San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-10

talked to me for few minutes about my
self and Aunt Agatha. | had not been
home yet, and she wanted me to fix some
afternoon when Mrs, Garnett or Travers
could take my place.
I'VE must not let you get too dull,
Merle,o she said, gently. Hannah is a
good girl, but she cannot be companion
to you in any sense of the word" And
perhaps in that she was right.
woke the following Thursday with a
sense of uneasiness depressing me, so
largely do our small fears magnify them
selves when INDUCED. AS the afternoon
approached grew quite pale with appre-
hensiOn, and Hannah, with unspOken
sympathy-she had wonderful tact for a
girl-only limited at the matter in a round
about way.
had dressed Reggie in his turquOis-
blue velvet and was fastening my clean
frilled apron over my black gown, when
Hannah said, quietly, We'll, it is no Won
der master likes to show people what sort
of nurse he has got don't think any
one could look so nice in Il cap and apron
as you do, Miss Fenton. 1t is just as
though you were making believe to be a
servant like me, and it would not do any
how"
Ismiled a, little at Hannah's homely
compliment, but | confess it pleased me
and gave me courage. | felt still more
like myself when my boy put his dimpled
arms round my neck, and hid his dear
face on my shoulder. | could not per
suade him to loosen his hold until his
mother spoke to him; and there was
Joyce holding tightly to my gown all the
time.
The room was so full that it almost
made me giddy. 1t was good of Mrs.
Morton to rise from her seat and meet me,
but all her coaXing speeches would not
make Reggie do more than raise his head
from my shoulder. He sat in my arms
like a baby prince, beating off every one
with his little hands, and refusing even to
go to his father.
Every one wanted to kiss him, and l
carried him from one to another Joyce
had left me at once for her mother. Some
of the ladies questioned me about the
children. The; spoke very civilly, but
their inquisitve glances made my face
burn, and it WAS with difficulty that |
made suitable replies. Once | looked M.
and saw that Mr.. Morton was watching
me- His glance was critical, but not I'M
kind | had feeling then that he was
subjecting me purpOSely to this test. |
must carry out my theory into practice.
| am convinced all this was in his mind as
he looked at me, and | no longer bore
grudge against him.
Not long afterward l had an oppOrtuni-
ty of learning that he could own himself
fallible on some points. He was exceed
ngly just, and could bear a rebuke even
from an inferior, if it proved him to be
clearly in the wrong.
One afternoon he came into the nursery
to play with the children for few min
utes. He would wind up their mechani-
cal toys to amuse them. Reggie was I'M
usually fretful, and nothing seemed to
please him. He scOlded both his father
and his walking doll, and would have
nothing to say to the learned dog who
beat the timbrels and nodded his head APP
prOYingly to his own music. Presently
he caught sight of his favOrite wOOlly
lamb placed out of his reach, on the man
tel-piece, and began screaming and kick
ing.
Naughty Reggie" observed his father,
complacently, and he was taking down
the toy when l begged him respectfully to
replace it.
He looked at me in some little surprise.
Il thought he was crying for it," ne
said, somewhat perplexed at this.
Reggie must not cry for things after
that fashion, returned, firmly, for | felt
a serious principle was involved here
He is only baby, but he is very sensi-
bic, and knows he is naughty when he
screams for thing. l never give it to
him until he is good"
Indeed" little dryly. "Well, he
seems far off from goodness now. What
do you mean by making all that noise, my
bOy?"
Reggie was in one of his passions. it was
easy to see that; the toy would have been
flung to the ground in his present mood;
50, without looking at his father or asking
his permission, l resorted to my usual
method, and laid him down screaming
Justify in his little cot.
There, baby must stop until he is good"
l remarked, quietly; and took my work
and sat down at some little distance,
while Mr.. Morton watched us from the
other room. l knew my plan always an
swered with Reggie, and the storm would
soon be over.
In two or three minutes his screams
ceased, and l heard a penitent "Gurgle-
da;" then 'Nur, nur." l went to him di-
rectly, and in a moment he held out his
arms to be lifted out of the cot
us Reggie quite good?" l asked, as l
kissed him.
"Ood. ood," was the triumphant reply,
and the next moment he was cuddling his
lamb.