BRUNO 109 



kittens, but after I had once explained to him 

 that she was too little and tender for such 

 frolics, that he must wait till she could run 

 about, he seemed quite satisfied, and constituted 

 himself her guardian, as he had always been 

 mine. While she slept, he would lie beside 

 her crib. When she took an airing, it was his 

 delight to walk proudly beside the carriage. 

 When I held her, he sat at my elbow; and 

 when she laughed and cooed in her romps with 

 Julius, he would make short runs around the 

 room, barking his delight. 



Happy hours, all too short! 



As spring advanced, our Little Blossom 

 drooped. Her brain had always been in ad- 

 vance of her physical development. She had 

 never the meaningless stare seen in normal 

 babies. Instead, there was a wistful, pensive 

 expression as she gazed into the fire or through 

 the window, with always a quick dimpling 

 smile when either of us spoke to her. There 

 was much sickness in town, especially among 

 young children. We decided to spend the sum- 

 mer months at the seashore. A cottage was 

 leased, and trunks were packed full of summer 

 clothes, draperies, and other joys and comforts. 



When the time came to start, the cry arose, 



