The Huttig news., 1910-03-19
EACklE:L! l. OR AN D BABY
What Happened When He Was
 Left in Charge.


 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, bach elor is authority on the rearing of chil- dren, and I have often expressed my views o1 the subject at some length to a sister of mine who is married and has small daughter aged five. It so happened that l have seen little of the child, as my hours for calling on my sister are late, and when l arrive Grace; the little girl. is usually in bed
 But the other day my theories on the training of children received a severe shock. My sister said to me: John, Robert and l have an invitation to visit a friend of mine for the week end. She lives out of town and if we 1 go we don't want to take Grace with us. Now, I've often heard you say that you'd know how to bring up 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 I accepted, although it meant giving up an evening at the club and dinner engagement on Sun day. 1 went over to my sisters Sat urday noon, just before she left, ready for business. She said: You won't have anything to do, John, except to keep an eye on her, and if 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 l don't think you'll have any trou. ble''
 Then she turned to Grace, who had been standing by 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 a good girl and do what he tells you
 As she left the room turned quick. ly to the child.
 Don't you want to play. Gracie?" I asked.
 "Yesla she responded with enthusi- asm; want to play horsie'
 To anyone needing strenuous exer- else can recommend "horsie" as play. ed by my niece or rather as played by her uncle at her direction.
 Procuring piece of string some. what the worse for wear, she ap. proache me and requested me to take it in my teeth
 You dets on de floor,' explained Grace, so down on my hands and knees went The equestrienne sat or my back. kicked me in the sides and pulled violently on the string 1 crept painfully about the room, continually urged on to greater speed, until final ly stepped in the hall for rest.
 My sister was a careful housekeeper but my hands and the knees of my trousers showed the traces of their contact with the carpet As I was ex. amining them Miss Grace said: Want to play horsie on de piazza, uncle John?
 70, no, dear" I expostulated. 'Gt's cold outside and" I stopped. Tears were gathering in her eyes and her lower lip was beginning to tremble.
 Very well, we'll go" 1 assured her. but you must put on your hat and coat
 l assisted her on with her wraps and we went ot on the "pazazza." It 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. I hadn't thought to put on pair of gloves and arter two or three laps decided they'd be useless.
 You is a fat, slow horsie," remark. ed my rider as 1 started on what de termine1 should be the last lap of the circuit. Just as I reached the steps in front of the door Grace suddenly dismounted with a 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 malevolently.
 1 was 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 l was dripping with precipitation cold as it was.
 You look wa.m, MT Blake" grin ned my divinity with g smile.
 Having hot time, John?" grinned my rival.
 My sister left me in charge of Grace I explained, and am engaged in amusing her. This game is known as 'horsie.' It's little bit strenuous. :
 They smiled and passed on while | told my niece that it was time to go in and that we'd play "horsiea again some other day When it came time for her to go to bed the nurse un- dressed her l then picked her up and was about to deposit her in