The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-02-10
The Pretty Baby.

isn't he q pretty baby, John ,
See, just look at him. and the moth
er holds up the tiny creature to pa
pa, who kisses and fondles him low
ingly.
Yes, Kate, he is a pretty baby,
but Tom was pretty baby, too, you
remember" J"
'Yes. Tom was a pretty baby
everybody said so, and she glanced
across the room at a sunny-faced
four-year old. "but Willie il not ike
Tom. Willie's hair is light, aud his
eyes, looking wistfally into the pa
by's face, ''are dark, and SO deep,
that when | look in them | am al
most afraid. they have such a far
away light, they seen to see some
thing we cannot"
'-Oh, nonsense don't think that.
He'll grow up 70 be a fine fellow.
But, Kate. wouldn't think so much
about him, hes a dear, good little
fellow, but | wouldn't worship him
it isn't right.
''As if | could help it." the moth
er says, reproachfully pressing the
small form closer and looking into
the dark eyes yearningly.
4 month passes away, and one
day they stand beside a small, white
easket, within which the pretty ba-
by was sleeping. All, the mothers
eyes were sharp, and when friends
said, What beautiful bright eyes be
has, she saw the far-awsy look and
knew it as the light thai was never
on land or sea.
"On, John, John "she raoaned, 81
knew he wasn't long for this world.
I could see it in his eyes. On, my
pretty babyI"
Yes, dear. you were right, says
papa, and there Is aquiver 10 the
tirm voice "ifit had pleased God 10
nave left him with US We would
have cared for him the be-t we
could, but We must give him up, TOR
it is his will, ard he knows what is
Oest for Us.
Yes, [ know il, and she stoops
and cuts a tiny wisp Of hair from
the haby's head.
"Oh, John you said | wOrshiped
him. | did, on, | did, and God Tor
give me, can't be sorry fJ- it nOw,
he was such a dear. pretty babe. F."
Years pass on. Other babies are
born. They are all pretty babies,
every one who sees them SAWS that,
but none are ike the baby with the
far-away look. As they grow up
they love to gather around mothers
chair. aud she never tires telling Of
the dark eyed baby who went to live
with God.
And, when with childish curiosity
they opened the Bible to look al the
pictures, and find between the
leaves tiny wisp of hair tied with
a white satin ribbon, they touch 1t
reyerently and whisper beneath their
breath, The pretty baby
Years still pass on. The children
grow to be sturdy men and women,
and a. the mother watches them she
sometimes thinks, III be bad lived
he would have been such a beautiful
man, +" and then she smiles and IS
clad that In Heaven there Is no time,
and no matter how the others may
change he Is still the pretty baby.
Oae day they gathered around her
bed, and looked IN each others faces
mourntuIly whispering
She is dying.
she stret-hed aer thin hand to-
ward the table on which the old
Blhls rests. and they say
The baby's hair
They place It in her hand. She
kisses it teuderly, and bright light
comes into the dim old eyes, and
and they say:
What does she see?"
She smiles and whispers, The
pretty baby"
They place the wisp of hair on
her breast, and fold the wrinkled
hands upon it, and tenderly lay Der
by the side of the pretty baby
Detroit Free Press.