Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12
Highest Of all in Leavenng Power-Iae U. S. Govt Report
RH!az!!! RRskiRs
ABSOLUTELY PURE
THE BABY'S NAME.
me difficulty of the Fond Parents In
designating the Newcomer.

The difficulty of the Fond Parents In
| Designating the Newcomer.
From the New York Tribune.
We've named himr"
Mr.. Lemuei Ruggles opened the screen
door wide enough to admit his head,
crcwred with its Panama straw hat. His
sister Persis looked up interrogatiyely.
She was pairing green apples for sauce,
| and the sudden pause of her knife sent a
small, indigestible looking specimen spin
| ming across the floor.
"You don't tell me!' she said.
eyes, we've named him." Lemuel said,
| following the Panama hat into the kitchen.
"Well, it's time you did-poor little fell
| Ierr
| Lemuel sat down, and the pairing knife
again took up its peregrinations round and
| round an apple.
How'd you ever git round to it, Lem ~
| Mr.. kuggles' whole bearing was triumph
ant. There was unusual dignity about the
set of his Sunday Clothes lurking in their
oreases and folds and shining out. of their
| buttons. Even his Panama hat appeared
to have borrowed extra luster. He crossed
| his legs and sat up with unbending prim-
ness.
Les have the story, Lem" Persis said.
smiling over at him. II guess it's wuth
Marthy have BIN powerful while nanin'
that baby. One time i calc'lated you was
| goin' to let him name himself-ain't he
! nigh six months old, if he's day?''
Yes he's more'n six months-he's goin'
| on seven. But he's got name now. He's
all right, furs that goes"
Mr.. Ruggles' countenance assumed a
contented aspect that sat becomingly upon
| 1T. He hitched his chair nearer to Persis
and took up a green apple and tossed it
| gently from one hand to another. The
| limp cotton gloves attracted his sisters
notice.
Yes, I be considerable fixed up, Persis,"
| Lemuel FASTENED TO say in apology. you
see, it's a sort Of holiday an I'm ceIe-
bratin'."
| The yellow almanac. hung over the ia
BILE, swayed a little in the breeze from the
| open door, and Persis glanced up at it.
"a holiday?' she Gueried.
why, yes, a sorter family holiday, as it
were. You see, we named him this mornin'
ut quarter to 11-or nebbe twas twenty
| minutes of. 1 come over 10 ask you to sup
per. Marthy sent me. Shes all dressed up
in her second-5eSt weddn' Dress an were
goin' to have preserved barberries an angel
cake. The baby's got on his best Clothes
too"
The baby's father took tentative bite Of
the green apple, and hastily hid the wry
face 1t occas!oned behind one of the cotton
| gloves. He was not young father, and 1t
was not easy to associate him with the
proud ceremony of baby-naming There
were criss-cross Fuckers on his high fore
head, and the beginning traces of badness
on top of his head.
He settled back on his chair. at was
this way, Pers:s. Marthy n mes been ter
ribly worked up over findin' a name for ehe
little chap. We KEEP runnin' onto new ones
an specTlatin' over 'em till We was more
unsarta.n than we was before. Marthy.
she was kinder for calm him Caleb Solo
mon, after both his grandfathers, but Caleb
Sole mon Ruggles didn't sound jest easy an
poetic to me noways ! could pronounce it.
50 We CIV that up. Then there was
Ephraim John, after Martny's uncle, an
LIE Baron Wiggin an Guy Claude We're de
Nere-that come out of a story ok---an'
Launcelot Lemuel-that was after a book
chap an me both-an' a quantity of other
real pretty names. But there didn't none of
'em suit. We read books an books, an
nunted up pile Of college programs of
brother Johns up in the attic, an said over
with EN-"
Persis had to go into the pantry for a
saucepan cover, and there was slight
came back she said fefIectively:
Well, didn't know twas such a Job
namin, babies! l declare, it's enough to
Mr.. Ruggles nodded in solemn acqui-
escence.
But it amt hurryin' matter. You've
got to put your mind on it an keep it on a
good long spell. It's turrible RESPONSE
bility. Persis. But when you've once lit On
the right name it's reg'lar delight
His eyes shone with pleasure. This
iueIiiH dlteT Hlllhln L SET down In q
rockin' chair an says to Marthy, I says,
I'm going to set right in this chair till
that baby gets named! 1t amt any Won
der he cries SO much-he's lonesome. He
dent feel to home without KNOWN who
he is. He won't never feel acquainted an
to home till he finds that out So Marthy
she set down in another rocker, en- we
went at it hardern ever. The baby laid
in the cradle an held his breath, so to
speak. We got out them programs again,
an that's where We found his name. 1t
KEEP occurrin among all the other names,
an we decided on it right off then. 1 dom
know why We hadn't never thought of 1t
before, unless it was because 1t was sort
of common, comm so often. But we 10th
l:l.ed it." Mr.. Ruggles rose to his feet rer-
vously. Il hope you'll like it, Persis; de-
clare dor he said.
kind of aristocratic an 1 amt ever heard
of anybody with it-not anywhere. l guess
it warn't common only round that section
where John went to college. 1t appeared
to be a favorite name there Lemuel put
on his hat and went to the screen door.
superb be ready at o'clock" he said,
looking back Persis hurried after him.
But you amt told me what it was yet.
Lem she said. eagerly.
What what was?"
"Why, the taby's name"
"Oh-why, to be surer'
Mr. Lemuel Ruggles drew himself up with
paternal dignity. His plain face radiated
pride from every feature.
MY sons NAME" he said, solemnly, my
sons name is Anon-Anon Ruggles."
He Had One.