Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-09
The Barbarous
Babe
- y
tcopyrisb,. By J. B. LIpplnsott Coz
By E. Ayrton.

4 tnOuH1l myself unut 4 bdua iHto my
proper place of comparative insig-
nificance. When we were left alone
we sat looking at each other for some
time in silence. seeing a sweet. de-
mure little face with a frame OF faxen
curls; but what her wondering eyes
took In cannot tell. only they made
me feel very large and world-worn.
Would you like TO see my baby?"
she said. and. slipping down from her
chair. disappeared beneath the table.
a mysterious underworld when one Is
only four.
waited. wondering II should see
some cherished doll, or perhaps a
cushion baby, but when she came out
her hands were quite empty. although
held out carefully.
Isn't he dear little mite?" she
asked suddenly, looking down with a
tender mother-love shining In her
eyes, and she began 20 rock the out
stretched arms, as though they indeed
held little baby.
'I1l put him on the gwound." she
said at last: he likes to toddle;" and
the fictitious baby was gently set
down. Then she began TO tell me
his history do you know" she said.
that there was Are in this baby's
house? He brought away his kitty.
but his mover an faver an bwover an
nurse were all burnt"
Not killed." calculate. startled
at the completeness Of the catastro-
phe.
Burnt to ashes" she assures me
with a delicate glee.
And as | sit wondering over the bar
barity Of childhood. hear the soft
little voice say wistfully: MY favers
coming home on Fursdsy week"
what will you say when you see
him." ask unthinkingly.
She turns rather red. 'T shall not
say anything. I'll be too happy for
that" she whispers.
But before 1 have realized this
glimpse Of a love almost womanly in
It's expression. she looks round to
where the imaginary baby is playing
with the equally imaginary kitten.
Her whole face lights up with a look
.gonderful to see. Those two dear
little tots are playing together so,
sweetly," she murmurs: why. the
kitty has got into the waste-paper
basket. Please may l tie your dog.
or he might fwighten the pets?"
So my big collie is dragged on to
a distant conner and there tied up
with ''pretense", cord. but. being
dog OF a gentlemanly disposition. he
seems to find 1t as binding as the
heaviest of steel chains; or has he too
entered his dream-world. whose shad-
owy boundaries l find so hard TO
cross?
And then hear a gentle grooming
and the sound of soft kisses, but | see
II is that lucky dream-baby upon
whom this tenderness is being Law
ished
DO you know" the real child gays
in wondering tones.-"do you know
this poor baby OF mine had a sister
called Jemima, who was very cwuel
to him. She used always to take away
his bottle. cannot think how she
could do such a thing. can you? But
we cut OF Jemima's hands and feet"
"Oh, no. we did not" I contradict
startled out of politeness.
''Scuse me. we did" the tender
voice urges; ''scuse me. we cut them
on an stewed them Then we killed
her with scissors"
De-. -
enormity OF the punishment com
pared with the crime. the small exc
cutioner relents. and finally adopts
my suggestion OF sending the Ill
fated Jemima to q boarding school
a very strict one But II was
school IN South Afwica.- she stipu-
iates. and | know she is finding con
ISOLATION In the thought OF there being
stray lions and tigers ready 20 make
q meal Of naughty little girls who re
move babies bottles.
And sgain feel that children are
very cruel, and that as we grow older.
what We lose in imagination we surely
gain In tenderness. but my thoughts
are Interrupted by book being
thrust into my hands. and a baby
voice asking for a story. please
I select one at random. II is the
Babes in the Wood" hut before
have finished the first page hear
a little sound. and. looking up. / see
two blue eyes drowned in tears
Shall J stop | asked compunc
ticusly. but the baby shakes her mead
But before We reach the end. two
soft arms are fune round nv neck
and a damp face is pressed 10 my
cheek
Poor. poor little ~cbin vel
bweas's," she sohs unexpectedly
What a lot % Leaves they had 70
carry
Record N crossESs1instior.