Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-25

light There was another interested spec
tator that was ever with her-Nero-agr great,
ugly-faced mastiff He was a severe
sort of dog, having great regard for his
personal dignity and allowing very few
famiIiarities. But that blessed baby was
his tyrant. She rode him. She pulled his
ears and tail; she fell asleep with her curly,
blond head pillowed on his side, and Nero
bore all with resigned stoicism which was
sublime. He constituted himself her body
guard and followed her constantly.
"We are not gong to have evergreens
enough for the ceiling" announced
Eleanore's pretty mamma, who was chair
woman Of the Committee on Decoration,
"and you, Teddy, must go and get few
more. You are absolutely of no use here,
and you might as we'll help US out. "
Igrumbled over leaving a glowing open
fire and an interesting novel, but there wae
no help for me. was informed that
could not be an idler and cumberer of the
ground at such time as this.
"And you might as we'll take Eleanor
with you," suggested her mother; "the
ground is smooth, and it will do you good
to push baby carriage"
So the child was wrapped in furs and We
set for the woods, quite mile from the
house Nero started to attend us.
JO DaChJ SlT, bdlu, lOOI.
'It's bad enough to take to the woods with
baby, but will not nave you tagging
He looked at me with an injured express
sion, but preserving his dignity under these
trying circumstances, returned sadly to the
house.
1t was clear, cold, bracing day. There
was no snow on the ground, only slight
powdering on fences, twigs and branches.
The walk and the exercise of pushing
EIeanore's carriage set my cheeks aglow.
The baby cooed and prattled in delight.
We entered the pine woods, whose resInous
breath stole to my senses with refreshing
fragrance.
l gathered some evergreens, and then
suddenly recalling spot where the red tea
berries were wont to grow, tucked the
afghan closer about the child and said:-
''Now, darling, sit still here minute
while aunty goes to get some booful berries
for the baby"
She laughed and nodded. I left her. look
ing back and thinking what picture she
was, nestled among her cushions and furs.
her dear little face peeping out from her
quaint little brown hood.
1 couldn't have been away from her more
than ten minutes. When came back, my
hands filed with teaberries, laughing and
calling to her, my heart gave great leap
and then stood still-the carriage was
empty.
I have not a distinct remembrance of
what happened. 1 can only recall the
frantic rush through the woods, screaming
her name, looking everywhere, until worn
out and exhausted, fang myself on the
ground and burst into tears
What could do? How could ever re-
turn to the house and the child's mother?
In despair pictured the scene, the re-
proaches, the hunt. All, where would we
find our darling? How would we find her?
In agony started to my feet, hurried
back to the empty baby carriage and set
out for home. I vaguely noticed that it
somewhere in those awful, dim, mysterious
woods was tender little child wandering
alone, suffering, dying, perhaps.
They told me atterward that when /
staggered into the house was like dead
woman. 1 could not speak, but pointed
silently to tine empty carriage. And then
someone-was it Eleanore's mother ?-mer-
cifully took me by the hand and led me
into the parlor. The tree was a thing of
beauty, a-glitter with dainty baubles, tapers
aud TOYS. They were all there in O group,
surveying it-and there on the fur rug, be-
fore the glowing, open fire, lay big, black,
dignlhed dog, and with her head plllo%ed
on his shoulder. fast asleep-Eleauore
"Why! whyl how?' 1 stammered; and
then, as the room got black and everybody
seemed floating away, someone said:
"Don't, Teddy. dear! II was all right
Nero brought her home. We were only
worried about you"
And some way found myself on the rug,
my arms about the baby aud the dog, weep
ing like child from very happiness and
gratitude.
That was happy Christmas.
EDITH SESSIONS TUPPER