The Argosy — page 290: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Village Blacksmith. ayy fortunately for Janet the doctor evinced no curiosity as to who the happy father of this youthful prodigy might be. For the next fortnight the laundress element in Mrs. Canter’s nature was in abeyance, whilst that of the monthly nurse held full sway. Her holy of holies was transferred from the laundry to Janet’s room ; her vestments were changed for a light print dress and a large white cambric apron, with bib and frills; a white muslin cap adorned her head ; instead of pattens, noiseless slippers covered her feet. The cradle was the shrine before which a great portion of her time was spent. Twice a day, morning and evening, the most solemn rites of baby-worship were celebrated. A flannel apron replaced the cambric one, and amid sundry cooings and wailings on the part of the victim, and incoherent babblings on the part of his priestess, the infant was duly washed and dressed. To witness this interesting function was, in their mother’s opinion, the greatest honour and treat it was in her power to bestow on any of her own offspring ; to be deprived of that sight, the greatest punishment. _ Indeed, the little Canters were having very festive times during Janet’s illness. Even on Mondays Mrs. Canter beamed on every- one she saw; her temper was smooth as glass, her spirits excellent ; her washerwomen very nearly satisfied her ; her ironers were criticised leniently. In short, the advent of this remarkable baby changed the Canter household for the time being into a small paradise of peace and love. Sleep on, little baby, for the time is very near when you will bring trouble and shame and sorrow, such as few are called to bear, on more than one person. When the baby was three weeks old, Mrs. Canter received a letter from Reuben, saying he was feeling so ill that he felt obliged to ask Janet to come home and see after him, and if Mark Brown gave him any more trouble, he had made up his mind to take the law into his own hands, and horsewhip him, Here was a pretty dilemma. It was clearly Janet’s duty to go to her father. It was equally clear that for another week, at least, this was impossible. And even then, if Janet were well enough to go, \what about the baby ? | *Every letter Rex wrote he urged secrecy with regard to his mar- riage, and he could not be made to see that the expected baby need jincrease the difficulty. On the contrary, his view was that the baby jwould simplify matters, for Norah could take care of it and enable Janet to return to her father. |} But Janet, obedient enough up to a certain point, was not to be }persuaded to bring her baby up by hand, or to be separated from jit, even for her father and husband’s sake. There was a limit to her wifely submission which was bounded by her duty to her child. Mrs. Canter supported her in this resolve, having very decided Wiews of her own on the subject. — — ECOMNICOO© eS) (CO)