The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-02-17

oOiISSu 10 nave nurse nlIeu ono,
Anselm." | nodded silently. ave
must fit up nursery that room is too
warm for the child" nodded silently,
but I'heard the sound OF the workmen
who were already at work in the hall.
What could do better? Was it not
all done for our child?
My wife and did not talk much
about the child, and when we did men,
ton il we used only the name "It."
But this sit" could be heard through
the house 1t almost any time Of the
day.
"Hush not so much noisel II sleeps
II must have its dinner 1t should be
taken out for drive II has hurt iiselfl"
and so the whole house began to turn
round our "It." This nameless neuter
vexed me.
alt must have its own namc," said
one day.
81 entirely forgot to ask the MOTHER
mean the woman-wha, its name is" an
swered my wife. "She intended to come
again. But she docs not cong she is
certainly sick. Now I call it Max.
Max saprctty short name, is il not ?"
"H'm" returned !, between two
draughts OF my cigar. "Fritz would
also be quite pretty name"
Zone cannot change the name now,
on account of domcstics, answered she,
shortly, and then called out loudly, "Is
Max up already3"
Never mind, was il not our child.
Once though, played my jusiifable
part toward our child. At dinner il
was always served at little table in an
adjoining room. At such times We could
hear, between the scantily dropping
phrases Of conversation, lis merry pratt
thing, accompanied by the ollt,cring of
It's spoon. My wife had no rest there
was a continual coming and going be-
tween us and him; the soup might be
too hot, and he might eat too much
"Wife," said very quietly, but very
decidedly, "from tomorrow it shall ca,
with us at our table. II is old enough
now, with its two years"
From that time on at" ate with US.
He sat there in his high chair like a
prince close to my wifc--both opposite
to me like declared enemies, as il were.
The yellowish paleneSs OF poverty had
yielded TO an aristocratic pink in his
little cheeks, which row becoming quite
chubby, sat comfortably on the stiff
folds Of the napkin. |, worked power
fully at its soup; and, now that it had
finished, set up the spoon like a scepiie
in its little round fist on the table.
My wife and had exchanged few
words, and now we sat silent. Appar-
emily on accoun, of this silence its large
eyes began TO open wider. They stared
on me, stared at my wife, with a sur
prised, almos, frightened expression, as
il they had preseniiment that all was
not right between us. | confess that
those eyes embarrassed me, and that |
had feeling Of relief when Frederick
entered with dish. And think that
my wife felt the same.
And the following days there were
he same large, wondering eyes, like an
appealing question, staring into the
pauses of our conversation. I; sounds
ridiculous, but it is nevertheless true
we were crlprits before the child, we
two grown persons! And by degrees
our conversation became more animated.
The occasional pra,;lings Of the little
one were noticed and spoken abou;
indeed, sometimes, there was mutual
laughter in his attempts to speak.
All how light, how bell-like pure,
sounded her laughter Had never,
then, heard that before And wha, was
the matter with me that | sometimes
bent over my writing desk listening, as
though | heard from a distance these
same silvery tones?
With the first sunny spring at" began
to play in TIE garden, which ] could
overlook from my seat in my Office.
She was generally with him. could
hear the sound OF his little feet on the
pebbles, and then her footsteps. Now
she would playfully chase him, and 4
chorus of twittering sparrows would
join in their notes with the laughter.
Now she would catch him and kiss his
cheeks over and over. Once ] opened
my window warm balsamic air steamed
around me, and 4 butterfly fiuttered in
and lit on my inks,and. Just then she
came out ola green, vinc-grown bower ;
she was dressed in dazzling white neg.
| lige, trimmed with costly lace: all
over her streamed the golden sunshine,
except that her face was overshadowed
by the pink Of her paraSol.
How slim she appeared how grace
full in her movements Had been blind
Truly the aunts and cousins were right ;
she was in reality beautiful. A sweet
smile transformed her features, she was
happy-and her happiness came from
her child. Then voice made itself
heard in my breast, which said very
plainly: "You are monster II | got
up and walked to the window. "It is
a beautiful day." called /. | know how
cold and prosaic il must have sounded
to her. II came like a heavy cloud.
shadow over 4 sunny landscape. She
answered something that | did not un.
dcrstand but the brightness was gone
from her little face. Then she took up
the child, who was stretching out his
arms to her, and kissed and carcssed
him before my eyes.
There il was when the first feeling OF
jealousy was housed in me-a jealousy,
truly /; but what a strange jealousy which
could not make clear to itself who was
its object II "It" said "mamma," there
came pain to my heart and the caresses
with which she overwhelmed him almos,
drove me wild. l was jealous of both
II panied me that was not third in the
union. l exerted myself to gain part
Of their love. l. did il very clumsily.
The child persevered in certain shy.
ness, and she-had not kept myself
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