Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-11-29
A Mothers Trial.

'Josephus.' who was invited to see her
child cut in half" said /, with an I'M
easy laugh.
An exactly parallel CASE" agreed
my husband, with lazy sarcasm. watch
ing me with half CLOSED eyes from be-
hind volume of tobacco smoke.
IF only baby might go. tooW I
l murmured. plaintively. l am quite
sure the change would do. her good"
absurd" interrupted my husband.
impat emily.
looked up little wistfully.
Could it be possible ho did not love
that darling child of ours so well as
1p On, how could he want me to leave
it if she should deP
So retrospective were my thoughts
that it was only gradually l perceived
that he was gazing down upon me with
smile of obvious Amusement.
Il can imagine that you are think
ing of me, he said, rs our eyes met.
well, | suppose l am hard.hearted,
trusted with such n treasure; but Mil
dred. do not see The sense of giving
up every thing for that child. The ba.
by is in perfect health. 1t will be safe
and happy with its excellent nurse.
under my mothers supervision. Think
of our trOtting off together on sec
ond wedding journey! And this trip
would just about set you up again. If
YOU are going Systematically to work
to destroy your good looks, you are
succeeding very well. my love. for the
lines are cOming;' and my usband
leaned down to trace, | hope, imagin-
AIRY wrinkles on my brow. But on
the other hand" he added, fitting up
my chm with one finger, and speaking
seriously ut last IF lou would only
20 through II sense OF duty. with the
spirit Of Il martyr, then, Mildred, |
had rather you would stay at home. :"
How handsome he looked and how
Young! Somehow, did not relish the
prospect of Transformation into Il
wilhcred old woman with snappy black
ewes.
threw all nv doubts and scruples
to the winds. smiled bravely up into
his face. and cr cI ''Pll go!'
"Wrll said! declared my husband,
catching mo round the vast, and ex-
rcuing wild gallOp round the room.
Already | began to feel youth again
in my veins.
Only in the hurry and exc temcnt of
preparation now and again would
creep in the thought of my little Mabel.
III only she might have gone. too.'
But | suppose it was ridiculous to
think of taking an eiGhteen-months'
old baby on six weeks trip to the
continent, so l smothered my yearning
rs best | might. and folded my baby 5
socks and dresses, aud ranged them
neatly in their places with something
akin to rcmorsc in my heart
A thousand instructions | gave the
good-natured nurse, entreating her tC
be careful and watchful of nv treas
urc; and Mt the last moment, with my
little Mabers clmging arms arounC
my neck and her cheek to mine,
would have rclinquished evrything t.
be loft behind with her.
But it would never do to lot PhiliI
snsp,os this. He was the kindest o
husbands, with smooth, gay temper
and the most joyous temperament eve
met with.
He would romp with the baby, il
perfect abandonment. for an hour at
stretch; but. ke the generality O
men, he hated noise and confusion. tn
bother of naughty babies in particular
When my baby came, like mos
young mothers. | threw myself int
my new duties with more zeal tina
discretion; and / think my husban
resented, unconsciously, my detection
and was resolved should not give u
entirely my own Life.
At last we were on our way HON
agan. In the same carriage was
poor, delicate baby, whose mother ha
died in Italy. and the father was no
bringing it home again.
Nv heart achet for the forlorn littl
creature, so helpless in the arms {
the needless nurse.
Philip smiled quzzicolly as poure
out an endless torrent of sympathy.
: ] see what you are after" he saic
at last. when he found my eye
following the baby; land if it will d
those empty arms of yours any good
worry over the poor little begga
nurse it by all means. And, Mildred.
this more seriously-''do not think
have not observed and appreciate
your unselfishness all along. see ii
mother-love is too strong in you;
shall never part you from your chill
again"
You may imagine | was the happi'
for this speech-indeed, my heart WI
full of charity for all the world.
took my husband at his word, an
fairly usurped the nurses place to Il
poor, motherless infant, whose lit
life was waning fast.
When VIC landed at Dover, the Ell
was so near had not the heart to Il
it 20 out of my sight.
Even Philip was saddened by tn
little tragedy enacted before him. An
WIS it premonition that made me 1
pitylngly tender to the little sou
gasping its last faint breaths upon m
knee?
Well. it was over at last, and ga,
up my little lfeless burden to other
care.
yearned afresh for the living child
longed to clasp in my arms; and PHI
lip, reading my heart Alright did n
seek to delay. An carly morning ira
found us on our way.
Then. rs the carriage neared ii
house. he held my hands in a fir
clasp, stroking them gently the Will
aud somehow, this kept back tn
agitation that was becoming hyste,