He Serves an Apprenticeship. 35
-A few moments after, Willie was so startled by
a gruff voice in the room that he nearly dropped
the bottle ; but it was only his mother following his
directions. The plan was quite successful, for the
baby had not a suspicion that the voice was her
mother’s, paid no heed to it, and attended only to
her bottle.

Mr Macmichael, who had been in the country,
was creeping up the stair to his room, fearful of
disturbing his wife, when what should he hear but
a man’s voice as he supposed! and what should he
think but that robbers had broken in! Of course
he went to his wife’s room first. There he heard
the voice plainly enough through the door, but
when he opened it he could see no one except Willie
feeding the baby on an ottoman at the foot of the
_ bed. When his wife had explained what and why
it was, they both laughed heartily over Willie’s sug-
gestion for leaving the imagination of little Agnes
in repose ; and henceforth he was installed as night-
nurse, so long as the process of weaning should
last ; and very proud of his promotion he was. He
slept as sound as ever, for he had no anxiety about
waking; his mother always woke him the instant
Agnes began to cry.

“Willie!” she would say, “Willie! here’s your
haby wanting you.”

And up Willie would start, sometimes before he
was able to open his eyes, for little boys’ eyelids