, 1908-02-25
HOW THEY GOT
ACQUAINTED

and Mary, his wife, thought their two
little rooms and kitchen the ante
room of heaven. 1t was their first
home. A year later came The baby.
md then Jack kissed Mary and said:
Now we're right inside of heaven
And that babyl 1t was a mystery to
Jack, and there were times when he
was almost afraid of 1t.
Until the baby's arrival Jack had
beer undisputed lord of his home and
had revealed in his comforts. The baby
Immediately changed all that. Jack
had to speak in whispers, and when
once he dropped his pipe on the floor
Mary wouldn't speak to him for a
whole day. Moments came when Jack,
cooking at the baby over the wife's
shoulder, would gaze at the little mite
and wonder silently how n so small
could have the power to revolutionize
4 whole household and t%yrannize a
great big stonecutter.
He understood all about it one Sun
lay.
After dinner Jack made for the front
DON for his siesta. He had sat there
jnly a few minutes when Mary,
dressed to go out, came into the room.
you know, Jack, Morals going to be
married next week, and l van to run
lown to mothers house for to have
4 look at the troosoo-or-oh, you
znow-her wedding dress. The baby's
asleep and, anyway, I'll only be a
Few minutes"
Jack had so suddenly been torn
from his dreaming that he did not
grasp the Importance of the confront
ng situation until Mary had gone
out.
Gee, that's a hot one, leaving me
lere with the baby" he exclaimed,
staring at the door through which
Mary had escaped, and from there,
With awe, at the crib in the corner.
4 only hope she won't be long
Nothing occurred to break the quiet
Of the room, and Jack, co~ngratulating
himself on his good luck, turned again
to the street. But the calm always pre-
cedes the storm. He was watching the
leader of the district passing on the
other side of the avenue when a muf-
ned sound brought him back to his
responsibilities and made him jump
from his chair. 1t was a false alarm.
lust a sob from dreamland, but the
father did not know 1t, and scented
Ill sorts of trouble. q.
With the Precipitation breaking o.
IN his forehead, and willing greatly
N general, Jack tiptoed across the
door. Just as he was within a few
inches from the crib a board creaked
loudly, and Jack, screwing up a hor-
rible grimace, stood as if petriied.
But the difficult trip had e worth
while. 1t was the first time that The
father had such a chance for a close
and undisturbed view of his baby. He
stood and stared and studied every
detail of the little thing.
Then, as he stood there, a great
longing came over him to touch, to
feel his baby, his very W flesh and
blood; but he was embarrassed,
afraid, and just clasped and unclasped
his big hands. He wanted to do it so
much, but before he could muster his
courage the baby awakened, opened
her eyes, and, feeling strong and
healthy, started in on lung exercise.
But Jack feared fits and commissions
and was almost paralyzed with fright.
ME, oh my, whatll do now and
but maybe she can't yell, eh?" he MUIR
INJURED, not knowing what to do.
He gently shook the crib and begged
the baby to be quiet, but she only
yelled more Justify.
"WhatTl l do-oh what'll l do
and-why couldn't Mary be here now?
"She wants to be picked up he
said, wondering at her marvellous cum
ming. Nov, l worder-I wonder if l
If couldn't try it, just for this
once?"
While he strained himself for an
effort which would have sent one of
his heavy stones spinning, he did so
only from nervousness. But when the
big fists touched the little elf there
was a tenderness in them which made
the baby gaze with wonder. She quick
" snuggled herself into his big arms,
and then the two, for the first time,
took a good look at one another, and
smiled.
But the sandman was still lowering
near and the tiny lids were heavy
with sleep, Jack, juggling her" walked
up n down without firing. He knew
no lullabies, none had been sung for
him at his cradle. and as he walked
he composed his own impromptu
slumber song:
And the fairies came down from
the hillside.
For to sing my sweet colleen to
sleep,
And they-and they-um-ta-rah. UNI
ia"
Whether in minor or major, it must
have been in the right key and with
the proper Tilt, for the baby fell sound.
ly asleep and did not even waken
when Jack put her back into the crib.
Then he went to his window and
lighted his pipe again, and there Mary
found him when she returned.
I'm sorry I've been so long" she
began to apologize, expecting to be
scolded. "but you know how it is when
a lot o women get together and get
to"
Don't say another word. Mary. my
dear" Jack assured her, and she could