Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-08-15

to do, and she looked forward with
joyful expectation to the birth Of the
child who was to fill up her life.
When it was born in her mothers
house she was able to do everything
for it, but when they had moved into
their own house it was different; then
it seemed as if Ante only had a very
costly doll, which she was allowed to
play with sometimes on Sundays.
Leo thought that it was quite the
| proper thing that the nurse and the
bonnie should take care of the child,
and should bring it to it's mother
every day in the most charming toilet,
like a young princess. At first Ante
was quite inconsolable about it, but
| Leo had frowned upon all her en-.
treaties, her mute, imploring looks,
as utter nonsense. Now that the
child was older and knew its mother.
Antje found this state of things more
endurable, though she still clenched
her fists sometimes as she looked on
and watched the strange hands bath
ing the little rosy limbs, wrapping
them in soft, white linen, and heard
strange voices singing her darling to
sleep.
The young wife suddenly bright
ened up and ran out of the room into
the nursery. The stout nurse was
just preparing the baby's bath.
There was a smell of fine soap and
warm water, the hanging-lamp was
lighted and shed it's rays on the
bright carpet on the floor, which was
covered with all manner of toys, and
on which sat a fair-haired child of
three years. The golden curls made
a sort of halo round the delicate little
face.
'Mousiei" cried the young wife,
gayly, kneeling down impulsively be-
fore the little one; little Mousie,
your naughty mamma almost missed
your bath"
And she pressed her fearful eyes
against the child's hair and kissed it
passionately.
Dear Christine, please, oh, please
let me battle my little Mousie today"
she cried, after while.
The old woman shrugged her
shoulders and muttered something.
"Mousie, whom will you have to
battle you?" asked Antje, as anx-
iously as if the happiness of her
whole life rested on this decision.
Mamma" said the child.
GAS madame pleases," said Chris
tine in reply. 81 have favor to ask
of the gracious lady My Minna was
carried to the hospital today, and I
am so anxious about her that [ turn
everything topsyturvey. May l go
down to the village this evening to
inquire of herr"
''Why, to be sure, Christine, Go at
once and send Classen up to me-"
The old cook came with frown on
her face, and found Frau Ante happy
and smiling as she bathed the child,
who laughed and splashed in the
water. But she was not deceived, for
the long lashes we're still wet with
tears She had nursed her Ante as
a baby and had known her through all
the years of her young life, as no one
else but a mother could know her,
and. going up to the tub, she said II
a low voice: cit is not worth while to
cry about it, gracious Frau; with
married people one day is like an
other, and it is all nonsense to min1
anniversaries"
"You are mistaken, my good Clas-
sen, the baby has splashed the water
in my eyes, was the reply.
ooh, yes, so see" murmured the
old woman. cit is the water from the
tub" And she took up the hot-wate1
bottle from the flannel wrapper.
And while Frau Antje dried the
child, she said over her shoulder
Herr Jussnitz had important bust
ness in Dresden, Classen, or h<
would gladly have stayed at home
with Mousie and mech, Mousie?"
ooh yes, to be sure; importan
business, that was it, of course" re
piled Frau Classen; "and I am sorr!
for him that today, of all days, he
! The rest was unintelligible, for sh'
was already out Of the door and coult
not see how few bright drops fel
: on the child's little forehead, which
this time, with the best will in tn
world, could not be accounted for b,
the water from the bath.
9 Antie remained in the nursery sill
! ting by the crib till the nurse cam
!, back. Then she went down into tn
dining-room, which. like the studi
above it, extended the whole lengtl
of the house. It had been made t
resemble an old German banquetins
: hall, with the addition of hundre
u articles Of modern luxury which CAV
it an unusually comfortable lool
The lamplight played about the silve
:. and bronze vessels with which tn
! enormous buffet was adorned; tn
handsome chairs, covered wit
:, leather and adorned with the artist
= cGat-of-arms stamped in gold, stood i
row round the massive dining-table
the ceiling and the panels on tn
- walls were magnificently carved.
- In front of the fireplace, near til
= cracking flames, stood table set II
-. two persons-for the servants kne
"A that their master always liked
", trifle. no matter how late he came /
"a and that Frau Antje usually sat
him while he ate. On it was pr
~ fusion of those dainty plates, saucer
70 shallow dishes. and little spoon
70 which are so useless and yet
a. charming. And in the center sto;
e the roses, giving an air Of festivity
10 the cosey, inviting corner. as
20 saying: 1--WE are blooming for
he happy pair"