The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-03-17
BABY sigl


The last half of forty-mile ride is
not likely to be as much fun as the
first half. That is what the little Tod
hunters were thinking. For the last
mile 1t had been very quiet indeed In
"Gradpa Tod's" big surrey. Then
Katharine broke the silence with
great sigh that could be distinctly
heard above the gentle clitter-clatter
OF the wheels and the thuds of Bonni-
bells hoofs. They were passing a bit
Of a lonely, implanted house. There's
a baby in that house." mamma said.
suddenly, and her sweet voice was as
CHEEKY as il she were not tired at all.
"Where?' l don't see one." Eric said.
"On the clothes line!" laughed man.
ma, pointing to row of tapping lit
tie dresses. II can always tell which
are the baby houses, Monday after
moons! And always look. like to
find the little wet petticoats and shirts.
and when don't find them I'm always
sorry for that housed" why, l never
looked" said Katharine. Nor !"
Eric chimed in. Grandpa Tod
laughed. I'm seventy-two years old,
and never looked. I'm going to begin
now" Som II" And T." "Anj
me. too" It was the tiniest little Tod
hunter who said that. and they all
laughed. She had just walked up and
everybody knew she hadn't the least
idea what she was saying me. too"
to! At the next house there were no
little Tapping clothes on the line; but
Grandpa Tod nodded his gray head
decisively. There's baby in that
house." he said. why Grandpa Tod.
/ don't see a sign of one!" Eric cried.
as there?" he added. politely. Il see
a sign" and grandpa let Bonnibei
walk past the pretty white house very
slowly. Mamma smiled. She saw the
sign, too. Then Katharine saw 1t.
Its that board nailed cross the
kitchen door, to keep him from tum-
bling out!" she cried; and at the
sound of her voice small brown head
and two round brown eyes appeared
above the board. We'll. then, why
don't they wash his clothes?" re-
marked Eric, gravely. After that they
looked at all the houses for baby
signs. 1t was great fun. The first
one they passed that had no sign" at
all, Katharine's bright little face
clouded over. I'm sorry for that
housed" she murmured. Sometimes
it was a battered dolly, sometimes
little cart, or chair, or baby carriage
Sometimes one discovered the sign.
and sometimes another. More often
than not, 1t was on the clothes-line
they found It. There's baby there
-hark!" said mamma. and they all
listened Some one inside the open
screen door was singing in low, mo-
notonous, sweet Groom. Hes just go
ing to Sleep" whispered Katharine
Drive soft, grandpa" At another
house, Grandpa Tod discovered the
Sign" and such queer one! Even
mamma couldn't find it. you sure,
Grandpa Tod?" Eric cried. There's
the sign," was all grandpa would say;
and how everybody hunted, while Bon
nibel stopped for drink Of running
water at the trough. But nobody found
it but grandpa. I'VE give It up
you'll have to tell" the children said
at last. And then, with his whip.
Grandpa Tod pointed to row of pop
by plants, with all the bright blossoms
lying in wilted little heaps beside
them. "Ohl" mamma said. "Oh!"
the rest chorused. Eyes, he's q witch
Of q baby, too. to pick them all OIL"
laughed grandpa Are you sure bout
that sign, grandpa?" Katharine asked.
doubtfully. Sure! but II you're not.
little Thomas there's another one for
you" 1t was little pink sunbonnet
lying beside the road. with a wilted
little poppy-head near 1t. The last
half of the forty-mile drive wasn't
long at all. 1t came to an end too
soon. 1t was Eric, after all. who found
the last baby sign and the most puz-
zling one Of them all. They were
passing pleasant little brown home
set in halo OF vines. No one was In
sight. Under one OF the trees was
rocking chair tipped over backward,
and half way up the trim little board
walk lap a heap of soft. white cloth
that somebody had dropped. Those
were Eric's '.signs!" Everybody
smiled at them. until, just as they were
leaving the little brown home behind.
a sharp. imperative little wall sound
ed. The baby. crying! But what
made you think he was In there, just
by that tipped-oyer rocker end that