Year: 1879

20 with him; and that is not often, for am
afraid, as yet, to leave little Wilfred with
Tina. In the evenings he reads aloud to me
while work. He is very good and kind,
doing all he. can to make me cheerful and
satisfied; and I must be 80, if only for his
sake. ..,. . g.. ..na. ...sr. rs


It is a satisfaction to find that baby has
thriven on this change. He has certainly
grown wonderfully in the past month, and is
as strong and rosy as possible. What real
little mountaineer he will be- We must try
and keep him civilized, in case. we ever dc
60 back into the world. I suppose he will
at all events,-not 60 back, for he has never
been there, but 60 into it, some day.


Well, it is certainly fortunate that Ralph
and I are fond of one another. / don't know
how we should ever get on in such remote
place as this if we were not. The only thing
that troubles me somewhat, is, that he doesn't
seem fond enough of baby. Perhaps he re-
ally is, in his heart but I suppose men do
not show their feelings, in. such cases, as
strongly as we do. I told him, one day, that
he did not care as much for the little angel as
he ought.


eve were very happy before he gave us
the pleasure of his company" he answered
somewhat evasively. ......t..... ..... DO.


"And are we not twice as happy now?
I asked. ...'........-, -


81 don't know about that" said the pro.
voking man. "You may be. I don't pretend
to answer for your taste. You may pre-
fer being kept awake two thirds Of every
night, to having peaceful and unbroken
sleep. You may find it a wholesome recrea,
ton to carry sixteen or eighteen pounds
avoirdupois about the house in your arms
and tire your throat with singing, and"


81 don't do any Of those things; at least
not to the extent that you make out. He
is the best baby that ever was, and not at
all wakeful," I interrupted "And if you
don't appreciate your blessings, pity you,
that's all" a.ts.1.


"Perhaps pity myself" he rejoined, laugh:
ing. "Never mind, dear; when he gets lit
tie bigger I will appreciate him more In
the mean time, I miss your company some
what; but suppose that is an evil must &C
custom myself to"


Of course baby does take up good deal Of
my time. 1t cannot be otherwise, while / have
the chief care of him. hope Ralph does
not really feel neglected. rather think that
he only talks that way to tease me.


He will be proud enough Of his boy, one
Of these days.


July 18th. Ralph does not seem we'll, late
ly. l cannot make out what is the matter
with him but he has no appetite, is languid
and lies about good deal, which is very
unusual with him and sometimes complains
of an uncomfortable feeling in his chest.
pray heaven he may not be going to fall i'll.
feel very anxious, though he laughs at my
fears, and says he will soon be himself again


July 20th Ralph has had some alarming
symptoms, and I am half distracted about
him. entreat him to 60 to the nearest town
to consult physician, but he will not. He in
sists that he can get well just as soon without
any one prescribing for him.


"What if you should die in this desolate
place, and all for want of proper adviceT
asked him this morning.


81 am not going to die," he answered, i'm
patiently. "Don't worry yourself-and me-
by unnecessary anxiety. It only makes me
feel worse"


Now 1t is not his habit to speak sharply
especially to me, and know that nothing
but an entire disorganization of his physical
and nervous system can make him so irrita
BILE.


1t is at time like this that the Loneliness
of our situation weighs with dreadful sense
Of oppression upon my mind. We are so ab
solutely cut off from all human aid We are
at least twenty miles from the nearest physi
clan, and his skill, even, at the best, is doubt
full. Still, if he has studied, he must know
something of medicine, and it would be re-
lief to have him give an opinion regarding
Ralphs case


It seems to me now that it was the act Of
a madman, almost, to come and settle fam
lily in spot like this. I dare not dwell upon
the possibility of such catastrophe as ......
.........; and yet the idea haunts me with a
persistency that almost defes my efforts to
shake it off. Oh! my heart is down, down
under leaden weight, that crushes all the
Joy of life out of it. What lies before me
Who can tell?


Even my darling baby's innocent wiles
cannot ease me of my pain, or Danish the
phantom that is casting its dread shadow
about my path. Perhaps, however, my fears
are groundless. God grant they may be so


CTo pE rONTJNIrED