The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-03-24
BABY'S PICTURE.
BY II. 8. KELLER.


 Mrs. H.-"Good morning."
 Artist-"Good morning, my dear lady,"
 Mrs. H.-"Do you think the weather will be favorable to-morrow2 I want Montmorenci's picture taken"
 Artist-"I think the weather will be quite favorable. Pray let me give you some few words of advice. Don't have the young gentleman wear a standing collar; plain tie is far bet ter than figured one as for pants"
 Mrs. H. (smiling affably)-"Why, Montmorenci isn't old enough. He is just the cutest little six-months- old baby you ever saw. By the way, what is the best time of day to bring him?"
 Artist-"Right after he has had hie nap. Babies look so much brighter then"
 Mrs. H. Offended )-"Sir, my Mont morenci looks bright all the while. Oh, by the way, I want him taken standing"
 Artist-"I beg your pardon. Inever saw a six -months-old baby stand"
 Mrs. H. (haughtily)-"But you never saw my baby. I will come in the morning at ten. Will that be con- venient?"
 Artist-"Quite SO. Isincerely trust I shall be able to secure a very fine photo of the kid-I mean your charm ing child. Good morning."
 Upon the following morning Mrs. Hardtoplease, nurse bearing the small specimen of humanity with a four-story name, three maiden aunts of Monte, two female cousins aged ten and six, and canine idiot, commonly called pug, entered c. Y. Anide's studio.
 Artist (after wraps were removed and he had taken look at the child) "Very pretty baby. Don't remember that l ever saw more striking-" (Baby says, "Gu-gu- ba- ba- la- -la- bi- bi-g'lug -g'lug," and c. Y. Anide hast ems to the operating room to prepare for the onslaught.)
 (Boy in dark room whistles, "See, the conquering hero comes," also in softer tone, but plainly heard by all the people in the operating room, Empty is the Cradle, Baby's Gone"
 Mrs. H.-"Don't you think we could get him to stand?"
 Artist-"Upon his head as readily as the other way" co. Y. Anide grows pale as the three aunts swoop down upon the wavering, tremulous specimen tied in the posing chair "Now, ladies, please stand away and give me a."
 Miss Featherhead-"But want him to look right at me. He always looks so wise when he looks at me-"
 Artist Gin undertone, as he puts his head under the cloth)-"I guess older gents have looked wise, too, when gazing upon that face" Gle draws the slide and stands by the camera ready to spring the cap. One of the cousins jumps to the baby, just to tickle him and make him laugh. c. Y. Anide scowls, and the baby says: "Gu-gu- ba- la- ba- la- la bi bi g'lug- g'lug." The cousin is led away, yell ing at the top of her voice, by the three aunties. c. Y. Anide smiles and prepares for business Just as he is about to spring the cap, the other cousin-who has disappeared-with 8 loud scream makes her reappearance head first through one of c. Y. Anide's highest priced back grounds. She is rescued from the debris by Mrs. Hardtoplease, and the artist springs the cap and the exposure is made. He hastens to the dark room, and ere the three aunts have succeeded in quiet ing the girls, he has taken four very fine negatives (so he says, but the fact is, he hasn't stopped to develop sin gle plate) Mrs. Hardtoplease and her party leave the gallery we'll pleased. The long, sweet, golden days of summer pass and autumn dawns and dies, and gray winter comes, and spring jumps out ot the lap of winter with bursting buds and influenza. f The nights come and go, and the sun rises and sets; and days, months and years pass. It is the old c-nut. Bad weather; cannot print have them sure week from next Friday.
 One day hale and hearty man with child in his arms entered the studio and asked for c. Y. Anide. A wab. bly, man with bald head and wrin- kles came to to the show-cas and the stranger said he wanted his child's picture taken. Up stairs he climbed after the artist. The baby's picture was taken, and when c. Y. Anide came to the. showcase again, his hale and hearty patron smiled.
 Stranger-"Don't remember me, do you?"
 Artist-"Your face seems strikingly familiar"
 Stranger-"When can I have my paby's pictures?" 2 Artist-"One week from today" Stranger (curiously)-"Sure?"