Might have got £200.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 63, 3 January 1908, Page 2

Might have got £2OO.

I was their first baby. The young mother was in a perfect rapture. It was, without a doubt, an ugly baby, but she did not know it. Happy young mother! All of them are like her. But the father had dark misgivings. His salary was only £2 per week, and babies are expensive luxuries. * Her father was rich, but he had * frowned upon their union, and had heterodox and heretical notions as to supporting a son-in-law. One day, when the baby was a month old, the father came home from his office and found his wife radiant. She was even happy when the baby was out of her sight. " What is it, Jeannie ?" asked her husband gloomily, for he was yet uncertain us to the blessing conferred by the baby. He was also sleepy. "Oh, Charlie," she chirruped, "I heard from papa to-day," j, Charlie looked gloomier than ever. _j "Don't say anything, dear." she *' pleaded, for she knew her husband's opinion of her father. " He has heard of our baby, and, thongh he has not determined yet to forgive us, he sent £IOO for dear baby's sake." At first the young husband's face shadowed a gleam of pleasure, then it shadowed again. " Aren't you glad, Charlie ?" she asked, with a quivering lip. Then he smiled joyfully. " Yes, darling," he whispered, " but wc should have had twins."