River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-04-19
JOY.
A Strange Child, and Her Last
Whispered Question.

Strangers often wondered why Mis-.
Nelson should have called her third
child joy" Il was an odd little
name 10 give any baby. and 20 this
quiet chilli. whose large, dark eyes
hal not the scmblauce # . smile IN
them. II seemed hardly appropriate, to
say the least.
This is tbe way it came about. For
n long time before JOY wa. born Mrs.
Nelson had been ilI-so iii that her
husband. and all Il the wise doctors
he hail consulted. feared iha, she
could never be wcIl again The fear
gradually grew into hopeless. help
les waiting for death
The shadow which haI huns. 50
heavily aud long over the Nelson
h0us hold was suddenly lifted when
this baby came. bringing with her the
unlogked-for life and health
When tic mother first asked about
her baby. DR. Nelson had answered.
with tenderness not usual in self
contained. stern natures lise his. that
i. wa, tiny dark-eycd girl. and ''wo
viii call her JOY.
- II wa: although. as the months
went Ir ID. Nelson remarked the
growing Appropriateness of the
name.
Joy had rather solemn look in her
wide-open black eyes and she rarely
smiled. even when the brightest
red rattle was dangled templiugly
clos. She would catch at il with her
TINY hands. and all the time seem
10 b. gr1vely considering whether il
was really such an amusing thing
after an.
At first the mother claimed that her
bIby'S face was very quick indeed TO
catch and reflect the smile of loving
faces bent above It; anil Joy : rare
smile. even when she wa, very little
baby. completely transformed her
face. Il WAS like bit of summer
sky shining ont through sudden
shower
Most sicrH-uaturej men are won tu
womauly tenderness hy baby airs ami
graccS. But when the bright-ayed.
frolicsame baby becomes a growing.
restless child. and the baby grace,
merge into grave tendencies that point
90 faults. there must be \ woman :
larger patience and faith to be tender
then.
ID. Nelson had enjoyed his first two
babie-- lie was country doctor. WI h
a far-reachiug practice. and his life
r..,a ..rr .s.r-r- .rf, Il .,-.,.
ant thing to fiuI the babies waiting
d Tor him. when he came home after e
h7rl dav's work. They were merry.
noisy girls. with oniv two years be-
tween hem. They were almost grown
before a third hahy was born.
IL, fclt in some vague way that Joy
vas different But g was not until
she was six wears oli. and there was
another baby in tine house. that he be-
gan 20 deplorc her quietue-> ~ '.in-
difference. ami % wonder '.u hat on
earth would ever become of = child
with ~uch strange. sulIen DISPOSE.
tiau.
Mr. Nelson found this quiet pen-
sive cEilL q positive comfort. Her first
two babies hail been ~ often ready "a
CIV Is tL.y were a. laugh; and they
hal alv ays l.. guirej close attention
from their busy mother 10 prevent dan
gerouS troubles and to settle peace
f0lly disputed rights as 10 dolls AMI
kittens I was the simplest timing in
the world tn amuse JOY. A rug On the
floor and i few TOYS about her was all
that was necessary.
Il was pitnou. the least intention Of
ncglcc-iuS the child that her mother
leff her 50 much alone. while she
busted herself about her hons chold du-
ties. The girls we're a, school all day.
and there was much 20 be done; and
Jov always seemed quite happy with
her TOYS and Rover for 4 playfellow.
She would sit and softly sing her IL
vorite doll ,1 sleep. or race with Rover
up AMI down the wide piazza. amusing
herself I'D her own way FIR hours,
while Nh. Nelson was at work. or en-
loving Eer weli-caUnel rest. l; was
only ia ~ad Ten fright or pain mat she
would run crying 10 mother
JOY was >ix wears old when she iirs,
saw her baby brother,
There WIS great rejoicing III the
household over this uncommonly-fint
boy. ANA there WAS NOR. reason now
than ever why y should .'Seep her
self oui IF the way.
Harry grew amazingly fast Wher
he was one year old DR. Nelson pro
nounccd him the lands"He~i. merrics
baby in the county. Mr. Nelson wa:
sure thsrs could not be found a NOR
restle,slv wilifuI 10y q his age
In An the devoted household MssteI
Harry had no more willing slave than
JOY. She would ST bv rs crib Will,
be took his long. morning nap IS still
rs mouse. with her little hands fold.
ed in her lap, ready io T & him gent
IL Il Le should STIR in his sleep; or call
mother ID ease lie should wake. and
pull himself up with tie intention %