The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-01-29
SMisocllanenus.
DAVID'S BABY.
BY ELLA +. MOSBY.

He's just a common-sized boy;
ma am
This was the battling reply to Mrs.
Wiimot's questions 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
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. WilmoS thought suit of
clothes would not come umiss, even if
secondhand.
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 his Aunt EIlen's frequent en-
treaty; Richard, my dear; uncross
few of your legs ~ to Robin, q head
shorter, who was now crumpled up i'll
a heap over Stories of Lion Hunting
in South Africa" aid John, round.
roly-poly of a boy-and she looked
slightly perplexed.
Nom, he amt to say big, nor yit
small, he's jest IL common-sjzed boy,
betwixt and between"
w
the clothes, and saw by the delight in
his mothers eye us soon as she saw
them, that they might at least be
worn by David.
I'm mo- than thankful, ma am
Her voice trembed, and Mrs. Wilmot
FASTENED to ask:
Haven't you little girl, too -
"Thar's two girls-Lucy, she's goin'
on seven, and the baby; the folks calls
her 'David's BIby,' he's so goo|-na
tured with her. l never see boy so
TUX up with Il baby befo'. She ain
a mite of trouble when he's round
and her hard worked, thin, worn face
looked quite illumined by her smile of
pride aud delight.
Robin let his book fall. Are there
any bears on Priests Mountain :" he
asked, suddenly.
"Oh, nonsense :" said his mother;
but Mrs. Brown answered, seriously
EFF it's Il mild winter, mebbe you
won't see ole; but in a long freeze
they'll come right low down the
mountain. They dom ginerally attack
humans, the damage they does mostly
is to young creatures-pigs and sach
things. | seed one myself; twas in
summer too, three or TO years ago;
and | don't want ter 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
drought; but jest above by head on
long ledge of rocks l see big clump
of briers, all hanging with berries, big
Juicy berries, ez shiny ez silk. | kin
see 'em now, ez pretty ez any picter.
put my hand out to pull the nearest
branch down and then heerd a growl
there amt much more unpleasant
noises than a growl or hiss, in the
woods, l kin tell ye. Thar stood
big bar just on 'tother side o. the
lackberries, shown his teeth in an
ugly sort O. grin: l didn't stop to
have no words bout the berries-in
fac, there was mighty few berries in
nv basket when l got home, | came
so fast. Them was the finest berries
on the mountain she added, regret
fully; "big and shiny and sweet-look-
in, and jest burstin' with juice; and |
hadn't fairly fetched 'em Yh,n l
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 pint with
him." she answered.
What other wild beasts live near
you ~ pursued Robin, in tone of pos
tive envy.
"Why, squirrels and 'possums and
foxes, and wildcats-it do sound
mighty lonesome to hear 'em cry! |
reckon the woods is right full O. prowl
in varmints arter nightfall.'
But you have David to take care
of YOU" said Mrs. Wilmot.
'iYes'm; and he's toleraL lie strong
fur boy. He kin shoot, tC o, mos ez
well ez his uncle. He's been takin'
| David out huntin' with him this
spring and summer"
A few weeks after this t. TX David
hustled into the mountain cabin at
"sundown" in great excitement.
Hello, Sissy ito Lucy-''there,
honey!"-to the baby, who was laugh
| ing and gurgling with delight to see
him-jest ez soon ez he kin wash his
hands.
David Brown was a plain, freckle
| 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 a pleasant sight to more than
'David's baby" Everybody on the
mountain liked David, from the gruff
mountaineers themselvesdown to their
ours that snapped and snarled at al
most every one else. As he whistled
to the baby, who was now changing
| her rapturous noises to more impera-
tive demand, Spot, his own "yaller
dog" watched his every movem ent
with his keen, blinking eyes, and the
| black kitten, recent stray, rubbed
] itSaalf hatwenn his lens with q Satisfied