Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-10-23
CLEVER JANET.
How Her Wicked Scheme Game to
Naught.

The Baron Steruc had married for
love. His wife wa, Young and very
beautiful, and he adorcd her. He was
rich. He owned a grand and stately
castle in Il most delightful part Of Eng
land, and had beside, a tine town.
house, where he and hi, lovely wife
could 90 and partake OF city gayctics
whenever il pleased them to do 50.
The Baron came OF 4 very oldfamily.
Indeed, the first Baron Stcrne must
have come in with the Conquest, if the
traditions Of the house were to be cred
tied. 1t wa, natural that the Baron
should desire an heir to represent the
honorS Of his house after him. Con-c-
mcntly when, after they had been
married over two wears, hi, wife pre-
scented him with a daughter instead of
- son, bis disappointment was great.
But he di,scmblcd it for the sake of his
dear wife, who. they told him, was in
danger Of death at any moment. In
spite Of all that could he done for her
by the most learned and aEillful physi-
clans in the country, the Baroness died
that evening, Not, however, without
cla,ping her poor little babe in hel
loving arms and giving it once {
mothers caresscs. The Baron wa,
almost beside himself with grief
Fears were at first entertained for hi
reason.
The child which had cost his beloved
Elirida her life, he refused at first tt
see ut all. But at length an old an,
trusted servant ycnturcd TO remind hin
gently that the dead Baroness ha,
carc.scd the babe almost the last thin;
before she died.
On hearing this the heart Of n fathc
began 10 throb in the breast of the dis
consolatc husband. lie ordered III
babe TO be brought to him, and kisSin,
il. said that it should be called Frida
after its dead mother.
The nurse who held the child shud
dcrcd at the name.
Every one knows that Friday is Il
unlucky day. She said, land 10 ca.
the babe that will surely bring it ba
luck. Why couldn't he give it tn
whole name, or not name it for til
Baroness at alp
But her grumbling made no difle,
cnce, Of course. The little one at he
christening was called Friday, Now
as it happened, this babe was not I'll
Baron's child at all. but belonged t
the nurse, who was called Clever Jan,
because she was 50 shrcwd: and III
was is wickcd H. she was clever, fol
taking advantage of the great conf
sion and prcoceupation OF every bod
nj the time of the Baroness death, ii
had exchanged her own child for I'll
Baron's.
The babe which was not hers W;
lying neglected at the cottage, viii.
she was codling her own child
splcndor here at the castle, aud eXul
ing in the success of her wicked chea
The Lady Frida had every viii
gratiiied. and had she possessed Il
,wect and gentle disposition of h
supposed mother, would not have be,
- "
,hJ"re" W IT, Dul haNlns 'hc sec"s
hcr OF cNlI, Sne gre" up per'erse' {,
sliha'o ana w'illul' one hao u irlsi
lni temper, sne was sclIlsn anu "iiSra'
ful, naughty and overbcaring to I
verge oil cruelty enc was very iona
hcr nurse VINO was ,ho oh'y pers'
beside Inc baron 'ia' Ia" Inc si'ght'
in,iuehce over l,er' -.
mere was only one ,h'iS mar Jan
would not hnlhor Lazy friaa
1rlua hsa 'aAon ,nhey 'anc. ~
poser uansnler zinc, anu WALTER
nave her AT the cas'ie ior aconhpahl'
but Janet would never consent, "
that nade frida all the more dc''