The Mount Holly news., 1919-12-30
NAMING BABY
ny MARY LOUISE BuzzELL.
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90 BY the Mcclure Newspaper syndicate)
John Merrill and his wife, Lena. and
the two nearest in-laws, sat in solemn
conclave In the pleasant living room
Of the Merrill home.
Inc occasion was an important one,
being that of choosing a name for the
recently arrived heir. At first thought
1t might seem very simple matter to
select a name for the small bit of hui
manity lying in the white crib stand
ing on the rug; but only those having
been through the ordeal of finding a
name pleasing to a perfectly new fa-
ther and mother-not to mention two
grandmothers of quite opposite ideas
on the subJect-could possibly under
stand the difficulties of the situation.
So the young mother was on the
verge Of tears, and her husband was
on the point of making unseemly re-
marks to the two grandmothers-be-
cause of their persistence in advocat-
ing their own individual choice of a
name for their helpless grandson.
Grandmother Griffith favored Adon-
Tram, but Grandmother Merrill had
come out strong for Joash, as being an
old family name.
And better man than your great
grandfather, Joash Merrill, never trod
sh0e-leather, John |" she declared with
some vehemence, as she pointed a
convincing finger at her son. HE was
always first and foremost in all good
work In his native town, and should
be proud to have your son bear the
same name. How does it strike your"
Evidently it did not meet with much
favor-for her son gave a prolonged
whistle, and Grandmother Griffith an
equally long sniff while her daughter
smothered an exclamation of dismay
when her husband kicked her foot un-
der the table. Grandmother Merrill
was quick to sense the antagonistic
attitude of her companions and leaned
back In her chair In dignified silence,
after uttering a curtly abused:
"Oh. of course, 1 shouldn't wish to
dictate at all In the choice of a name
for my own grandson. though 1t does
seem as If"
She stopped short at the perfectly
audible "Joash |" that issued from the
pursed-up lips Of the other grand
mother-whO evidently felt that the
baby was as much her grandson as he
was Selma MerriIl's, and she didn't
intend to be ignored.
The uncomfortable silence that fol-
lowed In the wake Of that remark was
broken by a CHEEKY whistle outside,
and the sudden entrance of Tom Arm
strong, a lifelong chum of John Mer-
rill. He had just returned from over
seas. where he had won both praise
and medals for his bravery under fire.
He received warm welcome from all,
and soon everyone was so deeply In
| terested In his enthusiastic account of
his experiences "over there that even
the new baby was forgotten for the
time being.
"Of course you couldn't 60 with so
many dependent on you, John," he
| said, "but wish you could have seen
our boys in actionl Why" he exulted,
sit was perfectly wonderful.
"And then to see the way they tried
to help each other-always praising
the other fellow, without a trace of
! jealousy" Here Grandmother Merrill
shot a shame-faced glance at Grand
mother Griffith, who returned 1t with
sickly smile of understanding as the
young man went on: II never met
single chap but who was ready to give
comrade credit for every brave act
while he belittled everything he had
himself done.
"And the Officers-well, don't talk
They were more like big brothers to
their men than anything else, and
their wasn't man under either Ed
wards or Logan but would have gone
through any danger for them. And If
/ ever have a SON"
Lena Merrill interrupted him by
springing to her feet and clapping her
hands, as she cried:
why Ql6A VIC tllluk VI ourselves.
Johnf Logan Edwards Merrill-that
Is the baby's name. You haven't seen
the baby, Tom. Come herep' and she
led the way to the white crib. And
the grandmothers followed, nodding a
pleased approval, and so did the young
father and likewise Tom Armstrong,
| and SO in the twinkling of an eye as
1t were. the heir to the house of Mer-
rill was named-and without dissent
ing voice from the in-laws. And more
over, Tom Armstrong received a vote
of thanks for cutting the Gordian
knot. and Logan Edwards Merrill slept
blissfully on, quite oblivious to the
honor bestowed upon him.
But after the rest were again seated
two white heads bent adoringly over
the small occupant of the crib, and
presently Grandmother Griffith MUIR
INJURED: That's a fine outstanding
name, call it, and hope he'll live up
to 1t. 1t was just petty jealousy, the
kind the boys over there didn't have"
And Grandmother Merrill whispered
back: Don't mention it. And II
guess maybe 'Joash' would have been
something of handicap in these days
There, see him smile-almost as If he
knew he'd been named for two won
derful men," Then the two proud
grandmothers tiptoed smilingly back
to their chairs, and feeling that they
had made amends for their little ex-
hibition of jealousy toward each other.
were soon deep In friendly discussion
as to how many months must eIapse
before Logan Edwards Merrill could
be put into rompers.