A True Story

" W'herc 13 the baby, grandmai" The swect young mother calis From her work In the cosy kltchen, Wlth it dainty whltewashed walls. And grandma leaves her knlttlng, And looks lor hor all around; But not a trace of baby dear. C&n anywheré bo found. No sound of lts racrry prattle, No gleam of lts sunny halr, No patter of tlny fpotsteps, No slgn of lt any where. All througb house and garden, Far out into t) e field, Thev search f ach Eook and corner, But nothlng Is rcvealcd. And the mother'6 face grew pallld ; Grandma's eyes grew dim ; The father's gone to the vlllage; No uee to lock forhlm. And the baby lost! "Where's RoverV' The raoUifr chanced to thlnk Of the oM well In the orchard Where the cattle used to drink. " Whert's Roverí I know he'd flnd her ! Rover !" In valn they cal), Then hurry eway to the orchard; And there by the moss grown wa!l, Close to the well, Hes Rover, Holding to baby's dress; She was leasing over tbe well's edge In perfect fearlessness ! 8he stretchtd her llttlc trms dowr, But Rover held her fast And never secmed to mlrd the kicks Ihe tlny bare feet cast go spltefully upon hlm, But wagged hls tall lnstead, To erect Uac frlghtencd sèarcher?, Whllo naiighty baby sald : "Dere's 'Htle drill In the 'uter; 3he's du.it as big as me, Mamma; I want tb help her out, And take her home to tea, But Rover, he won' t let me, And I den't Iovk hitn. Go Away, you naugbty Rover I Oh : why are you crying !" The mother li.-sed hor, eaying: " My darling, understand, Good Rover saved jour life, my dear- And, sec, he licks vour hand ! Klss Rover." Baby truck him, Kutgrandmi undurstood; 8he Bafd: "lt's hard tothankthe filend Who thwartsnsforour good." Abbb Kinne In Baldwln's Monthlv.