The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-04-15
crying way over there? Poor little

Yes, poor little thing. Go right
| along. I'm most through with this
| jam, and i can sew Il little on your
dress while you're gone. You can carry
the catnip over to Mis- Judd's after
| tea"
At Pete's, Hilary ate his slice of
squash pie under a big horse-chestnut
| tree. He took slow, reflective bites,
eying the disappearing wedge with dis
may. Over the last crumbs he remem-
bered his errand and managed to state
| it.
NO, I haven't got any just now,'
Pete's mother said. I'm real sorry.
1 let Ellen Mary take all mine home
with her for the babies. Wait-Pete!
Pete"
Pete was just driving out of the yard.
He drew rein. well, what is it? 2" he
asked.
you to stop at Hiram's and get some
catnip. If they haven't got any, go to
Mrs. Elnathan Spooner's-she drinks
catnip tea regularly. Drive real fast"
''All right, here she goes! Dinah, a
baby's got the collie; kiper, now!"
Dinah laid back her ears attentively,
then clattered down the hill. Pete's
mother turned TO Hilary.
"Now you've got rested, Hilary" she
said, briskly, you keep right on up
the road to Deacon Blinn's and see if
they haven't got some catnip. 1t won't
do any harm to try more'n one place,
and Pete won't be back this good while.
| can't bear to think there's a baby
suffering"
Hilary got up reluctantly. His round,
childish face assumed an injured look.
II amt had my supper" he lamented.
For the good lands sake, you poor
boy!" cried Pete's mother, laughing.
But don't dare to have you wait here
to get it. You hurry to the deacon 5
and ask him to send the catnip over
to Mis- Judd's by Jimmy. Then ask
Mis- Blinn to give you some supper.
Tell her [ told you to-"
After Hilary had disappeared Pete's
mother found an overlooked bunch of
catnip on her shelves.
wen, L utCIdI6. she CGlGCl. IL
have to carry it over myself; supper
dishes can wait better than coliclly
baby. l suppose l could hurry real
fast and get 'em out of the way first
no, l WON'T"
She got her second-best bonnet, tied
its faded-out strings under her chin
with precision, locked the kitchen door
and went to Mrs. Judd's.
During all this time little Mrs. Judd
sat by her sunny window and looked
out with homesick eyes. The fat, jol-
Iy baby On the floor at her feet gurgled
over his block houses.
In Mrs. Judd's lap was the beautiful,
silky-haired cat, Cherie, by name, being
nursed tenderly; for Cherie was sick.
Its your turn, Cherie. No, you
needn't look jealous, Babette! You're
not sick Poor kitty! poor kitty"
she caressed the cat with gentle fingers,
and rocked slowly.
The pretty room was full of little re-
filming, comfortable touches. y ray
of sunshine slanted across the baby's
moist, brown curls; but Mrs. judd
sweet face was very sober.
\ few weeks ago she and the baby
and Cherie had come to this new home
to wait for the baby's father to come
back from across the water, where
| business had called him. He would be
| gone a whole year. How could they
wait in this lonesome, forlorn place q
year?
Poor kitty! poor kitty" she muir
INJURED, gently, but a tear fell ints
Cherries thick, long fur and glistened
up at her proachfully.
''Babette, Babette! mammals going
to cry-come here quick and comfort
her!" she cried, unsteadily. Then she
put the cat down on the floor and got
down, too, beside her and the baby,
and cried with her head in the baby's
little lap.
BY and by some one knocked at the
front door, and Mrs. Judd lifted her
tumbled head in dismay. 20 Babette!"
she cried, what shall 1 do? I'm all
tumbled up and my eyes as red as two
beets! l wish you could go to the dooE
|
Me go, me CO. the little one cried
in delight; but his mother caught him
back hastily.
mo, no, mamma meant if you We're
a great big boy. You stay and build
bridge with Cherie."
Hope Stebbins and Petc's mother
stood at the door waiting. They both
had fat paper bags in their hands, and
Pete's mother held hers out to Mrs.
Judd.
II heard you wanted some catnip,
Mis- Judd, so l left my supper dishes
and brought this little mess of it right
over. It's real nice and fresh. How
is the poor little thing?'
Mrs. Judd took the bag eagerly. So
somebody thought of her after all?
a little warm spot in her heart sent
the blood into her pale face. How
kind you are!" she cried. Now you
are both coming in, aren't you? Oh,
please do! You can't think how lone
some I've been feeling this afternoon.
Right in this way, please. And you'll
take off your hats?"
"Oh, no." Hope Stebbins said, 81
| D,,1, rnt, anroCc n brinrr Won Spuna 40 l.