Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
CALEB'S WAKEFUL NIGHTS.
hold ON the Occasion of the
First Snow.

First snow.
From the New York Sun.
There is one kind of insomnia that I
don't find in the books said Mr.. Penguin,
though it is, II not as old as the hills,
at least as old as mankind. That is the
insomnia that is brought upon us by the
wakefulness of children: and don't refer
now by any means to the t~ime-honored
wakeful infant that we walk the floor with
nights, and that sort of thing, but to
youngsters, say, Of the age of my Caleb,
who is s..
o'clock and sleeps beautifully until Z or s
the next morning; but occasionally he gets
a yakeful streak: and then Mrs. Penguin
for us until 3 CLOCK in the morning. 1t may
be some perfectly simple ~thing-or simple
to most people-that keeps Caleb awake.
ness was the seasons first snow storm.
That made II great impression on Caleb
and filled him with delight. He was more
afan pleased, not alone over the prospect
marvellous snow itself. l doubt if we older
people can realize, in our maturer years.
the impression made upon children by the
wondrous spectacle of the falling snow.
Well, it was showing when Caleb went
to bed. and after his mother had tucked
MIN in and kissed him good night and left
himself. Usually he turns over on his side
and goes to sleep in about Il minute or a
minute and a half at the outside. but that
night. he just lay there and sung to him.
self: ne was very quiet in his manner. but
he was all keyed up just the same, and
sure to lie there awake, with brief inter-
vals or DOING. until } O'clock in the morn
ing. He keeps very still, though, now, for
he doesn't want to disturb you, and he's
stopped singing long ago, and he hears you
when you are going to bed at 10 o'clock,
and he asks what he means shall be his
only question. for then he's going TO sleep.
When you do he doesn't want to disturb
you:
Is it showing yet?'
emphasis, with an interest of your own in
the snow. or one caught from him:
And that starts Caleb to singing again,
but he stops soon and quiet settles down
and We al go to sleep; or, as it turns out.
gradually breaks in on us:
Nom! nom! nom! mom,'
That's little Caleb calling to his mother.
and calling as gently as he can, but with
ASKS, 'w fsss. ,im Mh is IT. : i! The e eleef st Gasss
az he mo speaks. Il. Eleven o'clock. Caleb,
Caleb tries to. but finds he can't. and pres
emily begins to whistle very softly to him
self; but it's plain enough for US all, and
we settle down now to wait for Caleb.
When he dozes We get ready to. or we
may even doze off ourselves. but in a min
ute we hear the soft w,histling again. and
SSSNh
Nom. NOM nom! nom"
And when Nom says:
VIVA is 1t, Caleb?' Caleb SAYS:
~ tell you what I'd like for Christmas.
Mom.'
What is it. Caleb?' his mother asks, and
Caleb says:
"A new sled:' and then he goes on to
tell with great detail what sort of a sled
he wants. And his mother listens patients
~ al! the way through, until Caleb, fear
full that she has not heard it all, winds
Up with Hey. mom?' and Nom says All
right. Caleb. now you so to sleep And
Caleb tries again and compromises this
time with soft singing.
AT l o'clock he announces that he can't
go to sleep.
oh, yes you can.' his mother tells
him. ~
II keep thinking of the snow Storm
says Caleb.
".oh, WELL his mother tells him. Won
go to sleep and you'll forget all about
But at 2 o'clock Caleb asks, is it snow
iEg yet? And YOU, hearing the wintry
blast as 1t sweeps against the window. an.
swer. but with more calmness this time:
Then a period of quiet. and then more
low whistling and singing: and finally. at
} a. M: .
What time is it now and you tell
him. - wv "
Three o'clock
And then Caleb goes to Sleep"