Year: 1871

III InSse pleasant uayS, Wnen pcram-
bulators fill all the pleasant places,
pushed by their neat attendants, and
filled with priceless parcel that, out of
al! its foam of laces and embroideries,
wlnks and wonders at the world around
it, we are constantly led to remark upon
the transcendent qualities, not of the
sixth or seventh hall so much as OF the
first baby. The lovely little stories that
follow may tumble up in such clothes as
are already at hand, with only here a
ruflle and there scollop of their own
good enough TOR vagrants-but the first
heir is to be, and is, mass of delight
fully dainty newness. Flannel il not
warm enough for it, swans down is not
soft enough, and, il the hoar frost OF the
hedges, bediamonded with the dew of
the morning, were available, lace would
not be good enough for it.


What a rapture that first baby is in
the house where it comes. What impor-
tauce belongs TO all related, with their
new dignities and weighty titles, while
the young mother, just escaped from the
awful gates, sees the little bundle on her
pillow composedly sleeping or staring,
as if 1t had an equal right there with any
one else; and she feels surprise as great
as ii she had never expected it, together
with, perhaps, something like an awe of
herself on account of the great mysteries
through which she has passed. And
either parent looms in the others eyes
into wonderful and mighty guardian
angel, TO be venerated, for the time being,
beyond words.


Truly what pathos, as we'll as a rap
ture OF hopes and anticipations, hovers
around those folds of flannel-the pity OF
1t lest the halt of those anticipations
should never be fulfilled. And what
moment the minor matters take upon
themselves What contentious arise re-
garding those chameleon eyes what re-
semblHnces are discovered to family por.
traits, ugly yesterday as unknown shad-
Ows, but glorious to-day as paby's ances-
tors by what divine instinct does it suck
its thumb and what miracle that it
should not happen to be niisshapen To
think of the day when it will so alone
to conjecture tine voice in which ii shall
repeat The Stag at Eye;" to imagine
the hours when it NAV undergo these
same experiences in its own turn; TO
dream concerning the fate before it; to
know that this atom now of days ex.
perince already inherits eternity.


The time is too bright, the success OF
the thing is too intoxicating, not to need
the shading of the reflection of stiller
moments, when the mother, lying and
holding that tiny hand in hers, feels that
what she has become herself she has
made this child; that where any sin has
struck its dark tap-root into her blood,
that sin has gone to her child that
wrong wishing, evil imaginings, selfish
acts, now all come back to plague theiI
inventor, and more than that, to plague
and clog this precious spirit on its up,
ward fight, till she eXpiates the faults Of
years in the apprehension and suffering
of an hour.


Yet, in the ecstacy of the blisslul sea-
son that comes but once, such thoughts
can have but brief duration; there IS but
little time to spare out of the happiness,
out of the marvel, of this new being
starting on its course like a new star
Death fled from the place a moment
since; the great breath of life blew il
there; and their hearts have just been SCI
beating in time and tune with all hu
manity. Their hearts have caught the
keynote of the lives before and the lives
that are to come; for certainly the child
less must be aware that they drop out o
the world like dead leaves, that they senG
no strength or vitality on to the future
they have no bond With it, no part in it
no right or room in the great and perfec
race which one day shall blossom out o
this; they fall by the way, and are nj
more.


But that first baby is a pledge and az
assurance Of pefpetuity to its parents; /
links them, little creature that il is, will
the destinies of the planet as nothing els
can do; they will live again in that child
life; and they fancy that, carrying the.
Hoblest hopes and their bestiinto the ney
generation, with virtue and heroism O
its own, it will glorify their passive an,
undeveloped traits into splendid deeds
vital charties-traits that have slum
bered unstirred in them as the seeds G
oak and maple slumber beneath tn
shadow and density OF dark primeVa
pine forests. t-


Well, little perambulators, as we. loo
at you trundling on in the sunshine, W
can not help thinking something of til
same thoughts that your owners thin
concerning your laughing and cooling in
mates. Your little wheels are wheels {
fortune and wheels of time; you al
cha1iots OF history and of lame; th


world waits upon you. And If thos
who guide you understand as much, an
] guide you well, calling health and wi
, dom TO their side. il win not wait
Vain.-HfOm Hdrper's Bdzdr.