The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-09-24


ON the floor.
Mama" dissented the child, wav-
ing it aside.
Look at the pretty tail wagging."
But no, the horse was but wooden.
1t could not glitter like little disk |
of sunshine.
The bucolic looking doll, the tin en-
CINE, even the railway truck-more
dearly loved for it's lack of wheels
could not compensate for the vanished
halfpenny. They were but the COM
panions of earth, the well-known COM
mon joys of every day; the halfpenny
was vision, miracle, no earthly thing.
"I'm afraid he's not very well" said
Mrs. Jameson anxiously; 81 don't like
him to look so heavy about the eyes"
eyes, and don't you remember he
looked like that just before he had the
measles?" added Caroline.
Hes been so quiet all the morning"
said the maid, "it's not like him."
"Gi-gi!" cried the child.
At this point Mr.. Jameson entered,
and attention was diverted toward din
ner. This was of the usual wash-day
order-a Uncomfortable spread of
remnants, eaten haphazard to a scent
Of soap suds. The hungry man glanced
impatiently around, a slight shade Of
annoyance passing across his features.
The male mind cannot readily grasp
the inwardness of wash-day, and Mr..
Jameson was no exception. ''Why
cannot these things be altered some
how?" he thought. "Never mind; one
Of these days!"
The dream frightened his face once
again. He bent affectionately and kiss
ed his wife.
Sister Caroline, poor, ugly, helpful
old sister, looked on and sighed quietly.
She, too, had had her dream.
After dinner the busy wash still
continued, but by now it's back was
well broken, and signs of its event
ual subsistence were in the air. The
white linen was all out on the line,
drying as fast as a steady breeze and
fair sun could manage; the "coloreds"
that distressful after-dribble Of wash
days tide-were well on to compile
ton; the tradesmen were less frequent,
and, surest sign Of all, there were hints
|
can find compensation in potato cake.
"And the little mamie shall have q
; wee brown cake all to himself
J crooned Mrs. Jameson, imparting to
baby's dumpy body an affectiOnate
wriggle-secret only known of moth
ers!
"Gi-gi!" The glistening eyes still
} held the dazzle of that sometime glory
they had caught.
: "I'm sure he is sickening for some.
thing" said Mrs. Jameson; 81 don't
like this flush on his poor little
} cheeks"
= The child moved restlessly. His head
ached and there was hot sense Of
) discomfort about his eyes. All day hi
had felt i'll, but not being able to cor
: rectly sort out his little sensations ht
= had relapsed into that pathetic alb
= straction which seems to be the refuge
]. of babyhood under such circumstances
} Then had come the glittering coin-ar
incarnate thing of desire, giving poin
and form to his distress; and now
amid the feverish restlessness that wal
growing upon him. it still shOne on
|
as the thing hoped for, the dream goal
the resolution of his suffering. Chilli
epitome of grown mankind, he LITTLE
guessed his kinship with every wemal
that bore babe, every poet that eve
sang from breaking heart, every wear!
worker, man and woman, that eve
lived, and desired and struggled AM
seemed to lose; nay, he did not know
that at the portals of his tiny hear
were beating the strong wings of tn
Son of God Himself.
Presently the woeful wash subsidized
all the clothes were gathered in from
the drying, ready for the mangle; tn
kitchen, freshly cleaned and sanded
became cheerful once again, and tn
long looked for tea time arrived-pO
o tato cakes and all.
= But baby by now was i'll indeed, an
r the doctor had been sent for. It wa
|, not a very serious ailment, only on
a of the timer tragedies of babyhood
= which mean a few days hectic cheeks
/. a cough, a tired mothers sleeples
n nights-little things, yet these littl
+ things press sorely upon the heart.
" "Gi-gi!" Still the plaintive cry.
It was a short time after this tina
7. Mrs. Jameson, having occasion to &
= once more to the small box of chang
in the cupboard, brought out the yer
d halfpenny of the child's desire. In tn
il lamplight it shone like a star. Bah
3, had refused every other offering in
IS tended to divert him; with motherl
e craft Mrs. Jameson made one othe
n venture.
L mSee habv." she said. holding I'D th