Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-07-09
EVENING STAR.
BL ESS THE PABY

| 4
| period the event am about to relate occur
red. Reasons of delicacy, however, prevent
me from gratifying evon so reasonable de-
sire; 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 q midshipman on board the well
known ship named after his Majesty King Will
liam the Fourth; but, receiving letters from
home announcing my fathers death, had
| just returned ~ take possession, as well as A
minor could, of the family estate I was not
very well acquainted with the world--except
the liquid part Of i:-having been brought up
| in country-town and shippcd in boyhood
but to make up for that had an excellent
opinion of myself and watched both with
pride and anxiety the sprouting Of what / con-
| celved to be promising moustache.
one evening, after getting myself into full
tog, was displaying my horsemanship near
the Geological Gardens, when / saw in the
path leading to the entrance one Of the love-
| Hest women that ever appeared to the eyes of
an ex-reefer. What was that to me / do
not know. 1t was thing completely settled
In my mind that was full-grown man, and
that a full-grown man has a right to look at
| any woman. In short Idismounted. gave my
horse to the groom, and followed my divinity.
| A little girl was behind her, walking with tho
| -NIoNhaii. NAo stIolnSE cIllu, an infant,
In her arms; and to my great satisfaction Il i,
careless servant put the baby presently into
the arms of the older girl not much bigger
than itself. 1 watched the proceeding, saw
the little creature whose walk was but a totter
at the best, sgaying to and fro under her bur-
den, and the baby's long clothes trailing on
the ground.
"Madam," said L to the lady, touching nv
hat IL quarter-deck fashion, "that baby, T
fear, is in dangerous hands you are perhaps
not aware Of it :" She turned round instantly.
1t was what wanted but the fash 1 received
from her beautiful eyes had world of haugh-
tiness in it; and although she bent her head
slightly and said - Sir, thank you," did
not dare to continue the conversation but rap
idly walked on. In fact it was obvious the
woman thought had taken an unwarrantable
liberty In criticising the arrangements of her
walk; and as when turning away I caught a
smile at my discontinue on the face of the
nursemaid, who snatohed the baby roughly
away, indignation mingled with my awkward
| ness.
Who was this lady? Was she the mother of
the two children2 Was she the coyerness
Was she a relation? Was she single or mar
ricd She was single; she was the mothers
slster-l decided upon that. And after all.
was her naughty look so very reprehensible
Had she not been addressed by a stranger and
that stranger mara man Of somewhat dts
nng"e figure and most promising mOustaches
| L relented, and rs / saw her enter the gardens
my heart gave great leap, for considered it
uncom1nonly likely that a lion would break
loose, or something or other occur to draw forth
my chivalry and extort her gratitude was
| not In error In my anticipations, although the
circumstance that did occur was too wild even
| tor an imagination like mine. Had it come
suddenly almost think l should have shut
my eyes, held my breath, and stood still but
as 1t was, had 10 time to reflect. The up
pcrmost idea in my mind was, that would do
| something heroic, something desperate and
when opportunity offered / instantaneousIy
did il.
The party, with many others, were looking
over the enclosure at the bear on his pole; and
In order that all might see, the nurse maid had
the Little girl in her arms while the little girl
had the baby in hers. This arrangement was
| not very reprehensible as a momentary freak:
for the maid of course had got hold of both the
chlldren-the elder Of whom was Jumping with
glee-and my attention therefore was exclu-
slvely directed to the lady, who stood absorbed
! In the spectacle before me: All on sudden,
there was a scream from the little girl; the un-
| fortunate baby was over the enclosure and
/ lying senseleSs on Its face in the arena and the
gigantic bear was hastily descending the pole
; to secure his prey.
To climb the incloSure and spring into the
arena did not take me many moments, but IL
took me too many. L was at a little distance
from the spot, and before reached il the bear
had caught up the infant, whose little face was
I eurled IN the tar, and, on my approach, made
| ior the pole, and began To ascend with great
rapldlty. followed, without giving myself
time for a moments reflection, and while T
climbed caught hold of the long clothes of the
baby. The action was well-intended, but the
consequences were dreadful, perhaps fatal, for
the bear loosed his hold, and the poor little
thing fell to the ground. began mechanicsllv
l descend. a 70 I,
was IN all human probability corpse And
presently could not look, for the exigencies
OF my own position demanded my every thought
Ihe bear above was descending with huge
strides and angry growls, and another below
great black monster, of whose presence in the
lncl0sure had not been aware, was shambIing
along to the support of his comrade, and had
almost reached the pole.
The nix was terrible, but il lasted but an
instant; for the Keeper now made his appear
ance, and with few hearty wallops sent the
black bear to the right about, while my pur-
suer stopped short with a terrible growi.
What are you doing THEREBY cried the
keeper, as l staggered upon the ground Il
must give you up to the police for lunaticu'
Never mind me-" said family, 'slook to
| the child, for dare not''
| The child, What child?n
| Are you blind? There" and forced nv
eyes upon the hideous spectacle.
| The creatures head was off, II was waxt
1 hardly know how 1 got over the incIosure
sound OF laughter was in my brain, as if L
| was made OF ears, and every ear was ringing
| Its loudest. The nursemaid enjoyed the adj
venture more than nybody, but the little girl
/ In her arms clutched at me furiously. as if
charging me with the murder of her doll; and
was not paciied till the fragments of that sick
ening baby were handed to her overmy shoul-
l der. darted away; and it was high time to
| do so, for all the company in the gardens ware
rushing to the spot.
l The fair cause Of the mischief was standing
little way of, leaning on the arm of a tall.
noble-looking man with moustaches ten times
as big as mine. She seemed choking between
recent alarm and present mirth; and a.
passed,
pr, SAID she, with swelling cheeks and
unsteady voice, my husband wishes to thank
you for our little girls doll :" But was of
| like shot Xithnut even waitin. 70 toneh ~.