The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-03-10
THE FIRST BATTLE.
BY Grace Lois Ruarc.

10 church, DdDSRlIlS. see oliiS .
pretty dress, dearie."
Me want Taty!"
We'll, you can ave your Katy I'M
til tomorrow. Doesn't baby wan Katy
to have a most beautiful time?"
Most booful time" cooed the wee
girl to herself, as she delved into a
work basket.
NO, no! Grille mustn't! Mothers
going to church now; she can't let
baby have the basket Here, take the
nice dolly!"
No smiled the little imp; "old
dolly-baby a buttons"
Tt think that that poor girl takes
care of hat child every moment of
the day for ten shillings a week! No
wonder she needed a rest thought the
mother. There, there, play on the
floor with the buttons; but baby must
pat them ali back in the bag"
Baby put back" assured her daugh-
ter.
Dear me! a quarter past ten. Why
do they have services at eleven? And
1t takes fifteen minutes to reach that
church" She hastily finished her hair.
and turned to put on a new gown, stop
ping a moment to watch her little one.
The chubby mite was squatted on the
floor, heaping the buttons into high
piles, then throwing them down with
one fell swoop. whispering to herself:
Baby put back. Baby put back"
Mrs. Warning was struggling with her
collar when the baby announced from
the doorway: Me donel"
"All right, lovekins. Put the little
buttons back in the bag, dearie."
But the baby only smiled. and
swayed back and forth. Me done,'
she repeated.
A suggestion of a struggle shot
should l do IL she wouldn't put them
back? And they say you must not let
them conquer you the first time" she
thought.
A look at the baby treasured her;
the little shapeless lips curved into a
smile, the blue eyes laughing at her.
No, the child was only playing.
Come, dearie, mother hasn't time to
play now. See how they go in," and
Mrs. Waring clinked a few enticingly.
Baby was won. Gleefully she put
them all in. iingling them together.
then dumped them ali out, delighting
In the noise. Putting them back the
second time seemed to take away the
novelty. When half through she. strug-
gled onto her fat little legs and start
ed to run from the room.
Her mother had been watching her
fondly while pulling on her gloves.
Come back, little daughter" she
said; here are more on the floor"
Baby seed Baby wasn't smiling
now; her lips were determined. Baby
won't put back buttons! Baby done"
Mrs, Waring coaxed and wheedled,
to no avail. Finally she carried the
child back and set her down beside
those awful buttons.
Baby must!"
Baby won't!"
The mother tried again. She glanced
at the clock-eleven!
Baby. you must put those buttons
back! You've made mother late for
church,"
Baby sat perfectly still.
Then you must go and sit in the
next room quite alone.'
But in spite of this awful threat
baby sat quite still and looked calmly
at her mother.
Meta Warning braeea herself and took
off her gloves. She gathered the baby
in her arms and carried her into the
next room. Baby kept as still as a
mousse; but when the door was shut,
there issued a torrent of wailing and
weeping from the small prisoner. Mrs.
War1ng glanced again at the clock;
then she took off her hat and wraps.
The baby was quite astonished sit
ting In the empty room. Never before
had such walls failed to bring the
sort hearted mummy to the door Me
will be dood, me will be dood," she
sobbed. "Oh, let me out! let me out!"
Very well, if you will be good"
The mother placed her beside the
buttons again. The child. still Sob
bling, put them in one by one. Each
button was dropped in slower than the
preceding one; finally, only four re-
manned. Baby tried to get up.
All In" h wheedled.
BY now her mother had decided that
this first battle must be hers. There
are four more" she sternIy said.
AN ~" baby replied.
Her mother put her back in the
empty room. No sobs this time. Baby
sIene decided to win, too! At last the
buttons" she announced.
The door opened, and baby slowly
II in tive more. Baby kick in oder
buttons" And baby started to per-
form the difficult feat-for two fat legs
are not SO very steady when one is
not three and a half.
No, baby will put them in with her
handi"
Baby was becoming hysterical, and
her mother was on the verge of tears.
If the floor could only swallow those
two buttons.
mol" decided baby.
Back to the empty room she was car
ried. sobbing convulsively. The time
seemed hours to the poor mother out
there with a bag and two buttons, and
baby did not ask to come out.
viii baby pick up the buttons IL
Inother opens the door now! h asked
at last.
What If baby should say MOP"
Baby pit up buttons, now"
gulped out the little sinner.
One button in. Baby was wailing
and drawing her breath in deep gasps.
That last button. Each eyed 1t, then
look ed at the other. Baby reached out,
took it gingerly between her fingers,
and dropped it into the bag.
Mothers precious lamb!"
Mrs. Waring was crying as hard as
baby. Baby, exhausted by her long
struggle. stretched out her arms. Her
mother picked her up, hugging her
tight,
"Wock baby. sobbed the little peni-
tent.
So the mother rocked her, stroking
he everish head. She crooned baby's
best loved lullaby, n which she had
composed In ambitious days, before the
precious charge had come to her.
Babys' tears were drying on her cheeks.
her heavy eyes Were half closed.
Mrs. Waring laid her in her tiny
white bed and looked down on her.