Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-01-13

keer o this baby!'' ''Who's takin' keer o.
this baby?" Miss Frost flew
Il am she cried almost feTcely. He's
my baby; let him alone and let Lizzie
alone
She kept by the baby so well after that
that It went fast asleep. Hut thai was
pad move. for Lizzie saw r and swiftly
got out OF the swiEg " hen ii swept near
the ground and came running TO Miss
Frost, saying: Shall ! eet mothers
Skeeter metz
Miss Frost gave up the baby to LizZie's
care with the feeling that nothing could
! break up the ,bilds bit Of motherhood.
and went TO start a straw basket FOR Il
big boy at tho other end OF The yard.
Some time later, passing this way again,
she found the baby peacefully s!eeuing
with its head protected from the fies by
Lizzies woollen jacket IA lieu Of the
'skeeter'' Des. After that Miss Frost got
in the way of stopping for chat with
Lizzie's mother, and the conversation
usually drifted to Lizzie, with the child
herself standing by a grave, but not very
attentive listener.
"She's awful HATEFUL Mrs. White
would say; "she won't take keer O. the
baby. Why the other day I got her a
pound o cakes, dozen bananas and 2
cents worth Of taffy, and then she
waren't satisfied. Oh, she's awful hate
full. Don't let that, child sit on the pave
ment, LizZie-1'll beat your brains Quit"
Miss Frost found herself drawing up in
a mental line Of battle, with the baby on
one side and herself on the other, and Liz
zie for the prize. She must rescue Lizzie
from the baby for q few hours, at least,
but how?
The playground. children thought Miss
Frost said funny things sometimes, for iB-
stance when they were all making ham
mocks together, except Lizzie, who stood
by with the baby, and she asked them if
they could tell her why the baby didn't
carry Lizzie sometimes, instead of Lizzie
always carrying the baby. The children
laughed that time, but none of them an
swered her-they didn't. know what to
say.
Miss Frost's plan of rescue was helped
by the director Of the playground declar-
ing that on a certain day, if the weather
were fine, she would take the children to
the park. Miss Frost drew her breath
quickly, and said very softly one word:
Lizzie"
She made a visit to Mrs. White that
day, and after some conversation for and
against it was finally decided that Lizzie
should go. ''PD take care of her." said
Miss Frost, "but it's so far don't you
think we'd better not take the baby
The day came bright and beautiful;
Miss Frost hurried to the playground,
and teachers and children gathered for
the picnic. Lizzie was there very clean
as to face and hands. looking a little
scared and crowding up close to Miss
Frost. First there was the long ride on
the street car, when the children sang
Under the Bamboo Tree" Hang the
Conductor ON Sour Apple Tree" and
other songs of their own selecting. Lizzie
did not join them, and only once did she
speak, and then to say, q Amt this a. nice
rider
But the park was the great thing.
There the children went wild. They
stood on the curb and watched the sea
! lions, threw peanuts to the monkeys, ran
races to see the deer, and stood in awe
/ to the park before, and she looked on
everything in silent wonder, but without
! emotion. Once she wandered ahead Of
the others, when suddenly she came fly
| ing back to Miss Frost. the great light
shining ON her face, and her pretty mouth
Miss Frost ducks And just then Miss
/ Frost came in sight Of pond with the
/ dear familiar ducks swimming peacefully
thereon.
Miss Frost wondered little, but she
still kept on hopefully, trying to make
/ sounds of home. When it came time to
return. Miss Frost noticed that Lizzie
had soiled pocket handkerchief wrapped
around some object which she carried
with great care. She did not question
i her, but waited
Arrived at the playground all separat-
| ed, but Miss Frsst took hold OF one of
| Lizzie's hands to take her to her mothers
! door. The other hand clutched the soiled
handkerchief roll. Mrs. White was at
the door-they could see her as they
turned the corner. Snatching her hand
1 from Miss Frost's, Lizzie bolted. Out Of
breath Miss Frost followed. AS she
reached the door Lizzie was eagerly re-
moving the handkerchief, disclosing the
treasure therein. There it lay-two fiat
rocks, evidently picked up in the park
road. the beautiful light was again on
her face, she was smiling. as she said
breathlessly, For the baby.'-New York