The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-11-02
The infant DAMOSEL ABROAD
BY Helen Follett.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With a confding chug-chug and a
spirited snort the Duluth express drew
cut of the depot, taking with it Wah and
me and the baby, together with innumer-
able valises, umbrellas, small parcels and
box of crackerjack. Wah is baby's
greataunt, her sweet given name Mary
being thus contorted by the blessed spal
peen.
1t was close to 10 o'clock, two big full
hours after the time that Mr.. Sandman
usually knocks at the kitchen door and
asks if baby is asleep. All the way to the
train the soft turquoise eyes had been
hiding behind their trembling, dropping,
blinking little shutters, but when we
climbed into the sleeper drowsiness few
like birds before an army of boys. A
kiss or two for fodder" a promise to
mind mudder and be good durl," and
our household image Of joy and sweet.
ness began her round of investigation and
inspection
She climbed into the berth and looked
about her.
What do they put ceilings on their
beds for?" she asked.
'That ceiling is another bed" au-
swered. Just about the time we are
going to sleep a big fat man will climb up
there to roost and roast for the night"
"Ohr"
"And after we 60 to sleep his shoes
will fall down and awaken us and scare
us out of our seven senses. And in the
middle of the night he will snore and
snore and snore"-
what will he do that FORT"
"I'm sure I don't know" confessed I,
"except that it is the accepted manner Of
fat men,"
"What makes him fat?"
THAT'S more than I know, my dar-
ling"
Maybe the sandman gets after him
and makes him go to sleep early. And
maybe he drinks lots Of milk. II drink
milk, will snore, mudderw
"Um"-
''Mudder, want drink"
"Yes, dear"
"What did you push that button forT'
''To tell the porter to get you a drink"
ooh! But where will he get it?'
"Out of a tank"
"a tank on the roof like we have at
home that leaks down through the kitch-
en- and has to be mendedP'
81 guess So"
"Mudder, what makes the cars GOT"
"The engine. Don't you think you'd
better so to sleep"
"No; I'd rather stay up and look out
the window. Mudder, why is it that now
you see tree and house and then you
don't see them and see something else I"
''Oh, hush! I'm tired. Go to sleep
like good girl"
swell, mudder, the sandman can't
catch me here, can he? We're going too
fast, aren't we"
81 don't know"
Pause.
''Mudder, can't I 60 and sleep with
Wahp'
"No, Of course not. Wah is asleep"
"Mudder, where did you put my dolly 2"
ssIn the trunk"
ooh! Boo-ool Boo-ooo-oohP'
whats the matter now?"
''She won't have any fresh airi Whers
where's my little woody dog?"
"He's with the dolly"
Soft mutterings from other berths. A
clear strong tenor remark about idiots
who travel with children.
"Mudder, don't like this bed. It's
bad bed. 1t hurts my feet"
Silence on my part.
"Mudderw
"Yes-s-s," very sleepily.
aid like to see Thora and the little ca
nary bird"
"Now see here. daughter, you be moth
er's sweet thing and 60 to sleep like
little honey, and in the morning you can
go with Wah and me into the dining car
and eat breakfast"
"I'l be good. Mudder, can I have
mushmelon?"
"Yes'-
"And shredded wheat bixset?"
"Yes-s-s."
sand ice cream"
"No. Go to sleep"
: ooh, mudder" very reproachfully.
Pause.
'Mudder, one time when me and Ora
was playing sleeping car fell off the
bed and hurt myself. Wasn't that aw-
ful?"
Eyes. dear"
"Ora's little Germese girl, isn't she?"
"You mean German, don't your"
"But we're Americans, amt weT
"Uh-huh. Go to Sleep"
Long pause.
"Mudder, know lady that's got the
hooking cough
go to Sleep"
"Mudder, you love your little baby
girl. don't you"
eyes, but 1 wish she'd go to Sleep"
Another pause.
"Can have pancakes in the breakfast
cara"
eyes"
"Longer pause. Then:
"Well, dog-gone fodder anyhow. He
only kissed me three times"
And after that sweet quiet ruled. In
the morning when a rosy dawn crept
stealthily and softly about the edge of
the window shade I looked upon that
precious child and wondered what God
gave to babies that made them SO brim-
ful Of queries. The dimpled hands, the
pretty mouth, the full, rose velvet
cheeks, the fluff Of golden curls. Why,
she looked like a big bisque doll baby,
with never a suggestion Of talking ma
china ipSido -Thica on Timaa. HaraId