The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-10-10
WHEN BABY WEARS BOOTS.



Of the few things in this world of
sorrow that serve to Tighten the gloom
and make things lively, beautiful baby
is the most successful. 1t fills a void in
our hearts that nothing else can occupy
Except good fishing, what is more de-
lightful than to watch the actions of a
little child or to hear it lisp its first
words in musical accents? Its childish
prattle amuses and at the same time
touches the tendercst chords of our
hearts with a soft thrill, and its inno-
cent smile sOftens even the heart of a
plumber It's caressing touch, as
pure as an angels, makes the soul glad
with tender JOY that is only equaled
by the mad delirium of owning a 50, 900
dog.
These philosophical reflections were
inspired on seeing Young father and
mother with their first baby on the
cars. The infant was perfect beauty,
its big blue eyes looking out at the pas
sengers from under little hood with
serious sOlemnitv comical to see. Its
hair, of light brown color. was parted
and hung down each side of its ewes,
giving it an Old-tashiOned air. and it
was moreover the picture of health.
The father held it on his knee. drawing
. now and then the white shawl closer
around the form of his darling offspring
and the mother squeezed close in ten
der solicitude. of all of which nonsense
the baby saw nothing and cared less.
| watched the trio with great interest.
nothing escaping my observation. The
parents observed every motion and ex-
changed glances Of proud eXultation as
they perceived the passengers "catch-
ing on to the beauty they had given
( the world Every little while the fond
young father Rugged the little darling
rapturously to his breast and when the
child opened its rosy mouth and said
''Ba- ba-ba-ba- his chest filled out and
he held his head up more proudly, as
he glanced around to see the effect,
smiling triumphantly at his wife as the
| prodigy repeated the feat. Their
! pride in being the Joint pro-
pretOrs of so much loneliness
| was delicious to behold. One of the
! female passengers having remarked in
| tones that were audible throughout the
| car, that pretty children ALWAYS crew
! into homely adults the fathers face
I flushed as he looked at his offspring
with an adoring glance that showed he
| did not believe in the old saving. "Ah."
| thought with unutlerabie sadness in
my breast "wait, Old boy, until that
| child gets on his LEGS, Evidently you're
in luck lust now, for YOU have
/ healthy. bouncing baby who sleeps
nights. You don't have to get up an
impromptu uudrcss parade at two
-" / Il
elusive paregoric bottle around the
| house when the thermometer marks
! zero RIGHT alongside the stove: but wait,
| repeat, till that child, whom you
| know in your heart is cut out for the
| President of the United States, lets
| himself loose on YOUR premises and flies
| around for eighteen hours in the
! twenty-four Wait until he sets off
matches under the parlor table. VIII
| YOU smile so fondlv when he climbs up
and pulls all the tail feathers out of the
canary bird; eats the shoe backing
and puts the brush, with your soft hat,
on the top Of a red-hot stove; or when
he takes the scissors and trims the fur
all off your Gordon setter, which you
have Just fixed up for the dog show, and
makes him look as if moths had been
at him, Ell? VIII you be tickled and 90
out and roll with laughter on the grass?
Hey? | guess nov I've been there.
Maybe you'll think it funny when your
neighbor comes in with club and tells
YOU softly, so that he can be heard all
through the whole ward, that your kid
has scratched his dear chiId's eye out,
or thrown a stone through the parlor
window and broken Benyenuto
Cellini lamp. How about the time
when he puts your watch in the sink
| and runs water on it? VIII YOU smile
/ then? VIII you utter whoops of delight
when YOU come up stairs and find him
| PLAYING with your razor, waving the
/ deadly toy in the air, while every flash
of light reflected from its glittering
| blade strikes through your quiverinr
heart like a barb? How about the SEN
sation you'll have when he takes YOUR
silk hat out and carries sand and gravel
in it for half a dav? All these things
and more will he do, this young,
healthyI kidlet of yours. When he
grows older and mocs on starring
tours in the ne'ghbor's fruit garden,
and tears gigantic holes in the
! basement nf his knnn brpn.hns CpattipCr