The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-11-03

Il mink so, luey are just lihc aSiS CNSh "
the expression. He hasn't bit of his
father about him for all Nellie wrote
that he was just the image of Frank;
some people always see resemblance
where there isn't any at all. OF course,
they like to think that he looks like his
father, but land alive, he's an Adkins
all over. Bless his little heart, they can't
fool grandma, can they?" And she
pressed him close to her heart.
BY this time the strange faces and so
much unusual attention were beginning
to brighten the little fellow; his baby
! lips took on a serious quicker, the little
chin quivered piteously and the heart OF
| the old lady was full of compassion for
the baby left so long without his moth
| er. What do you suppose is keeping
Nellie so long? Inever went away and
left my children like this when they
were little. See if you can amuse him,
father; believe he is going to cry"
"Come here, darling, and see what
grandpa has got for the little man." and
he held out his hands invitingly, and the
| baby, ever ready for change, chung to
him and was soon listening delightedly
to the tick took of the old watch which
had done life service for children of u
former generation.
How bright he is for so young a
baby, and so big, too; just see, he can
nearly stand alone" exclaimed grand
ma, proudly, land he's only six months
old; but then Nellie walked at nine
months. And isn't his hair pretty and
curly; it seems almost pity he's boy
so it will have to be cut off, and she
sighed at the thought of the scissors
among the glossy ringlets.
"Oh, I'm glad he's boy, mother, but
it seems to me there is considerable red
to his hair. Where do you suppose that
comes FROM there are no red heads in
our family"
'tRed head, indeed! there isn't a
tinge of red in his hair; it's just the
prettiest light brown; you must be get
ting color Blind and grandma laughed
softly at her little joke as she leaned
over and patted the little head tender
ly. "Grandmas baby shan't be abused.
Just see. John, how he holds his head
on one side and looks up at you so cum
ming and smiles. That's the way little
Davie used to do. Oh, you darling baby,
I'm so glad you are like our people,
some way l couldn't bear to have him
all Bradley; it seems like he belongs to
us more now"
Presently silence falls on the little
group. The grandmother is thinking of
her own little ones, three of them now
in homes of their own with babies of
their own to care for and love, but for
Davie, the youngest of all, her heart
yearns; and yet the daisies Of many
summers have blossomed over the
grassy mound where he lies, with little
hands folded and the blue eyes closed in
dreamless sleep, but the touch of these
baby fingers has brought him so near
to her to-day that the years slip away,
and while the grandfather is rocking
this dear little grandson the heart of
the mother is full of tender memories
of her own little one.
The old man rocks slowly backward
and forward, the little yellow head sinks
lower and lower on his broad breast, the
little fingers loose their clasp on the
treasured watch, and baby sleeps. How
beautiful he is, this beloved son of their
Nellie, and the grandmother sitting up
with a start awakens from her day
dreams and drawing her chair closer
to the side of her husband watches with
him the peaceful sleep of the child.
The cars come and go, passengers
alight and pass the door, but the old
people are absorbed in their watch of
the little sleeping form and are only
aroused by footsteps on the porch. The
old lady rose from her seat and in
moment more her daughter is clasped
in her arms, while Frank was shaking
the hand of the old gentleman who was
unable to rise on account of the sleep
ing boy.
well pa and ma, of all people in the
world We least expected to see you here
to-day. Why didn't you write us you
were coming?" and Mrs. Bradley gave
her mother another loving hug and then
held her at arms length for better
view. at seems so good to have you
here"
1--WE just couldn't wait to see the
baby, so here we are" explained Mr..
Adkins. "Just see how soon he made
friends with us, wasn't bit afraid.
Guess he knew u.s." and the old man
chuckled softly.
Knew you, made friends with you,
what do you mean, and why are you TAX
ing care of Mildred, where is Gretchen"
began Mrs. Bradley, looking around the
room for the nurse girl who had been
standing in the door.
Mildred, do you mean this baby?"
put in the now bewildered Mrs. Adkins.
isn't this your baby?"
my baby? Oh, mother, that's good
one. This is Franks brothers little
girl, you see they live upstairs. And
you thought Mildred was our baby; why
she is eight months old, and girl, and
doesn't look bit like little Clarence"
Mrs. and Mr.. Adkins exchanged
glNces. But we understood from the
girl that this was your baby"
That's not strange, if she under
stood you at all she didn't know which
Bradley you meant. Just wait until you
see our baby, he is asleep in the buggy