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Billy!’protestedAuntHannah；then，alittleseverely，shedemanded：AndwhowasitthatjustlastSeptemberwascallingthissameonly-object-in-the-worldathirdpersoninyourhome？’
Thirdperson，indeed!AuntHannah，didI？
DidIreallysaysuchadreadfulthingasthat？
ButIdidn’tknow，then，ofcourse。Icouldn’tknowhowperfectlywonderfulababyis，especiallysuchababyasBertram，Jr。，is。Why，AuntHannah，thatlittlethingknowsawholelotalready。
He’sknownmeforweeks；Iknowhehas。Andagesandagesagohebegantogivemelittlesmileswhenhesawme。Theyweresmiles——realsmiles!
Oh，yes，Iknownursesaidtheyweren’tsmilesatthefirst，’admittedBilly，inanswertoAuntHannah’sdoubtingexpression。Iknownursesaiditwasonlywindonhisstomach。Thinkofit——
windonhisstomach!JustasifIdidn’tknowthedifferencebetweenmyownbaby’ssmileandwindonhisstomach!Andyoudon’tknowhowsoonhebegantofollowmymovingfingerwithhiseyes!’
Yes，Itriedthatoneday，Iremember，’
observedAuntHannahdemurely。Imovedmyfinger。Helookedattheceiling——_fixedly_。’
Well，probablyhe_wanted_tolookattheceiling，then，’defendedtheyoungmother，promptly。
I’msureIwouldn’tgiveasnapforababyifhedidn’tsometimeshaveamindofhisown，andexerciseit!’
Oh，Billy，Billy，’laughedAuntHannah，withashakeofherheadasBillyturnedaway，chinuptilted。
BythetimeBertram，Jr。，wasthreemonthsold，Billywasunmistakablyheroldhappy，merryself，strongandwell。AffairsattheStrataoncemoreweremovingasbyclockwork——onlythistimeitwasababy’shandthatsettheclock，andthatwoundit，too。
BillytoldherhusbandveryearnestlythatnowtheyhadentereduponaperiodofEnormousResponsibility。TheLife，Character，andDestinyofaHumanSoulwasintrustedtotheircare，andtheymustbeWise，Faithful，andEfficient。TheymustbeatonceProudandHumbleatthistheirGreatOpportunity。TheymustObserve，Learn，andPractice。FirstandforemostintheireyesmustalwaysbethiswonderfulImportantTrust。
BertramlaughedatfirstveryheartilyatBilly’sinstructions，which，hedeclared，weresobristlingwithcapitalsthathecouldfairlyseethemdropfromherlips。Then，whenhefoundhowreallyverymuchinearnestshewas，andhowhurtshewasathislevity，hemanagedtopullhisfaceintosomethinglikesobrietywhileshetalkedtohim，thoughhedidpersistindroppingkissesonhercheeks，herchin，herfinger-tips，herhair，andthelittlepinklobesofherears——justbywayofpunctuation’tohersentences，hesaid。Andhetoldherthathewasn’treallyslightingherlips，onlythattheymovedsofasthecouldnotcatchthem。WhereatBillypouted，andtoldhimseverelythathewasabad，naughtyboy，andthathedidnotdeservetobethefatherofthedearest，mostwonderfulbabyintheworld。
No，IknowIdon’t，’beamedBertram，withcheerfulunrepentance；butIam，justthesame，’
hefinishedtriumphantly。Andthistimehecontrivedtofindhiswife’slips。
Oh，Bertram，’sighedBilly，despairingly。
You’reanolddear，ofcourse，andonejustcan’tbecrosswithyou；butyoudon’t，youjust_don’t_realizeyourImmenseResponsibility。’
Oh，yes，Ido，’maintainedBertramsoseriouslythatevenBillyherselfalmostbelievedhim。
Inspiteofhisassertions，however，itmustbeconfessedthatBertramwasmuchmoreinclinedtoregardthenewmemberofhisfamilyasjusthissonratherthanasanImportantTrust；andthereislittledoubtthathelikedtotosshimintheairandhearhisgleefulcrowsofdelight，withoutanybotherofObservinghimatall。AstotheLifeandCharacterandDestinyintrustedtohiscare，itistobefearedthatBertramjustplainglorie
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