Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-28
BACHELOR
AN D BABY
What happened When he wac
Lett In Charge.

posiitlon and bald head. My state Of
single blessedness and my badness
are my misfortune. not my faults.
Various girls are to blame for the
first. and unremitting application to-
novel reading in bed may have some
thing TO do with the latter.
Like The traditional sp,nster, q bach
elor Is authority, on The rearing OF chill
dren, and | have often expressed my
views OF the subject at some length to-
II sister of mine who il married and
has a small daughter aged five. II so
happened that ! have seen little or the
child. as my hours for calling on my
sister are late, and when l arrive
Grace; the liltl" girl is usually in bed
But the other day my theories OH the
training Of children received severe
shock. My sister said 10 me: John,
Robert and have an invitation to-
visit friend of mine for the week
end She lives ont OF town and II we
20 we don: want to take Grace with
us Now, I've often heard you say
that you'd know how to bring up u
child and here's an opportunity. Sup
pose You come over Saturday after.
noon and take charge of Grace until
Sunday evening. when we come
hOme?'
This invitation | accepted. although
it meant giving up an evening at the
club and dinner engagement on Sun
day. ! went over to my sisters Sat
ID iue Not ho OF
for business. She said: You won't
have anything to do, John. except to
keep an eye on her. and II you feel
like 1t to amuse her, take her for
walk tomorrow or something of that
sort. Maggie. the nurse. will look after
her meals. put her to bed and all that:
SO don't think you'll have any trou |
BILE"
Then she turned to Grace who had |
been standing Ly her side, gazing at
ME with wide-eyed stare common to
children and which to my disgust
made me feel somewhat uncomfort |
able.
Grace" said my sister. mother is
going away for Sunday, and Uncle
John is coming here to stay with you.
Now, be good girl and do what he !,
tells you"
As she left the room I turned quick.
ly to the child.
Don't you want to play, Gracie?" l
asked.
Yes" she responded with enthusi-
asm: want TO play horsie.' |
else can recommend 'horsie" as play.
ed by my niece or rather as played by
her uncle at her direction.
Procuring a piece of string some
what the worse for wear. she ap /
proachel me and requested me to take |
it in my teeth.
You diets on de floor" explained
Grace. SO down on my hands and
knees went. The eQuestrienne sat on
my back. kicked me in the sides and
pulled violently on the string. l crept
painfully about the room. continually
urged Cn to greater speed. until final
ly stepped in the hall for rest.
My sister was a careful housekeeper.
hut my hands and the knees Of my
trousers showed the traces of their
contact with the carpet As l was ex-
aiming them Miss Grace said: Want
to play horsie on de piazza, uncle
john"
20. no. dear" l expostulated. ITS
cold outside and" stopped. Tears
were gathering In her eyes and her
lower lip was beginning to tremble.
Very we'll. we'll co." assured her.
but you must put on your hat and
coat"
assisted her on with her wraps and :
we went OF on the ''pazazza' 1t was
a clear. cold autumn day. and the sun
was shining. A beautiful day for a
walk. But I was playing horsie. Up and
down on the cold piazza I crept, my
hands and knees getting sorer every
minute. hadn't thought to put on .
pair Of gloves, and otter two or three
laps decided they'd De useless
You is a fat, slow horsie," remark
ed my rider as started on what I de-
termirej should be the last lap of the
circuit. Just as I reached the steps
in front Of the door Grace suddenly
dismounted with cry Of JOY and ran
down the steps. I raised my head and
there on the sidewalk stood the Only |;
Girl. trying to repress a smile. while !
my rival stood BY her side grinning !
Inadvertently.
Twas a sight. My hands were black
my trousers ruined my hair was rum
pied, the string which I dropped was
tangled up in my collar and I was
dripping with persp!ration. cold as 4;
was. /
You look warn. Mr. Blake" grin
ned my divinity with O smile. /
Having a hot time. john" grjpned