The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-06-08
DAvIDS BABY.


ma'am.
This was the battling reply to Mrs.
Wiimot's question about the size OF
Mrs. Browns boy. Mrs. WilmOt was
the minister's wife and Mrs. Brown
one of his outlying parishioners,
mountaineer from one of the steepest
and widest peaks of the ridge. Her
husband had died in the great snow
storm OF. the past winter, and David, her
only boy, was her sole prop and stay.
Mrs. Wilmot thought suit of clothes
would not come amise, even if second
hard.
But what was ga common size" for
bows? In Mrs. WilmOt's experience
they were of all sorts and sizes. Her
mind reverted to Richard, her long boy,
and his Aunt Ellen's frequent entreaty:
Richard, my dear, uncross q few OF
your legs!' to Robin, head shorter,
who was now crumpled up in heap
over "Stories of Lion Hunting in South
Africa" and John, a round, roly-poly
of boy-and she looked slightly per-
picked.
Nom, he amt to say big, nor yit
small; he's jest q common-sized boy,
betwixt and between"
Mrs. Wilmot, in despair, went after
the clothes, and saw by the delight in
his mothers eyes as soon as she saw
them that they might at least be worn
by David.
I'm mo- than thankful, ma'am.'
Her voice trembled, and Mrs. Wilmot
FASTENED to ask:
Haven't you little girl, too?"
"Thar's two gals-Lucy, she's goin'
on seven, and the baby; the folks calls
her 'David's baby he's so good-natured
with her. 1 never see boy so TUX UP
with baby befo'. She amt mite of
trouble when he's 'round;" and her
bard-worked, thin, worn face looked
quite llumined by her smile of pride
and delight.
Robin let his book fall. "Are there
any bears on Priests mountain" he
asked, suddenly.
'Oh;nonsense!" said his mother; but
Mrs. Brown answered seriously:
EFF it's mild winter, mebbe you
won't see one; but in a long freeze
they'll come right low down the noun
tain. They don't ginerally attack hui
mans; the damage they does mostly is
to young creeturs-pigs and sech
things. I seed one myself; twas in the
summer, too, three or TO years ago;
and / don't want to see another"
"Tell me about it," said Robin, COM
ing over to the chair next hers.
''Well, twas long, hot spell, and I'd
gone out to git blacl<berries. Mos OF
'em was leetle and dry with the drouth,
but jest above my head on. long ledge
of rocks 1 see big clump of briers, all
hanging with berries, big juicy berries,
ez shiny 'ez silk. 1 kin see 'em
now. 1 put my hand out to
pull the nearest branch down, and
then heerd growl-there amt much
more unpleasant noises than a growl
or hiss, in the woods, kin tell We!
Thar stood big bar just on 'tother
side o. the blackbcrries, shown his
teeth in an ugly sort O. grin. didn't
stop to have no words bout the berries
in fact, there was mighty few berries
in my basket when got home, came
so fast. Them was the finest berries on
the mountain" she added, regretfully;
big and shiny and sweet-lookin', and
Jest burstin' with juice; and I hadn't
fairly teched 'em when I heard that
growl." SO
Would he have showed fight if you
had stayed?" inquired Robin, eagerly.
Mrs. Browns eyes twinkled.
II didn't keer to argy point with
him." she answered.
what other wild beasts live near
you?" pursued Robin in tone of posi-
tive envy.
"Why, squirrels and possums and
foxes, and wildcats-it do sound mighty
lonesome to hear 'em cry! Ireckon the
woods is right full O. prowlin' varmints
after nightfall."
''But you have Dave to take care of
you," said Mrs. Wilmot.
"Yes'm; and he's tolerable strong
fur boy. He kin shoot, too, mos OF
well ez his uncle. He's been talxin'
David out huntin' with him this spring
and summer"
A few weeks after this talk David
hustled into the mountains cabin at
shutdown" in great excitement.
Hello, Sissy!"-to Lucy = s'there,
honey!"-to the baby, who was laugh
ing and gurgling with delight to see
him-"Brother will take you in min
ute--jest cz soon ez he kin wash his
hands,
David Brown was a plain, freckled-
faced boy, so tanned that his skin was
several shades darker than his faxen
hair and pale eyes; but the sweetness
and good humor of his homely face
made it pleasant sight to more than
"David's baby" Everybody on the
mountain liked David, from the gruff
mountaineers themselves down to their
ours that snapped and snarled at almost
everyone else. AS he whistled to the
baby, who was now changing her rap
furious noises to a more imperative de-
mand, Spot, his own, 'syaller dog"
watched his every movement with his
keen, blinking eyes, and the black kit
ten, recent stray, rubbed itself be-
tween his legs with satisfied purr, and
gazed up into his face with its yellow
ish-green opals.
You've got some news, David" said
his mother, bringing out the meal and a
sitter.
You are the beatin'est one to guess.
mother!" exclaimed David, admiringly.
I've got a job. Mr.. Jones wants me
to help him drive his cattle down to the
station tomorrow, and he'll give me q
mans pay if we have 'em there on tine
and in good condition. Ne ami Snot-ll