Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-03-17
a BONE OF CONTENTION.

~ uui0u UtbWetu It's parents. Strange.
however, to say, this was not the case
with Captain Grant, Of the -th Hussars
and his vito. Indeed il nearly caused an
estrangement, and it certainly had to
answer for the only quarrel they ever
had.
There Is no doubt that when the in
FAINT first made its appearance, Jack
Grant was as fond and proud q father az
could be found in the United Kingdom.
He tried to see the numerous likenessee
to various relatives which his wife saw in
the irson; he persuaded himself ne felt
highly fattered when she declared she
saw in.the somewhat plain infant q strong
look OF himself; and finally wound him
self up to such pitch of enthusiasm. ne
actually made an awkward attempt to
hold the child, and even impressed q
fatherly kiss on its small, mottled, red
face.
This was Q very happy state of affairs
so long as it lasted, but unfortunately q
change was soon to be observed. Cap
tain Grant began to wish his wife could
find some other subject on which to ex-
erclse her conversational powers than
1.-THE baby;" he also commenced to won
der II it was necessaryto talk to the child
IN the senseless and extremely odd style
which she and the nurse invariably used
when they addressed it.
AT last he was obliged to confess to
himself that, unnatural as it seemed, he
occasionally found his boy, in spite Of
his'numerous projections, q decided bore.
You see, " lie confded to his cnum,
Jim Reeves, sa fellow gets SO deuced
sick Of hearing nothing but agoo-and-
ag00- and-a-bubble-b bubble bubble, which
IS the way my wife and the nurse always
speak TO the poor little brat / cant
get the idiotic rubbish out OF nv head !:
and upon my word, when some of the fell
lows the other day at the mess were
talking Of the new regulations that have
just come out, and asked me what
thought of them, was as near as posi-
bic making u consummate ass Of myself
before them all, by answering. sAroo-
and agoO -and-a-b bubble bubble bubble. ;
assure you was within an ace Of doing
so. II could have little sensible con-
versation with my wife when the child
had been put to bed, it would not be SO
bad, but sleeping or waking the baby
occupies al the attention am sup
posed TO hear Of the heavenly, sweet
smile that came over the brat's face
when he saw his bottle being brought TO
him, Or that he has managed TO crawl
three more inches on the ground. or
something else that appears to me equally
embarrassing. It's really awful rough
On fellow.
Rather trying, remarked his friend.
sympathetically.
Trying n repeated Jack. ssThat is
not the word for ID. declare it makes
me SO irritable / sometimes feel inclined
to swear ct them oil round, the baby in
cludcd. =
Come, answered Jim, reprovingly.
81 call that unfair. What swear
at q helpless infant, whose only
method OF retOrt and strongest Ian
guage for some time TO come will
be a. GOO and .a-bubble. That is fight
ing upon unequal terms with 4 ven
geance.
Oh, i you are going 70 chat me TIL
shut up, replied Jack, testify. II only
wish you we've bothered By the same sort
d thing. and then don't think you
would ind i So amusing, SAYING which.
BE turned On his heel and walked away
ia huH.
f Was ia this unsatisfactory frame Of
mind regarding his tirstborn. that Jack
proceeded to wend his way home one
cold winters afternoon. he had had 4
hard days work. and vas looking for
ward with feeling 0f relief t. 8 chat
with bis vile and cigar before dinner.
True, his mind was somewhat disturbed
by the thought that il was possible the