Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-05-18

away without even glimpse OF Gne
baby she had thought and dreamed
and talked so much about.
"But Penny's interest in the baby
was not to be SO easily disposed of.
After IL long cry over her disappoint-
ment, she left the little room at the
Quarters and set out upon n tour of
inspection. She went mp to the house
and stood under the nursery win.
dows, feeling very lonely aud strange
but when Maum Dlnah appeared at
one OF the windows with baby in her
arms, the sight brought the grin back
to her round, black face. True, she
could see little more than u bundle of
clothes, but even that was better than
nothing. When the baby WAS taken
away from the window Penny began
to take note of the surroundings, and
she noticed that limb Of the big live
oak tree against which she leaned ex-
tended beneath one OF the windows of
the nursery. Penny looked ut it care
fully, then grinned and fairly hugg ed
the old tree for Joy; the limb was
small, but SO was she, and she could
climb like squirrel.
at did not take long for Penny to
learn that Maum Dinah was alone with
the baby in the nursery every evening
while Rose was i'll attendance upon
her mistress.
"One evening while Maum Dinah
sat with the baby laying in her lap,
watching it lovingly and grooming to
it softly, Penny suddenly appeared
beside her.
levy, chiIel Web yeh come
frum? she cried under her breath /;
'how yeh git in heah?'
"Ncveh come up no stat steps,
answered Penny with grin, dropping
upon her knees the better to see the
baby.
"And so it came about that Penny
visited the baby every evening and
learned to love her, and the baby, who
had not inherited the mothers preiu-
dices, laughed and gurgled, kicked her
little pink toes and grabbed with her
chubby hands at Penny's kinky head.
II had been decided that the baby was
to be christened on Easter morning,
but it had not been decided what was
to be the boby's name. Hugh wished
her called for his mother, but Lillian
declared that she would never, no never
call her baby Penelope!
"'Why Hugh, she exclaimed,
Penelope is the name OF that little
black monkey your uncle sent here
would you really name baby that?'
"They were walking on the lawn
when this discussion arose, and Penny,
who was hiding behind tree near by,
heard Lillian's remark. Humph :
she unused, wrinkling her black fore.
head and nodding her kinky head
thoughtfully, reckon Penelope mus
be me, cause missis allus calls me er
black monkey. And all that day
Penny repeated over and over to her
self the name Penelope, Penelope, adj
miring the grand, long sound of it and
wishing it might really be the baby's
name.
"When she paid her usual visit to
the baby that evening, she asked Maum
Dinah ii her name was Penelope.
"'Yes, chile, but who done toll you
SOP asked Maum Dinah; i name yeh
that mys'f fer ole Miss she added
proudly,
"The day before Easter Lillian was
far from well, but she looked care
fully after the decoration Of the little
ivy covered stone church.
"Back of the chancel and the pull
pit the walls were almost hidden in
greenery, ferns and palms, ivy and
myrtle, and against this rich back
ground the tall, pale lilies leaned
their dropping heads. Night found
her very tired and weak, and she
leaned her fair head against his
breast and said coaxingly, Lets call
our baby Jean, Hugh, please; let's
call her for n heroine.
Jean, you know, children, is the
French for Joan, explained Grandma.
"Hugh sighed, but consented. His
girl wife was looking 50 delic2to that
his heart misgnve him, and he told
her that Us soon as he could SO ar
range his business they would go
North and remain till she grew
strong So Lillian went to sleep con-
tented
"dugh dropped into an uneasy
slnmber. The old clock on the stairs
tolled ont the hour of midnight.
Sometimes it seemed to strike louder
than usual, and Hugh was awak,
ened by its clangor. While ~
ing half awake, he fancied he
heard the sound of cracking flames
and strange roar filled his ears. He
sprang from his bed and opened the
door into the hall. The hall was filled
with smoke, and the lower story
seemed to be on fire. Hugh ran first
to the nursery and reused Rose.
Wrapping the baby well up in blankets
and giving her to Rose he babe her
follow him. Returning to his room
he carefully wrapped his wife iii q
blanket and, taking her in his arms,
fought his way through the smoke and
flames down the stairs and out into the
open air.
"By that time all the black people
from the Quarters were huddled, al
excited, frightened, frantic mass, il
ront of the house. The men were
confused aud helpless, the women and
children crying and screaming. Ole
Maum Dinah came forward, and Hugh
gave his half-fainting wife into he!
keeping, aud though his face and hand
were blackened and blistered, h,
started OIL to see if anything could b,
done.
Attend to your mistress and tn,
baby, Maum Dinah, he had said, an
with Lillian in her motherly arms
Maum Dinah called for the baby.
"rhe baby There was Rose,
frightened, weeping creature, but nj
baby
Gillian suddenly grown strong il
her mother-love and anguish, rushet
toward her and caught her by tn
shoulders. where ismy babyP Rose