Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-02-06
DAvlD's BABY.
ny ELLA Fl. MosBx.

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, n
rnountaineer from one of the steepest
nnd widest peaks of the ridge. Her
husband had died in the greet snow
storm of the pnst winter, and David, her
only boy, was her sole prop and stay.
Mrs. Wilmot thought q suit of clothes
would not come amiss, even If second
hand.
But what was "a common size" for
boys2 In Mrs. Wilmot's experience
they were of all sorts and sizes. Her
mind reverted to Richard, her long boy,
and his Aunt Ellen's frequent entreaty:
~Richard, 10y dear, uncross few of
your legs!" to Robin, a head shorter,
who was now crumpled up in a heap
over "Stories of lion Hunting in South
Africa" and John, n round, roly-poly
of boy-and she looked slightly per-
picked.
'rNo'm, he amt TO say big, nor yit
small; he's jest q common-sized boy,
Sbetwixt and between"
Mrs. Wilmot, in despair, went after
the clothes, and saw by the delight IN
his mothers eyes as soon as she saw
them that they might at least be worn
Ny David.
"Fm mo- than thankful, ma'em."
Her voice trembled, and Mrs. Wilmot
FASTENED to ask:
Haven't you a little girl, too?"
"Thar's two gals-Lucy, she's goin'
on seven. and the baby; the folks calls
her 'David's baby he's so good-natured
with her. i never see boy so TUX up
with baby befo. She amt mite of
trouble when he's 'round;" and her
hard-worlSed, thin, worn face looked
quite illumined by her smile of pride
and delight.
Robin let his book fall. "Are there
eny bears on Priests mountainP" he
asked, suddenly.
'Oh, nonsense!" said his mother; b1t
AIRS. Brown answered seriously:
EFF it's a mild winter, mebbe you
won't see one; but in long freeze
they'll come right low down the noun
tain. They don't ginerally attack hu-
nnans; the damage they does mostly is
ito young creetIrs-pigs and sech
things. 1 seed one myself; twas in the
summer, too, three or fo' years ago;
and I don't want to see another"
"Tell me about it," said Robin, COM
ipg over to the chair next hers.
'''Well, twas long, hot spell, and I'd
fgone out to git blackberries. Mos of
'em was leetle and dry with the drouth,
but jest above my head on a long ledge
4, Of rocks 1 see big clump OF briers, all
hanging with berries, big juicy berries,
~ shiny ez silk. kin see 'em
now. I put my hand out to
pull the nearest branch down, and
then heerd growl-there ain't much
more unpleasant noises than grow!
or hiss, in the woods, I kin tell vel
Thar stood big bar just on 'tother
side o. the blackbeTies, showin' 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 my basket when got home, came
so fast. Them was the finest berries on
che mountain" she added, regretfully;
@'big and shiny and sweet-lookin', and
fest burstin' with juice; and hadn't
fairly teched 'em when I heard that
growl."
"Would ne have showed fight if you
had stayed?" inquired Robin, eagerly.
Mrs. Browns eyes twinkled.
81 didn't keer to argy a point with
him." she answered.
''What other wild beasts live near
your" pursued Robin in tone of posi-
tive envy.
''Why, squirrels and possums and
-cxes, and wildcats-it do sound mighty
.gol 'me tohear 'em cry! Ireckon the
syeu3s hit full O. prowlin' varmints
l'ai y,p r Paw, to take care of
you, I'D Ni'ro'
"Yes'm; .,04 ls .cr-d5a -rong
fur boy. He i.l aa-s ca,. rns ~
well ez his uncle. Hes been Jaa'
David out huntin' with him tlis spring
and summer"
A few weeks after this talk DaviL
bustled into the mountain cabin at
~'sundown" in great excitement.
"Hello, Sissy!'-to Lucy there,
honeyl"-to the baby, who was laugh
Ing and gurgling with delight to see
him-"Brother will take you in min
ute-jest CT soon ez he kin wash his
hands"
David Brown was 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
-'David's baby" Everybody on the
mountain liked David, from the gruff
nnountaineers themselves down to their
'curs that snapped and snarled at almost
everyone else. AS he whistled to the
baby, who was now changing her rap
EurOus noises to more imperative de-
mand, Spot, his own "yaller, dog"
watched his every movement with his
nSeen hiinltinO evas and tha b1ac1s lit.