Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-01
The Baby's First
Smile

afternoon, Just as the fOur-O CLOCKS
were opening under mothers window.
Mothers window was in the southeast
corner of little cottage facing the
sea. Back of the cottage were bay
berry bushes and quantities of sweet
fern, and close to the front piazza was
ounce bush, in the spring ablaze
with red blossoms. The blossoms were
gone, now, to be sure. but. If you look
ed closely in the bush, you would still
see something the bush might we'll be
proud of "a robins nest, holding four
blue eggs. Mamma had often watched
the mother robin sitting on the eggs,
and had thought what pity 1t" was
that there was no child in the cottage
to run out every day and peep into the
nest. For she remembered doing nat
when she was a little girl in this very
same cottage, and her gladness when
the eggs, in a little nest like this.
finally Matched out
Now there would be child again in
the cottage. That was what the song
sparrow seemed to be singing about.
His notes poured out joyously, but the
father and mother robin had no at.
tention to spare from their own nest.
There was hardly any ink left in the
inkbottle that night, father had written
so many letters. Father usually didn't
like to write letters, there was 50 lit
tie to tell, but this time it, was no
trouble at all, for he said the very
same thing in each one.
First he told the Great News that
the Baby had come; then he told her
weight, which was eight and a half
pounds, and lastly her name, Alice
Merribrook. At the end of every let
ter fathers own name was signed with
a proud flourish-John Lancaster Mar-
ribrook.
Although there was no difference in
the letters themselves, there was
great difference in the way they were
received.
Grandma was out In her yard, order
ing leg of mutton from the butcher.
when hor letter came, and she started
to read It ut once. That was well
enough; but the trouble was that she
kept on giving her order, and the
butcher opened his eyes very wide. for
what he heard was something like this
What do you think!-a small leg OF
lamb, for I'm all alone just now-eight
and half pounds!-This is a queer
looking cut-what do you call IT,
Alice Merribrook. That's after his
great aunt on his mothers side"
did you say eight and half pounds
asked the butcher.
Eyes, very good weight" said
grandma. "Give me small leg. And
she hurried into the house to spread
the glad news.
When Aunt Greta, up in New Hamp-
shire, got her letter, she was on the
point Of starting to climb Mount kear-
sarge. Her brother Jim had started
ahead up the trail with the luncheon
and sweaters, and she was to follow
from their house at the mountains
base, after getting them all. Jim walk
ed for about twenty minutes, and then
sat down under clump OF black
birches to wait till Greta should come
up. He waited and waited. Then he
went into an open space, and ate some
Of the low bush blueberries. The ber-
ries are large and juicy IN that region,
and Jim was able for some minutes 10
still his impotence.
After awhile he looked at his watch,
and said, What in thunder is Greta
doing! Another fifteen minutes went
by. No Greta! Ten minutes more!
No one in sight! This was not to be
borne. and with rather grim look on
his face Jim tramped home again.
There sat Greta in the front porch,
sewing on what appeared to be dolrs
frock, "Of all things! "-began her.
brother.
ooh, JIM" she cried, II forgot; but
this has to be finished. Alice Merr1-
brook has come!"
You'll never guess what Cousin
Tommy Dale in Philadelphia did when
his mother read her letter to him. He
cried!
why, Tommy" said his mother.
why, Toni" said his father.
Thomas" spoke Grandma Dale
more gently.
Its bad enough now" choked Tom
my. takes most all my 'lowance for
the others kids birthday presents
"You shall have five cents month
more" said grandma.
And, now you're getting to be sucn
a big boy, you can easily make some
gifts" added his mother, but Tommy
still felt the new baby to be an inter
loper.
One of those most pleased to hear OF
the baby's birth was Aunt Whey, the
old colored woman VINO
had nursed baby's father when he was
little. Aunt Whey chuckled all day
over the letter she felt so proud to
get, in her boy Johns own writing.
81 clar ter gracious!" said she to
~rself "Massa John'll spoil dat chile.
L Ia ,.a.14e Tor. raiSa q LII girl