The Adventures of Herr Baby

promises bin

o do so

o think of, you see. So much that even his d

s boat, and zen him d'eamed of being shuttened up in

e when the time for going to sleep has come. The birds and the bees, and the little lambs even, all know when that time has come, and go to sleep without any worry to themselves or other people. But children are not always so sensible. I could tell you a story-only I am afraid if she were to read it in this little book it would make her feel so ashamed that I should really be sorry for her, so I will not tell you her name nor where she lives-of a little girl who was promised two pounds, two whole gold pounds-fancy! if for one month she would go quietly to sleep at night when she was put to bed, and let her sister do the same; and she was to lose two shillings every night s

most with her. I don't think he would have told her as much but for that, for Denny's head was a very flighty one, and she never cared to think or talk about

such a lot," he said

real they would be some good. Like, you know, if I was to dream somebody gave me something awfull

unk like poor little mother, zen it wouldn't be nice for it to come

ow your head does run on one thing. I'm quite tired of you talking

else when him's sinking of o

nd indeed I think we'd better be quiet, or Lisa will b

or a minute or two.

he 'normous boat, him hopes him won't

is morning, she was really rather sleepy, and it is very tiresome to be wakene

ive him one! Stay-where had he seen one, just what he wanted, was it in the nursery or in the cupboard where Fritz kept his garden-tools and his skates, and all the big boy things which Baby too hoped to have of his own some day? No, it was not there. It must have been-yes, it was in the pantry when he went to ask James for a

Arthur

h that really ticked as long as you turned the key in it-all those things would fit in, nicely packed in "totton wool," of course, and crushy paper. The thought of it all made Baby's fingers fidget with eagerness to begin his packing. If only

ly still, he heard no one moving about the ho

said Ba

rep

very litt

e that Denny's eyes were shut, and her nose was half buried in the pillow in the

o himself; "her's a'lee

her cold; he felt more than half inclined just to cuddle himself up warm again and lie st

just to see it,"

noise-not enough to waken Denny, and indeed he would not much have minded if she had awakened, only that perhaps she would have wanted to go

cover, and where he had stepped without thinking, not being used to trotting about o

ings," he said to himself, "'cept on the carpet. Him would

rd but the ticking of the clock, and Baby wondered that he had never noticed before what a loud ticking clock it was; it did not come into his head that it was very late for none of the servants to be down, for

out a very little way he could reach to lift it down. He moved it out enough, then he stretched up his two hands to lift it down-it was not very heavy, but still rather heavier than he had thought. But with the help of his curly head, which he partly rested it on, he got it out safely enough, and was just slipping it gently downwards to the dresser when somehow the brush handle, which he had left on the shelf, caught him or the box, he could not tell which, and, startled by the feeling of something pushing against him, Baby lost his balance and fell! Off the dresser right down on to the hard floor, which had no carpet even to make it softer, he tumbled, and the little t'unk on the top of him. What a noise it made-even in the middle of his fright Baby could not help thinking what a tremendous noise he and the box seemed to make. He lay still for a minute; luckily the box, though it had come straight after him, had fallen a

by could not make out

to E

knocks; he would cry much more quickly if any one spoke sharply to him than if he hurt himself. So at first he lay still, wondering what was the matter. Then h

idn't know there was nuffin in the

ich had been cut by a piece of the broken glass. Baby was much more frightened by the sight of blood than by anything else-when he climbed up on the nursery chest of drawers, and Denny told him h

im's all bleeding!" he cri

n he heard steps coming along the passage, pattering steps something like his own, and before he h

the matter?" and, looking

ened. Him didn't mean," he sobbed; and Fritz sat down on the floor beside him, having the goo

itz. "There's some in mother's pocket-book

y piteously. "Him's foot bleed

ry you," said Fr

urprised to find how heavy he seemed after going a little way. He was obliged to rest after he had gone up a few steps, and Baby began to cry worse than before when he saw how tired poor Fritz was. I really don't know how they ever

at was the matter till she had done s

thing Baby said, stretchi

warm again, then mother had to hear all about it. It was not much Fritz could tell. He, too, had wakened early, and had heard Denny and Baby talking, for he slept in a little room near theirs. He had fallen half asleep again, and started up,

ng mother "ezackly" all about anything. And so he told the whole-how he had been "sinking" about trunks and packing, and "d'eaming" about them too, how Denny had been "razer c'oss" and wouldn't talk, and how the thought of the tiny sweet t'unk had come into his head all of itsel

rhaps than Baby could understand, for she had had the pretty jugs many years, and the thoughts of happy days were mingled

. "Him will take all the money of him's mo

m, but told him

esides, I cared for them in a way you can't understand. I had had them a long time, and one gets

nd," said Baby. "Him cares

sa says she must put away his old shoes, and his old woolly

a sweet fac

up. He mustn't take it in the railway wi

be washed?"

eve Baby would like it as much if i

tly. He seemed rather in a

'raps go to the country where the shiny jugs is made? And if him tak

be the same one

l. Mother tried

r your sake. What will please me more than new jugs just now, Baby, is for you to promise me not to try to do things like that without telling any one. Just think ho

r big brother tone. "Don't you remember in the story about her when she was li

ve a de

d have been much better," he said. "Him 'sinks and 'sinks, a

"But I'll tell you what I've been thinking-that if we don't take care somebo

Shall him go downstairs again, mother, to shut the door? Why, him's foot's still zather bleedy,"

e that Denny had thought it when Baby first woke up, in a few minutes her maid appeared, looking rather astonished. She looked still

the young gentlemen?" she said

and the others that there is some broken glass on the pantry floor,

ather what Denny called "'quisitive." "Was it the c

mother. "It was an accident. J

ng ashamed of its being known that he had been the cat. But as soon as the maid had left the room he came up

were him, will you?" he whispere

ike reaching down boxes for himself. Herr Baby must as

as a very tiny child, and Lisa had first come to be his nurse. For Lisa was very po

which, as he was not a very kissing pe

ways aks mother. Mother is s

'" said Fritz. "Mother and the cat an

iled, so Baby