Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-01-11
Dimpie cheei, and the Brownies.

Dimple Cheek and the Brownies.
by SilaS G. Pratt
Many years ago a poor farmer among
the Highlands of Scotland brought home
little orphan girl baby, and handing it
to his surprised wife, Said
Here is present for You, wife.
You've often said you wished You had
little wee one, and here is as pretty Il
biue-cyed child as you could wish for"
The woman had, indeed, often cX-
pressed such desire, but this was SO
sudden aud unexpected that she was on
the point of scolding her husband for
bringing the little waif. when il opened
its big blue eyes and smiling, displayed Il
pretty dimplc in each cheek, cooling ut the
same time and reaching cut with its tiny
hands to be taken up.
Sc she thought better Of it. and said
1T is pretty baby, and I'm glad YOU
brought it nome with you"
At first the woman was really pleased,
for the child was an interesting play
thing; hut in lit;le while it took up 50
much time that it interfered with her
work; for they were very poor, and the
woman had 60 be busy. churning taking
care Of the house, the chickens and the
cows.
Then there came time when her nus
Ddliti ihSL Il me Nllttll III II SiRIi tttl4 t4ll
wife lost her temper; both LOSSES were
unfortunate. but the loss of the good
temper was by far the greater of tn"
two; for when ones good temper Is gone
it Is as ii the sweet waters of life were
suddenly turned to vinegar.
SO ii was with the farmers wife; and.
indeed. she became so unreasonable tnaI
she said To her husband:
Il believe the baby has brought this
misfortune to us.
But the tanner had learned to love the
little waf and could not think amy evil
of il.
One day the child became very i'll. Il
screamed with pain, and its cries irrl-
tdted the woman until She was almost IN
despair. She could do nothing To relieve
it, and finally, worn out in her VAIN en-
dcavor. she exclaimed. Il wish it would
die. / wish ii would dic.'
When her husband came nome ana
saw the suffering uf the poor babe, he
hurried off to procure a physician ana
medicine. hut while he was gone the
woman nurscd her own Impotence until
ii became cruel monster in her breast,
and she had determined to let tle little
one die
cit gave her no end of trouble: It in
terfered with her work, and well, her
husband was fonder of the child even
than of his wife; besides, it brought mis-
fortune and loss"
SO the wicked woman argued in ner
own mind. and when the husband
brought the medicine she meant to de-
ceive him, hoping by morning the chill ]
would be dead.
However. to keep mp appearances, she
gave one dose to the suffering infant,
and it presently settled down to low,
almost unIbroken moan.
Then size said to her husband: You
80 to sleep now, For YOU must be up with
the sim in the morning; | will watch
and give the medicine rs directed.
But as soon as the man WAS asleep the
woman herself lay down also, muttering
as she did SO. Twill be good rid
dance If if is dead in the morning" aud
soon she. too was asleep
II was midnight. All was STILL but the
moaning of the sick babe and the deep
breathing of the farmer aud his wife.
\ band of Brownies were swiftly seam
pering Iy, like dead dry leaves in Il gust
Of wind, when Big Ears. the leader, sud-
denly stopped and whispered, Listen.
Gu tho instant all was silent and III an
attitude Of expectancy.
IT'S the wall of a child," said Big
Ears.
And one Of our own particular
charges. too said Round Eyes. with II
tear already glistcning in one corlter of
his left eye, which made it look like Il
capital q.
Without further delay the band on