Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1851-04-25
The Case of Joe Stausbury.

One of the best stories we have read
lately, is the following, which appeared
among the police news in the Philadel-
phia Pennsylvanian:
As Mrs. Esther Stansbury was about
to bring bucket of water from the hy-
drant last night, she found an old bask-
ct suspended from the knob of her front
door. Putting her hand into the bask-
ct, she felt something alive and kicking
but so enveloped in rags that no further
discovery could be made without un-
wrapping the object. Apiece Of paper
folded like a letter, lay by the side of
the animated bundle. Mrs. S Stansbury
Immediately returned into the house,
and by the light of the lamp, examined
the billet. 1t was addressed to her hus-
band. She tremulously broke the seal
and read as follows:
To Joe Stansbuy-Sir: send you
the baby, which you will please TO take
good care of and bring up right, SO that
it may turn out to be better man than
its daddy. Oh, Joseph! what sly old
rake you arei Who would think that
such staid, sober old spindle-shanks
could be such a tearing-down sinner?
The child is yOurs. You may swear to
that. Look at tit is Joe Stansbury
all over. You deceived me shamefully,
Joseph-letting on to be widower-
bat do fathers part by the young one
and I-I'll forgive you. Your heart
broken NANCY.
p. S.-Don't let that sharp-nosed
wife of yours see this letter. Cannon
her with some kind of a story about the
baby. n.
Mr.. S tansbury was in the basement
kitchen, quietly eating his supper, and
little imagining what storm was
brewing over his head. The door of
the kitchen was violently thrown open
and Mrs..S.'s voice yelled out, '':Stans-
bury-come up here, villain--here's
a mess for you' The astonished STAINS
bury hastily wiped his mouth and obey
ed the summons. ''Don't you want to
see Nancy? the heart broken Nancyl''
cried Mrs. S Stansbury, when her guilty
husband hobbled up into the room.
Nancy what Nancy's that" said the
sly old rogue with well feigned perplex-
ity. "Why, Nancy, the mother of this
baby that's been hung up at your door,
Mr.. Stansbury. Oh, you look mighty
innocent; but just read that letter, and
then look in that basket. Don't be a.
fraid, it won't bite, it's got no teeth,
poor thing!-you'll know it-for, as
your hussy says, it is just like you all
over. Please goodness, I'll expose
you before everybody"
And in less than five minutes, Mrs.
S Stansbury had collected room full of
spectators, to witness the process of
unwrapping the baby. Anxious ex-
pectation sat on every countenance, as
the jealous lady tore away rag after rag
from the founding, the vigorous move
ments of which astonished every body.
at is full of the devil already" said
Mrs. s.; 1that shows it is his-you'll
soon see that its like him in every
thing" At last, all the swaddling
clothes being removed, out jumped the
baby and made its escape through the
open door.
1t was big tom catl The Stans-
bury's had been victimized by practi-
cal joke, the contrivance of which was
traced to female neighbor. Mrs. s..
who had no taste for fun of that kind
made her complaint against the suspect
ed party; but, as the trick appeared to
be without malice, no binding over took
place.