Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-03-20
ISLAND POND VERMONT, FRIDAY, MARCH co. 1885.

topics of conversation would be inevit-
ably banished for the time being. 81 also
have something to tell you. l met Chal-
mers to-day; he is staying here for few
days with his cousin. so | asked him to
come and dine with US some time next
week, and l think we might invite one
or two people TO meet him. Now, on
what day do you think we had better
ask him. and who else shall we havep
81 will think about it in a minute, "
answered his little wife, eagerly, "but l
must tell you my news first Fancy |
Baby is getting tooth, and he is only
just four months old"
That's capital" said Jack, in a voice
intended to express unlimited delight
There is no doubt that the little fellow
is very well on for his age. l should
think now he will be trotting about all
over the place before we know where we
are"
81 don't think I should feel was do
ing my duty by him If l allowed him to
do such thing, even if he could" re-
piled his wife severely. II don't know
if you are particularly anxious to see
your child grow up bandy-legged. 1
can't say am"
'tAh, yes, forgot he is rather weak
in the legs at present." remarked Jack, in
a crestfallen voice. "But, May" he
continued. more cheerfully, feeling he
had done his duty bravely, and nothing
more could be expected from him for the
present, "what about having Chal-
mers"
"Let me see," said May, thoughtfully.
Then appealing to the baby, "what does
'ou think, my pretty3 Agoo ,and-agoo.
and-a bubble-bubble-"
"Come," said Jack, little impatient
ly, "try to manage something, as Chal
mers is only here for few days, and l
want you to write to him tonight"
''Must we t'ink, my sweet2" continued
May, apparently oblivious of everything
but the existence of her son, and only
half-hearing her husbands last remark,
'Must we t'ink, my beauty? Well, then,
agoo and-ago -and-a bub-"
''For heavens sake, try for one mo-
ment to attend to what am sayingm
said Jack, sharply. II won't trouble
you long, and then you will be at liberty
to return to your very intellectual con-
versation with the child"
This time May quite took in what her
husband said; but, being annoyed at the
way he had spoken, she determinedly
took no notice of his request, and staring
absently into the fire, went on talking to
her baby:
eyes, my own own, does your pretty
papa want"
" "Confound it!" exclaimed poor tired
Jack, angrily, ." do you want to drive
me mad with your nonsense2 have
never yet been considered pretty, nor
have l any wish to be called so at this
time of my life. Can't you find more
suitable adjective to apply to me than
that2"
"Indeed can," returned May, losing
her temper in her turn; "cross, ill
tempered, rude, unnatural, cruel, are all
words which may be applied to you in
your present state of mind"
"Well, am sure am not surprised" !"
retorted Jack, "the only wonder is, I
don't go off my head with hearing the
flow of absurd nonsense that seems to
me to go on, morning, noon and night" 5"
If you call talkingt to ones own child,
absurd nonsense, l don't, " said Maggie,
with q great assumption of maternal
dignity. J.,
:" l must say it never struck me that
you intended to talk; I thought it was
merely babbling, but of course that may
be my ignorance. Perhaps you will be
kind enough to enlighten me as to the
meaning of that much used word-agoo. "
'T shall do no such thing, for l can
see you are sneering both at me and my
child. | must say for a man who sets up
to be gentleman, it is an extremely Gu
rious way of behaving. I confess l
should never have thought you capable
of speaking to me in the way you have"
''For goodness sake, don't preach; |
am much too tired to listen"
Every well, then, if my conversation
bores you, most certainly won't remain
here any longer" saying which, May
walked out of the room, looking very
injured, and kissing her son as she went,
murmuring tenderly, "at any rate your
mother loves you, my darling"
In spite, however, of the satisfaction
of having enjoyed the last word, as she
carried baby to the nursery, May felt a
very queer feeling in her throat, and
seemed to have developed a cold in the
head in a remarkably short space of
time.
Having left baby in nurses charge,
and, much to that worthy woman's as.
tonshment, having parted from him
without any of those little endearments
she was wont to use to him before
doing so, she proceeded straight to her
room.
"Well, never did y exclaimed nurse,
using that phrase which says so little,
but is intended to convey so much-"I
never did To think she should leave
her first born without so much as part
ing blessing Never mind, my sweety
if your mother forsakes you, your old
nurse never will. No, thank Eaven
tries to do my dooty by you, my hangel,
and nought shall tempt my soul to go
astrayw
And then, having delivered herself of
these lofty and truly elevating senti-
ments, appropos of nothing in particu-
lar, she proceeded to undress and battle
the infant, feeling in that virtuous frame
of mind we all enjoy when we have been
saying anything very righteous and moral,
whatever our acts may be.
In the meanwhile the unfortunate OBJ
ject of the nurses displeasure was sit
ting in her room weeping bitterly, all
her dignity and temper washed away by
her tears.
1t must be acknowledged that it was
some time before May arrived at this
state of penitence. At first she could
think of nothing but the contempt with
which she considered Jack had treated
her son; it was this, she told herself,
that wounded her even more than the