Sharp County record., 1908-01-03
HOW They GOT
ACQUAINTED

After their marriage Jack Herr'ck
and Mary, his wife, thought their. two
little rooms and kitchen the ante
room of heaven. It was their first
home A year later came the baby,
and then Jack kissed Mary and said:
"Now we're right inside of heaven"
And that baby! 1t was a mystery to
Jack, and there were times when he
was almost afraid of it.
Until the baby's arrival Jack had
been undisputed lord of his home and
had reveled 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
whole day. Moments came when Jack,
looking at the baby over the wife's
shoulder, would gaze at the little mite
and wonder silently how one so small
could have the power to revolutionize
a whole household and tyrannize
great big stoneCutter.
He understood all about it one Sun
day,
After dinner Jack made for the front
room for his siesta. He had sat thero
only q few minutes when Mary,
dressed to go out, came into the room.
"You know, Jack, Nora's going to be
married next week, and | want to run
down to mothers house for to have
a look at the troosoo-or-oh, you
know-her wedding dress. The baby's
asleep and, anyway, I'll only be
few minutes"
Jack had 80 suddenly been torn
from his dreaming that he did not
grasp the importance of the confront
ing situation until Mary had gone
out
Gee, that's a hot one, leaving me
here 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.
81 only hope she won't be long"
Nothing occurred to break the quiet
Of the room, and Jack, congratulating
himself on his good luck, turned again
to the street. But the calm always pre-
cedos the storm, He was watching the
leader Of the district passing on tho
other side Of the avenue when q muf.
fed sound brought him back to his
responsibilities and made him jump
from his chair It was false alarm,
Just a sob from dreamland, but the
father did not know It, and scented
all sorts of trouble.
With the perspiration breaking out
on his forehead, and willing greatly
in general Jack tiptoed across the
floor, Just as he was within few
inches from the crib board creaked
loudly, and Jack, screwing up a hor.
rible grlmace, stood as II petrified
But the difficult trip had been worth
while 1t was the first time that the
father had such chance for q close
and undlsturbed view OF his baby, He
stood and stared and studied every
detail Of the little thing.
Then, as he stood there, great
longing came over him to touch, to
feel his baby, his very own 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, foollng strong and
healthy started in on lung exercise.
But Jack feared Ats and conyulsIons
and was almost paraly2od with fright
"Me, Oh my, whatll ] do now and
but maybe she can't yell, oh?' he mur'
INJURED, not knowing what to do,
He gently shook the crib and begged
the baby to be quiet, but she only
yelled more Justify,
"Whatll do-oh whatll | do
and-why couldn't Mary be here nowP
"Sho wants to be picked up" ho
said wondering at her marvellous cum
ming, "Now, | wondor-l wonder II |
If couldn't try It, Just for this
onco7'
While he strained himself for an
effort which would have sent one OF
his heavy stones spinning, he did 80
only from neryousnoss But when tho
big flgts touched the little elf there
was tenderness In them which made
the baby gaze with wonder She quick.
ly snugglod herself into his big arms,
and then the two, for the first timo,
took Il good look Nt one another, and
smiled
but the sandman wns still lowering
near and the tiny lids were heavy
with sleep, Jack, "jlgglhg her. walked
up and down without tIring llo knew
no mllabIcs, none had been sung for
him at HIS cradle, and ~ he walked
he composed his own impromptu
slumbor song
"And tho fairies camo down from
the hillside,
For to sing my sweet colleen to
sleep,
And they=Ond they=umtarah, UNI
"a -