The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-06-25
DAVID's' BABY.
BY ELLA f. MOSBY.

"1e's jest common-sized boy.
ma'am."
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,
mountaineer from one of the steepest
md 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 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 1egs!" to Robin, head shorter.
who was now crumpled up in heap
over "Stories of Lion Hunting in South
Africa" and John, a round, roly-poly
of a boy-and she looked slightly per-
| picked.
Nom, he amt to say big, nor yit
small; he's jest q common-sized boy,
betwixt 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
by David.
"I'm mo- than thankful, ma'am."
/ TT 111
fastened to ask:
Haven't you 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-worled, thin, worn face looked
quite illumined by her smile of pride
and delight.
Robin let his book fall. care there
any bears on Priests mountain?" he
asked, suddenly.
"Oh, nonsense!" said his mother; but
Mrs. Brown answered seriously:
EFF it's 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 hui
mans; the damage they does mostly is
to young creeturs-pigs and sech
things. seed one myself; twas in the
summer, too, three or fo' years ago;
and 1 don't want to see another"
Tell me about it," said Robin, COM
ing over to the chair next hers.
well, twas long, hot spell, and I'd
gone out to git blackberries. Mos of
'em was leetle and dry with the drouth,
but jest above my head on a long ledge
of rocks 1 see big clump of briers, all
hanging with berries, big juicy berries,
ez shiny ez silk. 1 kin see 'em
now. put my hand out to
pull the nearest branch down, and
then heerd n growl-there amt much
more unpleasant noises than growl
or hiss, in the woods, Kin tell ye!
Thar stood q big bar just on 'tother
side o. the blackberries, 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, I came
so fast. Them was the finest berries on
the mountain" she added, regretfully;
big and shiny and sweet-lookin', and
jest burstin' with juice; and hadn't
fairly teched 'em when l heard that
growl."
would he have showed fight if you
had stayed?" inquired Robin, eagerly.
| AIrS RroXvu'S auaS fNyiuklah
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-itd do sound mighty
lonesome to hear 'em cry! Ireckon the
woods is right full O. prowlin' yarmints
after nightfall."
But you have Dave to take care of
you," said Mrs. Wilmot.
"Yes'm; and he's tolerable strong
fur a boy. He kin shoot, too, mos cz
well ez his uncle. He's been talSin'
David out huntin' with him this spring
and summer"
A few weeks after this talk David
hustled into the mountain cabin at
'sundown" in great excitement.
Hello, Sissy!"-to Lucy - there,
honey!'-to the baby, who was laugh
ing and gurgling with delight to see
him-''Brother will take you in min
ute-jest ez 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 flaxen
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
turous noises to n 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
gazed up into his face with its yellow
ish-green opals.
you've got some news, David" said
his mother, bringing out the meal and u
sitter.
"You are the beatin'est one to guess,
mother!" exclaimed David, admiringly.
| "I've got n lob. Mr.. Jones wants me