Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-04-05
JOY
A Strange Child, and Her Last
Whispered Question.

Strangers often wondered why Mis-.
Nelson should have called her third
child joy" 1t was an odd little
name to give any baby. and to this
quiet child. whose large. dark eyes
had not the sem blance of smile in
them. it seemed hardly appropriate. to
say the least.
This is the way it came about. For
long time before Joy was born Mrs.
Nelson had been ill-so ill that her
husband, and all of the wise doctors
he had consulted. feared that she
could never be we'll again. The fear
gradually grew into hopeless. help
less waiting for death.
The shadow which had hung so
heavily and long over the Nelson
household was suddenly lifted when
this baby came. bringing with her the
unlooked-for life and health.
When the mother first asked about
her baby, DIR. Nelson had answered,
with tenderness not usual in self
contained. stern natures like his. that
it was a tiny. dark-eyed girl, and 1--WE
will. call her JOY"
So it was; although, as the months
went BY, DR.. Nelson remarked the
growing Appropriateness of the
name.
Joy had rather a solemn look in her
wide-open black eyes, and she rarely
smiled, even when the brightest
red rattle was dangled temptingly
close. She would catch at it with her
tiny hands. and all the time seem
to be gravely considering whether it
was really such an amusing thing
after all.
At first the mother claimed that her
baby's face was very quick indeed to
catch and reflect the smile of loving
faces bent above it; and joy rare
smile, even when she was u very little
baby, completely transformed her
face. 1t was like bit of summer
sky shining out through sudden
shower
Most stern-n atured men are won to
womanly tenderness by baby airs and
graces. But when the bright-eyed.
frolicsome baby becomes growing,
restless child, and the baby graces
merge into grave tendencies that point
TO faults, there must be n woman's
larger patience and faith to be tender
then.
DR. Nelson had enjoyed his first two
babies. He was country doctor, with
a far-reaching practice. and his life
was not an easy one. 1t was pleas
ant thing to find the babies waiting
for him, when he came home after a
hard DAYS work. They were merry.
noisy girls, with only two years be-
tween them. They were almost grown
before a third baby was born.
He felt in some vague way that Joy
was different. But it was not until
she was six years old. and there was
another baby in the house. that he be-
gan to deplore her quietness as Sin
difference" and to wonder what on
earth would ever become of child
with such a strange, sulien DISPOSE
tion."
Mrs. Nelson found this quiet. pen
siye child positive comfort. Her first
Two babies had been as often ready to
cry as they were to laugh; and they
had always required close attention
from their busy mother to prevent dam
perous troubles and to settle peace
fully disputed rights as to dolls and
kittens. II was the simplest thing IN
the world to amuse Joy. A rug on the
floor and few toys about her was all
that was necessary.
1t was without the least intention OF
neglecting the child that her mother
left her so much alone, while she
busted herself about her household du-
ties. The girls were at school all day,
and there was much to be done; and
Joy always seemed quite happy with
her toys. and Rover for q play fellow.