Middletown transcript., 1901-10-19
A Little Cross
BY ADA BENTWIcK STONE
Ry ADA BENTWICK STONE.

| pefIect, anu even HOW, LnOugh
he was critically observant, he
could see no fault in it. Still, he
supposed his mother must be
right, and the thought made him
unhappy. He wished she hadn /
said it.
The baby was born in the
spring. Bertha had pleaded that
her sister might be with her, and
though Mrs. Gay said it was a
foolish whim and a needless ex-
pense, he could not refuse. He
loved his wife dearly, even If she
did lack in strength Of character
and housewifeliness. It was
hard to go against his mother,
nevertheless, and he keenly felt
her disapproval and displeasure.
The sister came, and stayed
till the baby was six weeks old.
Mrs. Gay took a strong dislike
to her for some reason, and sell
dom came upstairs while she was
there. But Bertha S sister didn't
seem to mind it at all, and was
as jolly as a lark from morning
to night. Bertha and Maurice
agreed that they hadn't laughed
so much since they were married.
But after she was gone, Bertha
seemed to lose strength, or at
least not to gain any, and Maurice
at last went to his mother.
"Hadn't I better hire a girl for
awhile?" he asked anxiously.
Mrs. Gay laughed. "You are
so afraid Bertha will hurt her.
self with work, "she said. ''There
isn't the least danger. Bertha is
perfectly well, and your family is
so small. Why, I did all my
work, and didn't send out the
washing either, when I had four
children. and took two boarders,
besides"
The baby thrived, if his mother
didn't, and Maurice was very
proud of him. "Do you intend
giving him an entire bath every
day all through the winter?" he
asked one November morning.
"Mother thinks it is a dangerous
practice and very weakening.
I told her I'd speak to you about
it."
Bertha bent over the child to
unfasten some part of his cloth
ing and did not answer at once.
When she did, she spoke quietly.
'Yes, I mean to bathe him every
day."
"But, my dear! Mother is so
experienced, and you so mex
perienced. We don't want to
lose our boy"
She colored slightly, then
smiled as she held the child up
for inspection. ''Does he look
sickly?" she asked.
AS Maurice looked at him and
saw how plump and rosy and
bright-eyed he was, and took him
in his arms and felt how strong,
he had to admit that he saw no
signs of illness.
"But we want to keep him
WE'LL" he argued, not quite salts
fed.
"That is what / mean to do"
"But these cold mornings-he
must get chilled through
Maurice, dear"-her tone was
earnest-"don't you see that |
must use my own reason ? Can
anyone be SO anxious to have him
strong and well :? I am his
mother-I have responsibility
in the matter"
You should be willing to be
taught by those who know more
than you do"
Il am willing and eager; but
my Judgement must approve.
81 don't see that I can do any
thing with you you will have
your own way" He laughed as
he said it, but there was an un-
dercurrent of displeasure.
eyes, I've always had the repu-
tation of being willful, " she
laughed back, and beneath her
words was an undercurrent OF
pain.
The subject was not referred
to again, but Maurice looked for
Group and pneumonia and lnfiu
enza, and drew a long breath
when winter and early spring
were safely passed.
One evening when the boy WAS |
asleep, Maurice drew his wife
down onto his knee as she was
his chair. "Bertha," ne
said, "what has come over you
You don't seem as you used to.
''You almost wish you hadn't
me-noW, confess, she