand
pa quit work for the rest of the day, wrap
ped the baby in thick brown paper, tied
will be some time before grandpa will take
his pet downtown with him again. Baby
had a good time, though. Chicago Tribune.