The Cairo bulletin., 1906-07-25
MY NEIGHBOURS BABY
By MRS. r. X. VAN DoozER

To run to the door of my apartment ana
to look down the shaft. Just below, on
nc landing, a little fellow, blonde as
\ to hair, with grimy hands and tear
/ stained face. was contemplating the
| ruins OF castle he had made. Ills
( appearance was so woebegone that
ran down to comfort him. Between
/ the sobs that shook his chubby little
frame he told me that his mother was
cleaning house In her fiat, and had
sent him out on the landing TO play,
And nobody, not nobody, never
goes by wiyout knockin' 1t down-my
house. he mourned. He was such a
baby, with his fat bohhing curls, his
great blue eyes swimming in tears,
and his dimpled, rosy face winsome
In spite OF the dirt and tear streaks.
that | promptly invited him into my
own fiat which was not being cleaned,
where he played happily all afternoon.
The maid. whom sent down 10 relieve
his mothers possible apprehension,
reported the other apartment already
as neat as a pin, from what she could
see, and in no need of further cleaning.
His mother do he eiyin riciption,
or tn loikes Nv thot, tn gurrl tould me,
an she do be follyin III awther gurrl
aroun' til r-rooms as Ii she hadn't III
sinse herslf to do her own work.,
Its mesiIf thot wu'd be obiictin' if"
THAT will do. Mary" exclaimed,
hastily CHANGING at my little guest
80 long as his mother is not worried,
it's the main thing" AT this the baby
looked up and shook his head yigor-
ously
My muvver, she won't worry" he
explained Then. after a moment, he
added MY muyver, she's a puffic
honsekeeper."
The next day he came again, knock
ing timidly for admittance instead of
ringing the bell. which was too high
for him This time he was absolutely
spotless and respondent in a brand
new Buster Brown suit, but he still
had his beloved blocks. Again he
played silent, contented, as before, and
the routine of my household went on
undisturbed. Nearly every day after
that he came, always smiling, always
quiet. always bringing some toy with
which he amused himself What his
mother thought of his absences
never knew. Sometimes she was at
the club sometimes she was enter
tanning. sometimes she went places,
and. again. she would be cleaning
house. This last always happened on
Friday.
And who takes care of youg"
asked one day Haven't you ever had
nurse?" The yellow curls bobbed
violently.
Once, when was little, had a
nursey did love her, too. But mann
ma sended her away. She says I'm
such biggity boy jus don't need no
body TO take care of me. I'm free years
old, and | takes care Of my own self. y
you don't know your mother very
well, do you?" suggested A troubled
look crept over the sunshiny little face.
NO" he faltered, doubtfully.
The next day, as my little friend
stood looking ont of my window, he
suddenly called to me.
ooh, come, come quick and see my
pretty mamma, She's goin' 10 creep
tion," He knocked excitedly on the
window pane to attract his mothers
attention.
She looked up. waved her hand at
her baby, and seeing me beside him,
bowed slightly. She was regal look
ing woman, tall, and blonde like her
son In moment she had stepped
into cab and was wbirled away Az
turned to the little fellow at my side
discovered he was weeping. ! caught
him into my arms and Rugged and pet
ted him, with an ache in my own heart
for under his breath heard him muir
muir again and again;
she didn't kiss me her hand Good
by! She didn't, aud she promised she
would my muvyer did,
Then for several days | did not see
him. sent the maid to inquire
/ "Rronchitis." she reported | sept flow
( ers. and stopped at the door that same
/ afternoon 10 find out the little fellows
condition. II they would let me, was
more than willing to help take care OF
him. and | OWNED that his mother at
least would not mind As | rang the
bell the door opened and the doctor
stepped quietly ont.
He's dead" he said. gravely. Poor
little chap. Perhaps he's better on. ar
ter all" He seemed about To speak
further. then stopped, lifted his hat
and went slowly down the steps.
A few days later again saw the
mother. She WAS stepping into cab.
D Her mourning was magnihcent.-Chi-
cago Tribune.