Morris tribune., 1883-03-10
MRS. SHEPHERDS BABY.
From the New Orleans Times Dem ocrat.

voice was exultant. 1t thrilled the hear
of the nearer. A live baby from TIT
Kings own land dropped into the lap o
humanity! What a picture the words
conjured up of fat, dimpled fists, sof
curls and pink toes, all in heap, anC
done up in dainty embroideries. Won
der if they make dresses up there, anC
how can they fit such a squirming little
thing? Such thoughts ran through the
brain of Mrs. Researchers little son
Frank, as she leaned over the gate anC
talked with her neighbor of the baby
over the way. If there was anything il
the world that Frank particularly desired
it was baby; other boys had dear little
baby sisters to trot around with cunning
little wagons to pull. A baby in the
house, wouldn't it be nice? And the
very best thing, next to having baby in
his mothers house, was to have it in
Mrs Shepherds house, such Il dear friend
she was to them all And she lived just
over the way. Every day he went to
school he passed the house. he could stop
for minute any time, and perhaps he
could borrow the bapy Saturdays.
This was bl light idea and running over
to Mrs. Shepherds he met the nurse in
the hail.
MAY see it?" he asked.
"The baby" smiling down to the lad.
Mother said there was baby oyer
here. ] came purpose"
"Well. you shall see It," opening the
door of pretty room. Take that little
chair" she said closing the door behind
her.
'But it's the baby" witha trite..of i'm
patience in his voice.
81 know" lifting something i'll her
arms and cuddling it up as though it
was very precious thing.
'Ist the babv?" he asked.
"The baby;y and such little DEAR"
her good, motherly face frightened into
| smiles.
Franks eyes enlarged There was rev
erence mingled with surprise
Bald headed! thought 1t was new,
he said Make it open its eyes, won't
Your
1t is asleep; the baby sleeps good
deal now"
| "Ifyou please, I'd like to borrow her
for my mother. | will bring her back"
reaching up his arms for the priceless
| creature.
"She's such little ,squirming thing !
attn little afraid to send her away from
home" said the nurse.
"She does make up such awful faces. l
| wonder how she learned to do that"
lifting his eyes to the motherly face.
What's her name, any way"
| "Fidela.''
"Whew, big name for such a little
| yUn;c,Uliprr hirr Vhon haVn har
we'lI call her Della it's easier"
Eyes, Della will De a pretty name,
and you shall have her one of these
days" smiled the nurse.
| "She's not just as thought she would
be; | want hair on her head, and |
want her to look up and Laugh when
| draw her in my wagon"
| "She'll do that sometime. Run home
now, and tell mother" said the nurse.
| "Pd like to kiss her, if you please"
holding up his lips "Ugh! what face:
she didn't like it bit.
| THAT'S because she's 80 little, " laughed
the nurse.
Frank ran home, feeling that he had
now certain claim on Mrs. Shepherds
baby. He could go and see her, and he
could borrow her.
at won't so much matter if we haven't
baby" he said to his mother Mrs
| Shepherds baby is nice little thing,
and its part mine. Won't YOU be glad?n
Ofcourse the mother was glad, with
out confprehepding just what it all
meant. Frank was home child; he
loved his. mother. But there is not
| enough of u.s." he would say Added to
his home qualities he was an artist Give
him pencil and a sheet Of cardboard,
and ship or schooner would soon ap-
| pear. 1t was wonderful to note the ex-
] actness Of the rigging, the masts and
spars and yardarms. People frequently
! remarked that his inclinatiOns would be
| for seafaring life. He could make a
ship as well as draw one, and one of the
| ornaments of his mothers room was a
| brig that he had fashioned and hung
| with sails, and sent to sea in washtub.
Della had her presents, and as soon
as she was big enough to be borrowed,
he had her IN his little wagon travelling
| up and down the pavement. Once he
| took her to the circus, leaving his wagon
| outside the tent and taking her1n his
| arms, greatly to the delight Of the child,
who croWed and laughed, and was not
above accepting a stick of candy from
the clown.
The next day Frank had his establish
ment with trapeze attachment, with
out the life saving net, of which he
never dreamed. The last effort was to
walk tight rope, he came down with
thud that laid the young man up for
couple Of weeks, and gave him ample
time to study up another character, viz:
seaman. This last idea, which was in
reality the first, took. thorough possession
of him. Years strengthened it. He
must 60 to sea Mrs Rensselaer, was in
tears 1t was absurd He must give it
up. He could not take Della
with him, she urged.
He could not be persuaded, however.
The neighbors said he was old enough
to be allowed to follow his inclination in
the choice of his life work, and thus his
mother was made to yield d feeble as
sent. 1t was hard thing to say good
by! Della was inconsolable, going to
bed without her supper and crying her
self to sleep. The next day she was
comforted by being allowed to sail the
little Ship and to fancy that Frank was
the commander.
Years passed. The young seaman,
beating about, had varied experience;
once under punishment for some frivo-
lous ofense, he was ordered to a dizzy
nelgnt. IL was Dlttef COlu anu uflZ-
cling rain had made the ropes slippery.
The lad fell, fortunately catching line
and swinging far out over the sea, and
then with Migratory motron Selling a
brace and once more standing on deck,
only to be ordered up again. At an
other time he was condemned to spend
/ night in the basket above the cross
trees, and would have persisted but for
the thoughtful consideration of the first
lieutenant At length shipping from Liv.
erpool to Honduras, a terrible storm dis
abled the steamer so that the men had
to take to the boats. OF these but three
reached land, and one of these was
Frank Rensselaer,.
In the early days of California, when
the rivers were thought to be full Of yell
low gold, it was considered that every
little brooklet. caused by the dripping
\ 4. H., L.. -