The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-12-05

up to be a gentleman, it is an extremely
curious way of behaving confess |
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"
Very well, then, if my conversation
bores you l most certainly won't remain
here any longer" saying which, May
walked cut Of the room very injured,
and kissing her son as she went, muir
muring 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
very queer feeling in her throat, and
seemed to have developed cold in the
head, in remarkably short space of
time.
Having left baby in nurses charge,
and, much to that worthy woman's as
tonislment, having parted from him
without any OF those little endearments
she was wont to use to. him before do
ing so, she proceeded straight to her
room.
"Well, never ddr' exclaimed nurse,
using that phrase, so much beloved by
the lower orders of society, which says
so little, but is intended to convey so
much. 81 never didl TO think she
should leave her first-born without so
much as parting blessing! Never
mind, my sweety, if your mother for
sakes you, your old nurse never will.
No, thank 'eayen. | tries to do my duty
by you. my hangcl, and naught shall
tempt my soul to go astray," and then,
having delivered herself of those lofty
and truly eleyating sentiments, apropos
of nothing in particular, she proceeded
to undress and battle the infant, feeling
in that virtuous frame of mind we all
enjoy when we have been saying any
thing very righteous and moral, what
ever our acts may be.
In the meanwhile, the unfortunate
object of nurses displeasure was sitting
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 way he had spoken to her, He
had not kissed it when he came in, had
expressed no desire to look at its mouth
and judge for himself as to whether the
tooth would be long in coming (which
was what any one with even a moderate
share of fathcrly feeling would have
donc), and, in fact, he had behaved dis
gracefully.
eyes, disgracefully," she repeated to
herself, as she sat by the window look.
ing out into the winters gloom, with
flushed cheeks an eyes full of angry
tears, which she was too proud to let
fall, "dsgracefully; and so / shall tell
him wien | see him."
By-and-by, however, her anger began
to vanish, and her reflections with re-
gard to Jack were of milder descrip-
ton. Had she not been little hasty
with him? After all, might he not, per-
| haps, have reason to complain? OF
course it was difficult to understand
anyone being bored by baby, with his
funny little ways and odd little chuckle:
but still, what had her dear old mother
said, when she had told her of her plan
of bringing him up from his earliest in
fancy to be Il great companion to his
father, so that he should learn as soon
as possible to enter into all his parent S
plans. Take care, my dear" had been
her mothers words, that you don't give
Jack too much of good thing" Well,
she had laughed at the time, but was
there not some truth in the advice?
| Perhaps poor Jack had come home
| tired, quite worn-out, and in no humor
for baby's company, so no wonder he
had been little impatient. There was
no doubt he was really very good-tcm-
percd; he could not have been feeling
so bright as usual, or he would not have
been ANNOYED. 1t was all her fault for
teasing him with her nonsense, and she
ought to be ashamed OF herself. Yes,
his health was rapidly being ruined, and
it was entirely her own doing; upon
which, having arrived at this conclusion,
she could no longer restrain her grief,
but burst into a flood of tears.
1t was at this stage of the proceedings,
and while she was sobbing most yche-
mcntly, She felt her husbands strong
arms round her, as he said gently:
Don't cry. little woman. I'm aw-
fully sorry for all | said" r5
Then as she looked up at him with a
loving though rather watery smile, he
continued regretfuly: Il can't think
what made me behave TO you as | did.
| know ! was an awful brute, but was
not feeling very fit; not that that is any
excuse for the way l spoke to you But
please forgive me, darling,' ast
Mays answer TO this somewhat in
coherent speech was to throw her arms
round Jacks neck and give him good
hug, as she said impulsivelya YWhy,
Jack, want you to forgive me. lam
sorry lost my temper ~ .r--9-t.
MY dear, you have no reason 10
apologize" he replied, II am sure
wonder you did not give it to me hot as
| deserved, and it is only because you
are the dearest little girl that ever lived
that you did not do so. But let ms for
get the unpleasant business and kis;
and be friends" saying which,h suited
tl,a aetiop ~ tho word and th., raco,