212 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



'' Yes," replied the old man, in a gruff voice, 

 ^^ you may get in; but you must not pester my 

 ears Avitli any of the nonsense you women talk to 

 your babies." 



^^Oh, certainly not, sir; not for the world. I 

 won't do anything of the kind, upon my word ! " 

 exclaimed the woman ; and she was soon seated" by 

 the old man's side. 



They went on quietly for a mile or two, and then 

 the heavy baby woke up ; its head began to roll, 

 and its lips to make odd noises ; it was evidently 

 pleased or hungry. Its manifestations were too 

 much for the habitual folly of its mother to resist, 

 so she immediately began to dance it u]) and down 

 in the air, crying out, ^ ' An' does it like its little 

 ridy-pidy, hidy-hivy ? " 



" Humph ! " said the old gentleman, with a grin, 

 as he pulled his horse u^i short, and sto^^ped botli 

 gig and prattle so abruptly that he nearly sent 

 his comj^anion over the splash-board. '^ Perhaps^ 

 ma'am, he 'd like a little walky-palky as well ? 

 Get out directly and try." 



The poor crest-fallen woman obeyed, and the heavy 

 baby parasite was soon refreshing himself at the ma- 

 ternal expense under the shade of the nearest tree. 



