The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-10-08

and bought him new sashes galore.
Rex looked on with unconcealed
amusement. He thought it a very en-
tertalning farce. aud was clearly inter-
ested to see how long | could keep it
up. The boys all thought it huge
joke on poor little Baby" As they
designated him. and. through hearty
sense of hunOr. co-operaled in assist
ing me TO deceive myself.
Baby had not been sent 10 school,
but now began TO have daily lessons
with me. and on sunshiny afternoons
played with the rector's little girls
next door. Somehow Baby had never
played with boys at all. lie had shy.
sweet manners. which endeared him 10
mothers hearts. and he was quite in
demand at their little girls candy
pulls and soap-bubble parties.
1t was when he was live that | at
tired him one afternoon in pale blue
cashmere irock. with full gathered
skirt and bit of a yoke, and secured
his curls at the nape of his neck with
big satin bow OF the same hue.
He kissed me goodbye and started
so daintilr down the walk for a soap
bubble tiff at n neighbor's house, that
/ stood in the window watching him
out of sight.
Psyche came in and Joined me.
Now. isn't it funny" l mused
feet girl Of him?' You'd think hs
would romp and tear about and want
pockets in both sides Of his skirt to
stuff his fists in. and. at any rate. be q
boisterous creature! Blu. he is Just as
gentle as any little maid. and he never
tormeuts the poor beasts as YOU young
rQprobates did! Don't you remember
when Pat put tho three-days-old kit
tens into 4 tub of soft soap to sec how
they would swim? And every dog in
the village knew Reggy's tin cansm
Hes sort of a little idiot. isn't
hep" murmurcd Psyche, stroking the
funny bit of fuzz Oh his upper lip con-
templatlvelv.
My Baby an idiot" Indignantly
exclaimed. He's much the cleverest
of all of you. Mr.. Cyrus Thayer. Some
day he'll wake up to the trick we're
playing on him. aud teach us that the
path of the practical joker can narrow
to Il sadly uncomfortable linitr And
| left Psyche 10 his grimaces and his
budding mustache, and proceeded to
my own room and my work-basket.
where little gypsy hat was to be
trimmed with ribbons and rosebuds
for Baby.
But into my stitches l put many
very serious thoughts that afternoon.
for surely the problem grew ponder
Gus; and while | hated to give in. it
was quite evident that petticoats and
Baby would soon be ludicrously incon-
gruous. So / stitched and planned.
and built impossible castles, and al
ways came back to the starting point
and helpless indecision.
1t was quite late when my millinery
and mending were all completed. and
| FASTENED to dress for O'clock din
ner before Rex should arrive. / was
just clasping little moonstone heart
ut my throat, when l heard roars o.
laughter from the library. and cries o
"Mammee, Mammce do come downr'
recollect accurately just how near
the pin WAS TO the clasp. aud exactly
which hairpin was put in too loosely
for felt a premonition that something
remarkable was about to occur. and
stood hesitating moment before |
responded.
Rex had just come in from the train.
and when | reached the stairs was
standing in the library doorway laugh
ing so heartily ;hat the tears rolled
down his checks. Within l could hear
Psyche, Reggy and Pat squealing like
regiment of young demons.
But above all, shrill. excited and de-
fiant. came Baby's tones, declaiming 9
against some mean old boobiesr
Poor little Baby" thought. as l
fastened down. They are teasing
him shout something. l will stop
them at once"
Yes screamed Baby. tho words
coming in such fury as | never heard
from him before. you're all mean old
boobies! And Tommy Taylor said
ev'ry boy everywhere laughed at NEE"
here a qnayer crept into his voice
laughed all the time at NEE, becuz
my mother made me silly gur-r-l-
and | hadn't even any name. And
Tommy called me 'Babesy;' and
Sammy said. God it like to take my
finger and 60 scoss the 'oom?' So l
went up in Dolly's room. and we got
her scissors and cut them all Off"
| had reached the door before Baby
finished his harangus. Ibid not inter-
-lupt or reproyc the boys for their con-
tinued mirIh. Bex put his arm around
me. for looked little faint. but he
never stopped laughing for moment.
My beautiful Baby! Could any of
YOU have seen him! Such Il fantastic
sight as met my bcwldered gaze!
The boys were huddlcd together on
the sofa. bending forward TO listen.
and Baby had the floor.
He stood in the center of the room.
one foot thrast forward and used in
vehement emphasis ut frequent inter-
walls. His clear. white skin WAS flushed
II vivid crimson. aud he gesticulated
wildly with tuo very mHddy-paws.
On the floor beside him lay much
bedrag.le,l sash. which must have been
trailcd through every puddle in townl
But it was not upon these Details
startling rs they were. that my eyes
were riveted aud all my attention
chained What rendered me utterly
speechlcss. aud made me cling TO Rex
to be sure it was not indeed Il dream
and he myth, was my Baby's awful
headi
No blue ribbon adorned him now.
and not curl-one might almost say
not Il hair-appeared OH that tiny lit
tie ridiculous scalp! Ruthless scissors
had shipped aud slashed all his pretty
golden rinSlets. There was not \
tress one could have held to! Here q
patch of bare skin. there q meager bit
of stubble. but nowhere a hair half
inch in length!
stumbled into the room. caught
him in my arms. and fled through an-
other door with him. The boys started
gleefully in pursuit.. but l heard Rex
stop them. No. boys" he said. very
positively. leave him 10 mamma.
Get ready at once. all Of you, for din-
nern
Baby" | groaned. when bad put
him down in my room and locked the
door, 20 Baby, why did you do this