The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-02-04
DAVID'S BABY.
Ely ELLA r. MOSBY.

This was the battling reply to Mrs.
Wilmot's question about the size of
Mrs. Browns boy. Mrs. Wilmot was
the minister's wife and Mrs. Brown
one of his outlying parishioners, a
mountaineer from one of the steepest
and widest peaks of the ridge. Her
husband had died in the great snow
storm of the past winter, and David, her
only boy, was her sole prop and stay.
Mrs. Wilmot thought a suit of clothes
would not come amiss, even if second
hand.
But what was "a common size for
boys? In Mrs. Wilmot's experience
they were Of all sorts and sizes. Her
mind reverted to Richard, her long boy,
and mis- Aunt Ellen's frequent entreaty:
Richard. my dear, Uncross a few Of
your legs." 10 Robin, a head shorter,
who was now crumpled up in 4 heap
over Stories of lion Hunting in South
Africa" and John, round, roly-poly
OF hoy-and she looked slightly per-
picked
Nom, he amt 10 say big, nor yit
small: he's Jest Common-siZed bog,
betwiXt and between"
Mrs. Wilmot, in despair, went after
the clothes, and saw by the delight Ill
his mothers eyes as soon as she saw
them that they might At least be worn
by David.
I'm mo- than thankful, ma am.
Her voice trembled, and Mrs. Wilmot
fastened to ask:
Haven't you a little girl, too?"
"Thar's two gals-Lucv. she's goin'
on seven, and the baby; the folks calls
her 'David's baby he's so good
with her. l never sec a boy so TUX up
with baby befo'. She amt mite of
trouble when he's round" and her
hard-worked, thin. worn face looked
quite illumined by her smile of pride
and delight
Robin let hi2 book fail. care there
any bears on Priests mountain" he
asked, suddenly.
"Oh, nonsense" said his mother; b,lt
Mrs. Brown answered seriously:
EFF it's a mild winter, mebbe YOU
FOI q S(t bIlN, l]ul' Ill al lOliS II tNIN
they'll come right low down the noun
tain. They don't girerally attack hui
snans; The damage they does mostly is
20 young creettHrs-pigs and sc"h
7hings. I seed one myself; twas in the
SUMMER, too, three or fo' years ago;
and don't want to see another
"TelI me about it" said Robin, COM
ing over TO the clair next hers.
<'Well, twas Il long, hoo spell, and id
gone out to git blackberries. Mos of
@cm was leetlc and dry with the drouth,
but Jest above my head on a long ledge
Of rocks | see big clump OF briers, all
hanging with berries, big juicy berries,
N shiny ~ silk. | kin see 'em
row. put my hand out to
pull the nearest branch down, and
then hecrd 9lrowl-uhere aim much
more unpleasant noises than grow.
or hiss. in the woods, | kin tell ye!
Thar stood a big bar just on 'tother
side q the black berries, shown his
teeth in an ugly sort o grin. | didn't
stop to have no words bout the berries
in fact, there was mighty few berries
in nay basket when got home, came
so fast. Them was the finest berries on
the mountain" she added, regretfully:
big and shiny and sweet-looltin, and
Jest burstin' with juice; and hadn't
fairly techcd 'em when | heard that
growl."
"Would he have showed fight if you
had stayed" inquired Robin. eagerly.
Mrs. Browns eyes twinkled.
81 didn't keer to argy point with
him" she answered.
what other wild beasts live near
you?" pursued Robin in tone of posi-
tive envy.
why, squirrels and possums and
foxes, and wildcatS-it do sound mighty
lonesome TO hear EN- cry! 1reckon tine
woods is right full o. prowlin' varmints
after nightfall."
But YOU have Dave TO take care of
YOU" said Mrs. Wilmot
"Ycs'm: and he's tolerable strong
fur IA boy. He kin shoot, too, mos ez
well cz his uncle. He's been tallin'
David out huntin' with him this spring
and summer"
A few weeks after this talk David
hustled into the mountain cabin at
shutdown" in great excitement.
Hello, Sissy!"-to Lucy 49, there,
houey!'-to the baby. who was laugh
ing and gurgling with delight to see
him--"Brother will take you in a min
ute-jest CT soon ez he kin wash his
hands"
David Brown was a plain, freckled
faced boy, so tanned that his skin was
several shades darker than his faXen
hair and pale eyes; but the sweetness
and good humor of his homely face
made it pleasant sight to more than
"Dayid's baby Everybody on the
mountain liked David, from the gruff
mountaineers themselves down to their
ours that snapped and snarled at almost
everyone else. AS he whistled to the
baby, who was now changing her rap
furious noises to a more imperative de-
mand. Spot, his own "yaller dog"
watched his every movement with his
Keen, blinking eyes, and the black kit
ten, a recent stray, rubbed itself be-
tween his legs with satisfied purr, and
gazcd up into his face with its yellow
ish-Grccn opals.