Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-08-10
BABY'S FIRT TOOTH.

Il uha paooOu y NtobOuCd hAeuh
ftful, restless, wandering night; q
night that seemed to have no beginn-
ing and no end, only 3 disiointed, con-
fused muddle.
The most unsatisfactory part OF 1t,
too, was that all this misery had been
caused by one who had hitherto been
my Joy and pride-viz, our baby.
He had been q model baby, but on
this night he had made it hard TO re-
slize that he had ever been anything
but whining. bowling, inconsolAble
creature, burden to himself and 10
all about him.
Some of my remarks made during
the watches of the night had led to a
slight GOODNESS between myself and the
wife OF my bosom-s breach that was
scarcely healed when l had to leave
her to catch the train.
/ was still too tired and too cross
to care to retract what had said, al
though was fully aware that my
language had been other that OF a
fond parent. She was too worn out
to be very responsive and to meet me
two thirds of the way, which / had
always held to be the wife's duty in
making up A conjugsl quarrel, 80 that
everything was far from being COM
Portable between US.
kiss baby, George, she said and
tell him you're sorry you were cross
to him for knocking that saucepan OF
his food over on your poor foot
'Oh, hang the baby l replied. 1
had Just scalded my thost with some
boiling tea, which is my only apology.
Very well,' said my wife, with
great dignity; then I am sure shall
not trouble you to kiss me. Good
morning
Good morning, and l hurried OF.
had busy enough time in the
city and plenty to occupy my thoughts
but still this our first quarrel some
what haunted me.
More than once I pictured the
baby at his last gasp and my wife
with no one to fly to, for we had not
been in England long and had made
but few friends.
Until the last twelve months we had
both lived in Feejee, where my father
was a missionary. My wife had
rather romantic history and had In
fact a streak of royal blood in her
veins--not much to boast about how
ever.
Her great.great- grandmother was
one of the numerous wives of Fee
jeean chief. She was an English wo
man who with two sailors formed the
only survivors on q raft which had
drifted from a wreck somewhere OF
other in the Pacific ocean. .
regret to state that the two sailors
were eaten, but to the woman was
offered the doubtful alternative of be-
coming the bride OF the chief. She
bore him one child and shortly alter
ward died of the shame and misery
of the whole business.
This child, my Katie's grand 'grano
mother, got into the hands of some
English settlers, married an English
man, and after the lapse of Two OF
three generations :he brief episode
above recorded was almost forgotten
lam bound to enter into these de-
tails, as they have great deal to dc
with the point of my story.
BY !uchtime was quite in my
normal state of temper, and long oe
fore the day was ended got very re
morseful and anxious to make amends
filed my bag with little peace
offering for both wife and child anc
determined to make up for all de-
fciencies in the past by an excess o.
amiability for the future.
Unfortunately a gentleman in my
compartment kept up constant flow
of talk. After prophesying the future
course of the government and th'
probability of revolution shortly, n
plunged into an argument with I
feeble old gentleman opposite on th'
source of crime.
was more asleep than awake, bu
every now and then caught sen
tence. Hereditary taint, he asserted
must sooner or later make itself felt
Given q murderous ancestor, ther
follows as q matter of course muir
derous descendant. | could not for
bear smiling to myself as I though
of how l had an exception at hom
which might prove the rule.
But the train stopped, the garrul
GUS old faddist got out, and though
no more of him. Kate had on he
prettiest gown and did not wait 70
any apology or peace offering befor'
giving me the kiss denied in thu
morning with ample interest.
There was q savory smell ascend
ing the kitchen stairs. Ny slipper
were wa, med and ready for my fee
The baby was not visible either to th
eve or ear. The fire was beauty
and when the dinner came it prove
to be favorite one of mine.
when shall I see baby? | aske
meekly, when the 6rst course was r.
moved and delicious pudding
Kate's own making placed before mt
'All in good time, George sh
answered. al have q great surpris
for you. You were not 80 anxAot
about dear baby this morning"
my darling, this morning | was
brutel This evening | am a reforme
character. brimmlng over with pares