Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-01-20
STARS.
By RAM KENNEDY.


and that, "up to the eyes" in work.
The maid and temporarily engaged
assistant superintendent operations
over a steaming tub; Mrs. jameson
and her sister Caroline lent them
an occasional hand, devoting the re-
mainder of their time to cooking,
securing, cleaning and the hundred
and one matters of domestic neces-
sity; tradesmen, with that unerring
instinct of their kind which always
prompts their visits on the most in
convenient day, made frequent de-
mands upon the door; the children,
home for awhile, were busy too, for
this was washday in the house OF
Jameson.
The baby sat solemn and silent in his
tiny chair, securely tied thereto by a
disused pair of his fathers braces.
Scattered on the floor around him
were toys and picture-books, on his
lap lay slice of bread and jam, a
broad red trail of the latter indicating
a direct path over bib and chin toward
his mouth. He turned large and
listless eye upon the surrounding
hustle.
Baby Is quiet to-day" sail Mrs.
jameson once, glancing casually to-
ward him.
"Yes; he's thinking OF something
not even eating his bread and jam"
Ibid UNI sit and finka-flnk?" This TO
the child, with a seductive waggle of
finger.
But baby sat motionless, gazing cow
like with his eyes. He did not even
say "Goo-goo!"
At that moment the maid came IN
from the scullery, bearing with her
a steamy atmosphere and an unwhole-
some odor of soap. In her arms was
ponderous basket of damp linen
fresh from the wringing; this she de-
posted with thud upon the floor.
I've done this lot, ma'am," she
said IAN I'm almost ready 10 start
on the coloreds. I'll put this here a
minute while l go and get my line
out. Hope it'll be fine day for the
drying"
Mrs. jameson stood al rest for a mo-
ment and surveyed the bulky basket
before her. She sighed. 1t was the
dream of her life that at some happy
far-off day her good man should earn
just that little more-than-enough
which would warrant her In putting
out her washing. But now she was
middle-aged, and the dream had not
yet come; when 1t came-years later
1T had lost it's value, for her good
man was gone.
mo, don't put the basket there"
she said, its in the way. Put 1t
where baby is. and move him into the
corner"
did ums have to be put in a corner
like a bad boy?" said the maid, as
she followed out her mistress instruc-
tons.
The baby remained as impressive as
ever.
Suddenly a miracle occurred. The
lamp-oil nan having arrived and de-
livered himself Of his odoriferous bur
den, it became again necessary for
Mrs jameson to pause from her la
bors TO pay him. For this purpose she
went to the cupboard, wherein she
kept the sundry little boxes that
served her for bookkeeping, and, draw
ing one forth, she presently poured
into her hand a tiny shower Of change.
This comprised several coins OF the
smallest sort, but one of them stood
out royalty from the rcst-a bright
coppery beauty flashing with the
sunshine. II was new halfpenny.
The child's eyes glistened de-
sirously.
"Gi-gi!" he said, which, being In
terpreted, is "Give."
But this remark remained unheard
amid the hustle; and it was not until
the lamp-oi man had received his due,
and the coins-bright halfpenny as
well-had been restored to their little
box and cupboard that Mrs. jameson
became aware of the child's restless
ness.
"Halloo, little mamie! What 90
want now?"
"Gi-gi!" This with an imperious
wave of hand.
"Gi-gi? Oh, he wants his picture
book. Give him il. Caroline"
And Mrs. jameson, turning away,
began TO scour n saucepan.
But baby had no JOY of his picture
book. On top of his bread and jam it
lay unhecded. its crude. gaudy illus
trations seeming rs naught beside
that golden glorious something he
had momentarily seen flash across his
COSMOS
Ni-gi!" he cried plaintively.
Perhaps it's his gee-gee h" wants"