Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-09-25

lore our lrate relatives settled dewn &c
anything like acquiescence in permitting
US to manage our own institutions.
In the blue toggery he was arrayed,
and his yellow curls, parted in the mid
die, hung with a pretty girlish regularity
from underneath the narrow blue snood.
His white frocks were covered with
founces of embroidery, and sashes with
long fringed ends adorned his afternoon
costume. And the dear little poke bon
net he wore when he was three, with
baby-blue ribbons tied in bow at his
chin, made him quite as sweet and pretty
as any girl in the land.
When he got to be five, though, it
was puzzling. Clearly, he ought to be
donning kits very soon. But I parted
his hair in the middle of his head, and
tied back his curls with pale blue rib
bons, and bought him new sashes galore.
Rex looked on with unconcealed
amusement. He thought it very en-
pertaining farce, and was clearly inter
ested to see how long I could keep it up
The boys all drought it a huge joke on
"poor little Baby" as they designated
him, and, through a hearty sense Of
humor, co-operated in assisting me to
deceive myself.
Baby had not been sent to 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 never played
with the boys at all. He had shy, sweet
manners, which endeared him to mothers
hearts, and he was quite in demand at
their little girls candy-pulls and soap
bubble parties.
It was when he was five that attired
him one afternoon in a pale blue cash
mer frocl1, with full gathered skirt and
a 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 goodby, and started so
daintily down the walk for soap-bub-
BILE tiff at a neighbor's house, that I
stood in the window watching him out
of sight.
Psyche came in and joined me.
CHOW, isn't it funny" unused aloud,
"that we can make such perfect girl of
him! You'd think he would romp and
tear about, and want pockets in both
sides of his skirt to stuff his fists in, and,
at any rate, be boisterous creature.
But he is just as gentle as any little maid,
and he never torments the poor beasts
as you young reprobates did. Don't
you remember when Pat pat the three
days old kittens into tub of soft soap
to see how they would swim2 Aud
evry dog in the village knew Reggy's
tin cans"
"He's sort of a little idiot, isn't he2"
murmured Pysche, stroking the funny
bit of fuzz on his upper lip contempla-
lively.
''My Baby an idiotE" Indignantly ex-
claimed ''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, and teach us that the path of the
practical joker can narrow to sadly I'M
comfortable limit" And left Psyche
to his grimaces and his budding NOUS
tache, and proceeded to my own room
and my work basket, where little gypsy
straw hat was to be trimmed with rib
bons and rosebuds for Baby.
But into my stitches put many very
serious thoughts that afternoon, for surely
the problem grew ponderous; and while
hated to give in, it was quite evident
that petticoats and Baby would soon be
ludicrously lncongruous. So l stitched
and planned, and built impossible castles,
and always came back to the starting
point and helpless indecision.
It was quite late when my millinery
and mending were completed, and l
fastened to dress for seven o'clock din
ner before Rex should arrive. was
just clasping little moonstone heart at
my throat, when heard roars of laughter
from the library, and cries of "Mammee,
mammee, do come downp
Irecollect accurately just how near the
pin was to the clasp, and exactly which
hairpln was put in too loosely; for felt
a premonition that something remarkable
was about to occur, and l stood hesitat-
ing a moment before responded.
Rex had inst come in from the rain,
and when reached the stairs was stand
ing in the library doorway laughing so
heartily that the tears rolled down his
cheeks. Within, could hear Psyche,
Reggy and Pat squealing like regiment
of young demons.
But above all, shrill, excited, and de-
faint, came Baby's tones, declaiming
against some "mean old boobiesw
poor little Baby" l thought, as I
fastened down. 'They are teasing him
about something. I will stop them at
once"
eyes" screamed Baby, the words