The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-23
20 @&
6
/ HIS MAJESTY s
|0 @G
100000 100000 100000 @ @@c9c90@

tnlil the Dus stopped ana Inc OLD
gentleman entered we had been "A con-
tented and>Genial company, travelling
from suburb into the city I'm high
good fellowship. and our absolute mor-
archy was Baby. His mother was evil
IDENTIFY the wife of a welJ-doing arts-
san. wise looking, capable. bonnie
young woman; and Baby was not a
marvel of attire, nor could he be called
beautiful. lie was dressed after care-
fui, tidy, comfortable fashion. and he
was clear-skinned, healthy child;
that IL all you would have noticed had
you met the two on the street.
In a bus where there IL nothing To do
for 40 minutes except stare into one an
others faces, a baby has the great
chance of his life, and this baby was
made TO seize II. He was not hungry,
and there were no pins about his
clothes. and nobody had made him
afraid, and he was by nature a human
soul. So he took us In hand one by
one till he had reduced US all to "A state
OF delighted subsection, TO the pretend
cd scandal aud secret pride of his
mother.
His first conquest was easy and
might have been discounted, for such
an onset there was no power OF ress-
-one OF the lower middles. fearfuly
stout,and, OF course, "A grandmother.
He simply looked at her--if he smiled,
that was thrown in for, without her
knowledge, her arms had begun 10
shape for his reception-so often had
children lain on that resting place.
Bless is little cart: IL do me good 60
see i'm" No one cared to criticise the
words. and we remarked TO ourselves
how the expression changes the counte-
naece. Not heavy or red. far less dull,
the proper adjective for that fare is
motherly.
The next passenger just above Gran
ME, is lady, young and pretty, and
mother. OF course: did you not see her
look Baby over. as an expert at her
sharpest? The mother rs conscious OF
inspection,an and adjusts ribbon his ma
jesty had toossed aside and then she
meekly awaited approval. For mo-
ment We were anxious. but that was
our foolishness. for I'm half minute the
lady's face relaxed, and she passed
Baby She leaned forward and asked
questions. and we overhead scraps of
technical detail: MY first IA
months six teeth al
ways Well" One was lady. the other
working woman: they had not met
before; they were not likely to meet
again, but they had forgotten strange
ness and differences in the common
bonds OF motherhood. Opposite me a
priest was sitting and saying his Of
fice but at this point his eye fell on the
mothers. and / thought his lips shaped
the words "Sanct Maria" before he
went on with the appointed portion.
Baby had wearied OF inaction and had
begun another campaign, and my heart
sank, for this time he courted defeat.
ON the other side of Grannie and with
in Baby's sphere of influence was a
man about whose profession there
could be little doubt, even IL he had not
had bag on his knee and were not
reading from parchment document.
After a long and serious consideration
OF the lawyers ciean-cut, an-shaven,
bloodless face, Baby leaned forward and
tapped gently on the deed and then.
when the keen face looked up i'm quick
inquiry, Baby replied with a smile of
roguish intelligence. as IL TO saw "By
the way. that parchment would make
an excellent drum; do you mind me-?
tune has just come into my head"
The lawyer. of course. drew away the
deed, and ffe-rHed- at the ipsolence OF
the thing. No he did not-there Is a
soul in lawyers If you know how TO find
IL. He smiled. Well il was not a first
rate smile but IL was genuine and the
next time he did ii better. and after
wards ii spread all over his face and
lighted up his eyes. He had never been
exposed in such a genial Irresistible
way before and so h eheld the drumand
Baby played a variation on Rule Bri-
tannia' with much spirit while Grannie
appealed for applause: IF he don't
play as well as the band in yde Park
of a Sunday
After well-deseryed rest OF forty
seconds. during which we wagged our
heads I'm wonder. Baby turned his at
tention to his right hand neghDor. and.
for the balance OF the minute. examined
her with compassion. An old mad
without question, with her disposition
written on the thin lips, and the hard
gray eyes. None Of US would care TO
trifle w.,n her. VIII ne dare? If ne
has not! That was his chief stroke OF
genius. and 1t deserved success-when.
with an expression or unaffected pity.
he put out his soft dimpled hand and
gently stroked her cheek acting as II
TO say. Poor thing. all alone. lone.
lone. I'm go sollv solly, rolly. so velly,
Nelly. velly solly." Did 1 say that her
win a mans heart and keep IL and that
her lips spoke OF patience and gentle
ness? TT did not, | repair my neglect.
She must have been a beautiful wom-
an in her youtn-no, no today. Just
when she incllnes her head and Baby
strokes her cheek again, and cooes:
Pretty, pretty pretty. and SO vely,
vely, velly good Was not that n
lovely flush on her cheek oh the fool
of man who might nave had that
lovel She opens a nea, little bag, and
as this is public affairs. we watched
without shame Quite so: she Is 90 be-
away all day, and has got frugal
luncheon. and--it's all. she can do I'm
return. Perhaps he can not eat Il.
don't Know. nor does she. Baby-ways |
are a mystery To her; but would he re-
fuse that biscuit? Not he: he makes an
immense to-do over II. and shows Il 90
his mother and to all his loyal subjects. |
and he was ready TO be kissed. but she
did not like To kiss him. Peace be with
thy shy. modest soul the Christ child |
come into thine heart,
Two passengers ON Baby's left had !
endured these escapades with patient |
and suffering dignity. When a boy is |
profoundly conscious that he is-weIl. !
n man, and yet a blind and unfeeling |
world conspires 90 treat him as--well. a |
child-he must protect himself and as |