The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-07-24

RUIN might not De awe nOWs IN Ia0Ns
I'm sure that she wouldn't.
1t happened two years ago, when
Ruth was just learning to walk. She
was SO delighted to think that she
could get around by herself that she
was always toddling off whenever the
people left her alone for an instant.
There really was not much danger
of her getting hurt on the great lawn
here. There are no streams and no
steps for her to tumble down.
So one morning Mrs. ,Ainslie said:
I'VE must always keep the gate locked
and then we need not worry about
Ruth. She can not get into any mis-
chief in the yard There is nothing
here to hurt her, and tumble on the
soft grass will only make her laugh"
After that they did not watch Ruth
so closely. The gate was kept locked
| very carefully and the baby toddled
around wherever she wished, and had
a good time pulling flowers and
grasses.
She was the happiest baby that YOU
ever saw, always grooming some lSltle
soft song and talking to hesSG4f at
play. The family thought shAC there
never was such sweet child born,
and rather thought .he same thing
myself
They kept TN eye on her generally.
even wheE she was safely fastened in
the yard, but she enjoyed playing by
bsNself so much and she never got into
any mischief, so they felt quite easy
about her when she was among the
flowers.
I'm coming to my story, but had
to tell you all of this or you would
not have understood it. One after
noon she played longer than usual,
even forgetting to go into the house
when her sleepy time" came, as she
| usually did.
Her mother had some callers. and
so she could not run out for Baby
| Ruth Immediately. Suddenly the baby
grew sleepy; she had been playing
with her dolly and her eyes all at
once grew so heavy that she could not
hold them open.
She looked around, and ! suppose
that she thought it was too much
trouble to run into the house, for she
| just crept under my branches and
curled down on the grass.
Now, told you that was very large
and very old, and she crawled so far
under that she was completely hidden.
tell you that was troubled even
then, for you see it was getting late
and soon it would be evening. The
sky looked like rain, too. What if the
baby should stay there and get wet? II
| she did not wake up until dark she
would be frightened and would never
be able to find her way back to the
house
Just then her mother came to the
door and looked for her.
There was no baby in sight. Then
she called.
Then heard her give scream and
call to her husband that the gate was
open.
Ruth is not here-she is lost! Some
/ one left the gate open. What can we
do? My poor, poor baby! Where can
she be-" she was crying and sob
bling, and Mr.. Ainslie looked as If he
would like to cry, too, but he seemed
to feel sure that the baby was some
where in the yard.
They went all over it again and
again, sending the servants out on
the street and down to the police sta
ton. Half dozen times they stop
ped by my side and looked around,
rustled my leaves and told them
Just as plainly as 1 could that Ruth
was lying at their very feet, but hu
man beings are so stupid that they
| never seemed to understand what
said.
1t had grown quite dark, and it was
raining little, too. tried to shield
Baby Ruth as best could, for she was
delicate child, and knew that
must not let her get wet if l could
possibly help it.
At last Mrs. Ainslie gave a deep
sigh. 1--WE are just wasting time, dear;
Ruth is not here; we must search on
the streets for henry dear, precious
baby!"
was frightened, then, you may be
sure. Everyone else had left the house
already, and if her father and mother
went, too, what would the poor child
do if she woke up in the dark. She
would be so wet and frightened that
she would be seriously ill-perhaps
she would die.
They were just turning toward the
gate, for even Mr.. Ainslie had at last
made up his mind that Ruth had