Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-16

aged to turn on the lights and Furthermore he had
conrvcd take off the babys cloak and hood and veil
though usually he could easily einbroidcr thing
as to unite it. after long time And there sat
Pclcas the sofa, with the baby in ono arm. and he
gravely holding lighted match foot from her
face
As looked he threw the burned match in the CRATE,
sobcrly lighted another aud repeated the performance
Evidently he construed some movement OF the babys
face to be answering smile; at all events peleas
face took most tender and nanc expression and he
"Wc-tol toll folly tol! Yes" And then added
in tone to convince all the jurors of the world OF
course!"
lump in my throat 1t is sad for Pcca to be nobodys
grandfather when he looks SO precisely like grand
father on the stage.
What are the matches for Pcleas?" cried
lie looked up with The adorably abashed expression
that love to bring in hi: eyes.
Nothing. else would. think its hungry
",t =. cried scornfuyy, why. its a girl"
We pl al; argued 1 pelea:. y. said Its girl
And to this there really no response.
The babys disturbed babblng smmered to a steady
freting which increased i'll volume and violence. Hun
remembered that Milieentss black bag lay on the
babys bottle-cmpty. When back, though, Peleas
lighting matches at furious rate, the baby was
CRYING at the top OF her small strength,
She'll disturb NIilliccntc' | said; Pcleas" added
suggesting revolutions, we must take her down
to the kitchen and feed her.
An, you to whom such sweet Offices the beauty
YOU possibly know OF the thrill OF that to one
whose arms have been empty for so long-so long?
protest that holding the keys to The Hague, and to all
Holland, and to whole continents not to be compared
to the radiant responsibility OF that moment
Peeas promptly stood ", and extended his arms.
- AXE her said he with enchanting masculine help
lessncss. Pcleas will not even let me carry my prl,-
up and down stairs, but merely because this was
baby he resigned his right. Really had well nigh
forgotten how extraordinarily humble are in such
presence.
took her in and she settled down with that
contented little gurgle which always attends a baby's
changing hands, most subtly fatterng the nurse
until the storm breaks afresll, harder than before
This the storm did now. and looked at Pecas little
wildly. For whatever was be done. | must do.
Go first said Like Caesar to his torch-bearer OH
the lip of the Rubicon- and open the kitchen door"
We went down the stairs, one foot at a time and when
Pecas opened the door the sight warmed my heart. The
kitchen CHEEKY and brightly lighted hot fire
blazing in the range and the teakettle was singing away
write an essay containing advice TO those who bues
and the sum of it will be go and put the tca-kcttle.
sat by the fire while Peleas. by devious ways OF pam
try and refrigerator, sought out the milk. and were
very merry warming it, Tor it a very wonderful
occasion Pc cas- spilled great deal on Nicholas per
ectly polished griddleoh could not have loved him
if his hands had been firm and indifferent in such .
pleasant excitement Then he and sat beside me
and the baby drank with little soft shuiicr1g breat at
the painful memory OF how hungry she really had been
bent above her, and so did Peeas heads quite close
together watched her, and heard the little soft
noises and signs, and met her eyes grave wondering
criticism SO ongso long it had been Stree had seen
that one serious eye lifted to as little face lay
against my breast!
Peleas put ont finger, and the little funny hand
caught it and chung to it. Peeas Wrnkled his eyes
the corners and smiled at mel had almost forgotten
him and to tell him that that rate never could get
Cedric to sleep Someway, when Peeas had done tina,
now, we sat silent. For very little babies
like, and if had really let myself might have imagined
and so | think might Peleas have imagined that
which, for more than forty years have only dreamed
At last the baby moved her head. gurgled brief
grace, and stared up at us unwinkngly. and then
wrinklcd her face most astoundngly. Pclcas rose
wildly and looked about francaly Tor the matches ~
one would have said that fueitivcs from justice
crouched behind open panel and that safety dc
pended upon keeping that baby quiet during the passug
OF the 'nen-at-arns cannot tell how it is with Others,
this and 10 keep it from crying seems all the law and
fair proportion OF the prophets SO that when Pccas
ianduls before Milcente's babys eyes could very
little, She did stop crying, though she looked these
humble pyrotechnics somewhat laughtily and ii she
knew lar about them than she cared to give out
The sair-door does not creak and Nchola was quite
il the kitchen before heard her. She INDUCED in
comprehensive glance, which did not even omit the
Matches and she passed us on the other side of the
room ~
marked, with her back toward u.s.
Peleas and rose promptly and meeky made our way
upstairs Old Nichoa dictates to us all day long in mat
tiers in which, as ] think, we really far wiser than
she; how then should not yield in crises of which
may be supposed to know nothinS' Though | am
bound to confess that felt myself as wise as little Nil
licentc who, have said, is baby herself And this
brings me to something about which have often Won
dered; namely, when the actual noon OF motherhood
may be? For, as live it seems to me that all the
mothers OF babies of my acquaintance either them
selves babies or else | catch myself thinking of them
that they too old and even .spnscrish in their no
yet cannot very we'll be that the only mother
neither young too old to train youth propery.
laid the little thing in Micente bed and Mlicenc
smiled-that tender, pul, young mother smile that
somehow breaks ones heart no matter how happy the
Young mother be- And an hour later, while the doctor
was Nth NIillicente an idea to me that in
delicious huttcr | had forgotten that there such
sweet cxcements in the World ! hugeed the hope in
Suppose" ! said. that Mllicente should need her
rest tonight?
looked at him tentatively expecting him to under
stand at once as he almost fails to do did NOT
remember that it is far easier to understand in matter
OF books or philosophy the like which have occupied
CoPPRIGRT 1905