The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-06-01
THE WHITE HOUSE BABIES.
Some Amusing Stories of the Presidents
Grandchildren.

Some Amusing Stories of the Presidents
Grandchildren.
The domestic life at the White House grows
more and more interesting as the little people
are from day to day developing. Little Benja
min begins already to show a masculine indi-
viduality. A year ago he did as he was told,
but original will, if not original sin, was
strikingly exhibited the other day by him.
Benjamin got up all right, and was as good
natured as need be. During the morning a
delegation appeared, and Benjamin was taken
down to help receive them. He passed round
the room voluntarily and shook hands with
every one, and was simply delightfully."- cordial
and chidishly charming. But it fatigued the
little man no doubt, for he aftcrward was irri-
table with those he loved best, just as older and
wiser people are. By evening, however, he
frightened up and in the cool of the day, while
the President and all the household were sitting
on the front plaza enjoying the evening breezes,
little Benjamin with the rest, the Attorney Gene
raj Joined the group. After greetings from the
older ones, the President bade his namesake
shake hands with Mr.. Miller. Then little Ben
iamin put his hands behind him, and looked
from his head to his feet the personfcation of
rebellion.
"Will you shake hands with Mr.. Miller? ?"
said the President, coaxingly.
"No, WON'T" said Baby Mckee.
"Then you must go into the house. / cannot
have little boy out here who is not polite"
Benjamin went into the parlor followed by
his mortified mamma, and therehe set up howl
that, like Tennyson's bugle, "set the wild echoes
flying" Mamma coaXed, nurse coaXed, and still
this little man kicked and screamed until he had
vented his anger and indignation. Finally-for
he kept peeping out and It looked so very nice
outside, and his grandpa never relented an inch
or gave him a look-he could not hold out any
longer and suddenly became quiet, walked out
and shook hands with Mr.. Miller, and then
walked off to play with little Mary, as calm and
serene as though he had not been making
'scene" and mortifying everybody.
Not long since, one fine morning, Mrs. Mckee
bade the nurse take the children out on the
grounds and let them run about and play in the
grass. All went well for while. Benjamin
and his sister could not make mud pies, but they
did heap up little piles Of leaves and enjoy roll
ing about. OF course their little white dresses
soon had the freshness taken out of them, and
the White House children looked just like any
child might under similar circumstances. Pres
emily group of tourists passed by on their way
to the War Department. Among them we're
some ladies, one of whom espied the children.
Addressing the nurse she said, "Whose children
| are those ?"
Mrs McKee's, madam"
"Humph you don't tell mel WE'LL l don't
see that they look any better than other folks
children! Seems to me if lived here I'd keep
my children dressed up"
The nurse apologized for their commonplace
|
in to pour out her indignation, but she was met
with shouts of laughter from Mrs. Harrison and
Mrs Mckee, who see the funny side of stua-
tion as quickly as anybody.
Little Mary Mckee is beginning to rival Ben
jamn in the family affection, for she is fast
learning from her brother all he knows and de-
veloplng on her own account beside. She is
very docile, and will do lot of pretty ''cute''
things to please her friends. But her original
ity is so feminine it is worth mentioning. She
likes to see herself arrayed in herpretty clothes,
and she has a favorite hat (or bonnet) which is
so becoming, and which she likes so well, that
when it is once on she never wants to take ii
off She would like to wear it to ride, to walk
to her meals, and to her bed, if mamma and
nurse would let her. She had little rivalry
with Cousin Marthena Harrison when she was
visiting at the White House. One day nurse
took the little maids with her to the Bostor
store. To get what she wanted she had to as
cend to the second floor with the babies on the
elevator. They caught sight of themselves il
the side mirrors ''Who is that ~ said nurse
to Marthena, pointing to her image in the glass
Ignoring herself, she said: ''Oh, that's Baby
Mckee ~ Almost every fine afternoon tn,
nurse and children can be seen riding out tt
the Soldiers Home or the shaded suburbs o