The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-08-08
Bless the Baby.

The reader may be curious TO know at what period
the event am about TO relate occurred. Reasons
of delicacy, however, prevent me from gratifying
even so reasonable desire; and will only say
that the narrowing circumstance took place in the
summer of a certain year, between the time of the
arrival Of the first bear at the Geological Gardens in
London and the present day.
/ had been a midshipmAn on board the well
known ship named after bis majesty King William
the Fourth but, receiving letters from home an.
nOuncng my fathers DEATH l had just returned to
take possession, well minor could of the
family estate. was not very well acquainted with
the world-except the liquid part of it-having
been brought up in a country town and shipped in
boyhood; but to make up for that, had an excel
lent opinion Of myself, and watched both with pride
and anxiety the sprouting of what conceived to
be promising moustache.
One evening, after getting myself into full tog,
i was displaying my horsemanship near the Zoolo-
gical Gardens when saw in the path leading to
the entrance one of the lOveliest women that ever
appeared TO the eyes of an ex-reefer. What was
that to me? / do not know. 1t a thing COM
pletey settled in my mind that was full grown
man, and that a full grown man has right to look
at any woman. In short, l dismounted, gave my
horse to the groom, and followed my divinity A
little girl was behind her walking with the nurse
maid, who had another child an infant in her arms,
and TO my great satisfaction this careless servant
put the baby presently in the arms of the older
girl, not much bigger than ITSELF watched the
proceeding, saw the little creature, whose walk was
but totter at the best, swayng to and fro under
her burden and the babys long clothes trailing on
the ground.
Madam" said to the LADY, touching my hat in
quarterback fashion, shat baby, fear, is in dan
gerous hands; you are perhaps not aware of it ?'-
She turned round instantly. 1t was what wanted
but the fash received from her beautiful eyes had
world of haughtiness in it; and although she bent
her head slightly and said "Sir l thank you :" did
not dare to continue the conversation, but walked
rapidly on. In fact it was obvious the woman
thought l had taken an unwarrantable lber-
ty in crtcising the arrangements of her walk,
and as when turning away caught smile at my
dis omfiture on the face of the nursemaid who
snatched the baby roughly away, indignation min.
gled with my awkwardness.
Who was this lady? Was she the mother of the
two children? Was she the governess? Was she
a relation? Was she single or married? She was
single; she was the mothers sister, / decided up
on that And after all, was her naughty look so
very reprehensibe? Had she not been addressed
by stranger, and that stranger a mana man of
somewhat distingue figure and most promising
moustache? / reented and as | saw ner enter
the gardens my heart gave great leap, for l con.
sidered il uncommony likely that a lion would break
loose, or something or other occur to draw forth
my chivalry and extort her gratitude. l was not
in error in my antieipations although the circum-
stance that did occur too wild even for an i'm
agination like mine. Had it come suddenly, al
most think | should have shut my eyes, held my
breath, and stood still, but it was, had no time
TO reflect; the uppermost idea in my mind was that
would do something heroic, something desperate,
and when opportunity offered nstantaneousy did it,
The party, with many others, were looking over
the nclosure at the bear his pole; and in order
that all might see, the nursemad had the little girl
~ her arms, while tue little girl had the baby in hers
This arrangement was not very reprehensble as a
momentary freak; for the maid of course had got
hold Of both the children--the elder of whom was
jumping with glee; and my attention therefore was
exclusively directed to the lady, who stood absorbed
IN the spectacle before me. All on a sudden there
was a scream from the l;:tle girl; the unfortunate
baby was over the incosure, and lying senseless on
its face 10 the arena and the gigantic bear was has.
lily descending the pole 70 secure its prey
To climb the Enclosure and spring into the arena
did not take me many moments-bIt it took me too
many. ! was little distance from the spot, and
before reached it, the bear had caught up the in
FAINT whose little face buried in its fur and on
my approach, made for the pole, and began to as.
cend with great rapidity. followed without giving
myself time for a moments reflection, and while
climbed eau ght hold OF the long clothes Of the baby
The action well.intended, but the consequences
were dreadiul-perhaps fatal for the bear loosed
his hold and the poor little thing fell to the ground
began uecnhnlChily 10 uesccuu, Out uiu not uare
TO look at what was, in all human probability, a
corpse. And presently could not look, for the
eKgencies of my own position demanded my every
thought The bear above was descending with
huge strides and angry growls, and another below
"A great black monster, OF whose presence in the
enclosure / had not been aware-was stumbling
along the support OF his comrade, and had almost
reached the pole.
The fix was terrible, but It lasted only an instant;
r 4 i. - .sA
few hearty wa;Iols the black bear to the right
about while my pursuer stopped short with ter
rible growl.
"What are you doing thereg" cried the keeper, as
staggered upon the ground. 81 must give you
10 the police for a lunatic"
Never mind me" said family; 'look to the
child, for | dare not
The child-what child"
Are you blinds There!" and forced my ewes
upon the hideous spectacle.
The Creatures head was Off Il was wax
hardly know how got over the Enclosure. A
sound OF laughter was IA my brain as iii, was made
oil ears and every ear VAS ringing its londest. The
nursemaid enjoyed the adventure more than any,
body, but the little girl In her arms STITCHED AZ ma
iariously as Il charging me with the murder of her
doll aud was hot paeihed ill the fragments Of that
sickening baby we're handed 10 her over NV shout
der. darted away; andit was high time 10 do so
for all the company ia the Gardens ~ere rushing 70
the spot.
The fair cause Of the mischief was standing a
little way, leaning the arm # a tall noble look
lag man will moustache ten times as big as mine.
She seemed choking between rec mt alarm and
II a. passef,