New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-22
THE BABY,S NAME.
AN EPISODE OF COUNTRY LIFE.


We've named him."
Mr. Iemuel Ruggles opened the screen-door wide
enough to admit his head. crowned with its Pan
straw hat. His sister Persis looked up In
terrogatively She pairing green apples for
sauce. and the sudden pause OF her knife sent
small notwithstanding specimen spinning across
the floor.
You don't tell me-" she said.
Yes we've named him." Lemuel said. following
the Panama hat into the kitchen.
We'll. It's time you dld-poor little feler"'
Lemue. sat down. and the parng-knlfe again took
up it's peregrnatlons round and round apple
How'd you git round to II. Lem?
Mr. Ruggles's whole bearing triumphant.
There unusual dignity about the set Of his
Sunday clothes lurking in their creases and folds
and shining OF their buttons. Even his Panama
hat appeared to have borrowed extra lustre Hs
crossed his legs and up With unbending prim-
Les have the story. Lem" Persis said. smiling
over at him. II guess it's wuth hearin' this time.
anyhow. You n Marthy have ben powerful
while namin that baby. One time I calclated YOU
goin' let him name himsef-aint he nigh six
months old II he's day.
Yes. he's more'n six months-hes goin' on seven.
But he's got a name now He's all right furs that
goes"
Mr. Ruggles's countenance assumed contented
aspect that becomingy upon It. He hitched his
chair To Perss. and took up a green apple
ard tossed II gently from hand 10 another The
limp cotton gloves attracted his sisters notice.
YES. I be consid able fixed up. Perss." Lemuel
FASTENED TO say In apology. you see, It's sort
Of a holiday an I'm ceebratln'
The yellow almanac. hung over the table. swayed
a little In the breeze from the open door and Perss
glanced up at II.
"A hoday?' she queried.
why. yes sorter family holiday as It were.
You see. named him this mornin' a quarter
eleven-or mebbe twas twenty minutes OF.
ask you to supper Marthy sent me.
She's al dressed up In her second-best weddin'
dress. an we're goin TO have preserved barberries
an angel cake The baby's got his best clothes.
too"
The baby's father took tentative bite OF the
green apple. and hastily hid the wry face 1t occa
stoned behind Of the gloves. He
not a young father. and 1t not easy to asso-
ciate him with the proud ceremony OF baby-nam-
ing. There criss-cross Fuckers his high
forehead and the beginning OF badness
top OF his heao.
He settled back his chair. 1T this way.
Perss Marthy n mes been terribly worked up
over fndn' a name for the little chap. We KEEP
runnn' onto an speculatin' EN- til
more unsartan than before Mar
thy she kinder for calm him Caleb Solomon.
after both his gandfahers, but Caleb Solomon
Ruggles didn't sound Jest easy an poetic TO me
ways | could pronounce IT, So Civ that up.
uncle. an lie Baron Wiggin an Guy Claude We're
de Vere-that come out OF story book--an Launce
lot Lemuel-that after a book chap an
both-an' quantity OF other real pretty names.
But there didn't OF EN- suit. We read books
an books an hunted up a pile OF college pro-
grammes OF brother Johns up in the attic. an
said all the names out loud. an experimental
with EN-"
Persis had TO go into the pantry for saucepan
cover and there was a slight hitch in Mr.. Rug
exlou Davct LaC oha cafI
refectively:
We'll. l didn't know twas such Job namir'
babies declare It's enough to scare folks OF
marryin'. amt it?"
Mr. Ruggles nodded in solemn acquiescence
But IT amt a hurryn' matter. You've got to put
your mind II an keep II a good long spell.
It's turrible responsibility. Persis. But when
you've lit the right It's regular
delight
His eyes shone with pleasure. This mornn'. after
milkn', | set down in rockn' chair to
Msrthy says. I'm going to set right in this chair
I'LL that baby gets named! II amt any wonder
he cries much-he's lonesome. He don't feel 10
home without KNOWN who he is. He wont
feel acquainted an TO home till he finds that out
So Marthy she set down in another rocker an
az 1t hardsrn ever The baby laid In the
cradle an held his breath. speak. We got
out them programmes again. an that's where We
found his name II KEEP occurrfn' among all the
/ don know why we hadn't never thought OF It
before. unless IT was because II sort OF com
mon. comm so often: But we both liked IT," Mr;
Rugges 10 his feet nervously. II hope you'll
ike il. Persis; declare do" he said.
IT'S real takin' name. an sounds real kind OF
arfstocratic an ain't ever heard OF anybody with
it-not anywhere. ] guess II warn't common only
round that section where John went college.
1t appeared TO be q favorite name there" Lemuel
put on his hat and went 10 the screen door.
superb be ready at o'clock" he said, looking
back Perss hurried after him.
But you amt told me what II was yet. Lem"
she said, eagerly.
What what was?"
why the habys name"
"O-why, to be sure
Mr. Lemuel Ruggles drew himself UP with pa'er-
ma dignity. His plain face radated pride from
every feature.
my sons name" he said. solemnly my sons
name is Anon-Anon Ruggles."