The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-08-18

moment to look into the rosy face at her knee.
Mamma wouldn't know what to do without her
baby
Use dom to away" Basil persisted, the
wilful light that he had inherited from that same
mamma apparent in his blue eyes.
We'll. if you must you must, Mrs. Bascomb
smiled. 'But kiss mamma first, and don't stay
away too long Poor mamma would be very,
very lonesome without her nanny.
The kiss given, off Basil trotted, dragging his
precious red cart behind him, and to her stitching
Mrs. Bascomb returned, her eyes brighter for
that moments respite and that vision OF baby
beauty that abded with her.
This little play was of daily occurrence between
the young mother and young son. Heretofore it
had meant jogging trot around the house, and
Basil's return with the breathless announcement,
Use tum bat But today he made a dramatic
departure from the customary program. He slip
Fed through the gap missing paling made in the
front fence, Juggling his cart behind him, and
down the street he trotted, crying hucksterfash
ion, 'Tatoes! 'Tatoes,
1t is incredible to the inexperienced the distance
little feet can travel in very short space OF time
\ half hour more after, when Mrs Bascomb
put down her sewing to investigate Basil's non
appearance and the unWonted quiet OF house and
yard, he had left the ugly, little yeowandbr brown
cottage far behind him, and had entered the arts
tocratic quarter OF the city, where dwet the old
and wealthy families; where the houses
Withdrawn dgnifed distance from the street as
disdainng near approach to the vulgar thorough
fare, and the gistenng front windows gave upon
a charming prospect of emerald lawn, smooth and
velvet pile, noble trees picturesquely dis
posed. and wide graveled walks curling leisurely
around flower beds, rich with the favorites of long
ago. All in decided contrast to the dreary bare
yard and stunted peach tree Of Basil's home
n HE tall wrought-iron gate of the oldest AMI
stateest of these exclusive homes slightly
ajar. With much ado. Basil forced it farther
open. and in he strolled red cart at heel. yellow
head nimbused by the broad straw hat hanging
down his back. He followed the broad white
graveled walk aimlessly, absorbed in the fairy
u-nrd about linn until no to if,,l
bed of blue and white larkspur There he stopped,
filling his cart with its treasures-some tugged up
ruthessly by the roots-unt the little red cart
was literally buried under the burden of bloom.
He turned about, seeking other beds to devas-
tate. group of brilliant peoples lured him.
Thther he slowly drew his cart, stopping now
and then to restore to the topping load fall
spire. Stepping up on the boX-bordered edge.
he leaned to grasp fine, fringed crimson head.
when soft white hand folded over his grimy
little paw. Looking back. red lips parted in
constituent, eyes wide with startled, mutinous
question. he bending him a delicate,
fair face with eyes as blue as his
Naughty naughty boy to hurt the pretty flow
ers" a soft voice scoded See what you have
done?" lifting a stalk and pointing to the uptorn
roots. Torn them all up. and they'll never
never grow again. Poor, poor flowers; naughty,
naughty boy to hurt them
For moment Basil dumb, twisting to-
gether perpeNedly his chubby fingers. The next
he rallied his bold little spirit.
Pity, pity towers" he agreed Baby likes
fowers And as II this explanation established
his right to his iowery discovery, again he turned
to his vandalism.
But again the white hand folded the greedy
stained little fist.
YES pretty, pretty flowers but naughty naugh
ty boy to hurt them. Come, tell me your name. >
Kneeng down before her unceremonious visitor
so as to bring the blue eyes on a level.
What does mamma call baby?' she repeated
with the look of mystfcation that clouded the
clear azure eyes
"Baby-mammas baby" he burted out after a
moments thought" Mamma 'uves her baby.
gleefully eyes and lips bright with happy smile
Where does mamma live?' the lady now asked
But again. the blue eyes clouded then cleared
the happy confident little smile lighting up the
limpid depths.
.''Way-'way' hind de moon. I wuns WAGES
wifi de moon! all de time
Mammals mamma the lady learned
with the relieved wi has nar=