The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-03-31
"WlL | IA M S 0 MS
IN S 0 NJ MA"

Williamson always complained lHdl
he was a bad sleeper. In his babyhood
the tendency exhibited itself in the
shape of a fondness for exercise be-
tween the hours of 1 and 4 o'clock in
the morning. AS he grew older the
somnolent characteristics of the nor
NAL boy were noticeable by their abb
sence. The sound of rain on the roof,
a creaking door, the thought OF to-
morrow's examinations, could Danish
from him all possibility of sleep.
Mrs. Williamson's FIRST important
lesson in her married life concerned
the sacredness of Williamson's slum-
bers. A mother-in-law, three sisters
in-law and a maiden aunt Of her hus-
bands all united to impress on her
mind that if Charlie once fell asleep
nothing short Of a domestic tragedy
was an excuse for awakening MIN.
His oversleeping in the morning was
to be hailed with thankfulness, as a
partial atonement for the sufferings
of wakeful night. All of which Mrs.
Williamson took to heart as in duty
bound.
Williamson, junior, however, did not
prove as tractable pupil as his moth
err. Considering his inches, he had an
extraordinary amount Of self-assur-
rance, and his bump of reverence
seemed totally undeveloped. II he telt
in the mood for roaring he roared re-
gardless of the hour or whose SUM
bers he disturbed. The room chosen
for the nursery was as remote as pos
sible from Williamson's sleeping room,
and here Mrs. Williamson spent many
an hour of the night in an effort TO
render the outcries of his son and heir
inaudible to her husband.
But one time when Williamson Jun
ior was cutting his first teeth his
mother had been up with him for
three successive nights. Then VIII
hanson made a proposition that would
have astonished his mother and Sis
tiers and the maiden aunt.
Looking across the table at his w1fes
pretty, tired face, the dark lines OF
WEAKNESS giving a new luster to her
eyes, he said, firmly: kitty, you look
worn out Tonight you must get
good sleep. will look after the baby"
Mrs. Williamson .gasped. Why,
Charlie, you won't sleep at all. The
time you usually go to sleep is just
his hour for starting in"
81 can stand it for one night" said
Williamson Then he added with
.martyr-like air, Il sleep so little any
way that | might as well turn my
wakefulness to some account"
The prospect of one night of undis-
turbed sleep was too tempting to be re-
sisted. Mrs. Williamson yielded with
ecstatic gratitude. She retired early
that evening, having first indicted her
husband into the chief mysteries con-
nected with the care of an infant.
II seemed to her that she had hard
Nv fallen asleep when she was aroused
by the vigorous lamentation of her off,
spring. Her first impulse was to go to
her husbands assistance, but she he
roically suppressed it. She would not
spoil his sacrifice. She fell asleep
again. her mind full of images OF Will
hanson heating milk and walking
the floor and grooming lullabies under
his breath to the red, wriggling piece
of humanity who seemed on such occa-
sions a prey to the most bitter cyni-
cism. Occasionally through the night
she was awakened by the baby's cries,
but each time she sunk to sleep, with
the delicious consciousness that
Charlie was doing everything neces-
sary.
The sun was high next morning
when Williamson bolted into his wife's
room. watch in hand. What time have
YOU. Kitty? My watch seems to be
Of"
"Why, it's o'clock" gasped Mrs.
Williamson. you've oversight" Then
with commiserating tenderness, Il sup
pose you were SO worn out, poor boy,