The American patriot., 1855-07-21
Bless the Baby!

| Il
period the event l 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 certain wear,
between the time Of the arrival of the first
bear at the Geological Gardens in London and
the present day.
1t had been a midshipman on board the
well-known ship named after His Majesty
klng William the Fourth; but receiving letters
from home announcing my fathers death.
had just returned to this country to take pos
session, as well as minor could, of the family
estate. | was not very well acquainted with
the world-except the liquid pat of it-hav-
ing been brought up in a country town, and
shipped in boyhood but to make up for that,
| had an excellent opinion of myself, and
watched both with pride and anxiety the
sprouling of what | conceived to be very
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 cxreefer. What was that to me? do not
know. 1t was a thing completely settled in
my mind, that was a full grown man, and that
! Il iu'i -io"H Has IL TlEIJ 10 look at any
woman. In short, | dismounted, gave my
horse to the groom, and followed my divinity
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 into
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 bur-
den, and the baby's clothes trailing on the
ground.
"Aaam" said to the lady, touching nv
hat in quarterback fashion, "that baby, | fear,
is in dangerous hands: you are perhaps not
aware of it," She turned round instantly. 1t
was what wanted, but the flash received
f,om her beautiful eyes had world of haughti-
ness in it; and although she bent her head
slightly, and said: "Sir, thank you," did
not dare to continue the conversation, but
walked rapidly on IN fact. it was obvious the
woman thought had taken an unwarrantahle
liberty in criticizing the arrangements of her
walk; anG as when turning away | caught a
smile at my discontinue on the face of the
nursc-lnaid, who snatchcd the baby roughly
away, indign.,ti ton mingled with my awkward
ness
Who was this lady? Was she the mother
Was she single or married? She was single
She was the mothers sister: decided upon
that. And, after all, was her naughty look so
reprehensible? Had she not been addressed
suddenly by stranger, and that stranger a
MANA man of somewhat listingue figure, and
most promising moustaches? reentcd; and
as saw her enter the Gardens my heart gave
great leap, for | considered it uncommonly
likely that lion would break loose or some
thing or other occur to draw forth my chivalry,
and eXtolt her gratitude. | was not in error
in my anticipa ions +; though the circumstance
which did occur was too wild for even an i'm
agina'ion lik mine. Had it come suddenly, |
almost think should have shut my eyes, held
my breath, and stood still but as it was had
no time to reflect; the uppermost idea in my
head was that would do something heroic,
something desperate; and when opportunity
Offered, instantaneously did it.
The party, with many others, were looking
over the inclosure at the bear on his pole and
in order that all might see , the nurse-mad had
the little gill in her arms, while the little girl
had the baby in hers. This arrangement was
not very rcprehehsiblc; at momentary freak,
for the maid had good hold of both the child
rem, the elder of whom was jumping with glee
and my attention, therefore, was exclusively
directed to the lady, who stood acsorbcd in the
spectacle before me- All on sudden there
was scream from the little girl-thc unfor
tunatc baby was over the incosure, and laying
sens ess on its face in the area, and the gigan-
tic bear was hastily descending the pole to Sc
cure its rrcy
To climb the inclosure and spring into the
area did not take me many moments, but it
took me too many. was at little distance
thn hof> I II
had caught up the Infant, whose little face was
buried in its fur; and on my approach made
for the po'c, and began to ascend with great
rapi lity. followed, without giving myself
time for a moment's reflection, and while |
climbed caught hold of the long clothes of the
baby. The action was well intended, but the
cons quences were neutrality-suspicious. fatal;
for the bear looscd his hold, and the poor lit
tie thi g fell to the ground. | began mcchan-
iray TO descend; but did not dare to look at
what was in all probability a lftlcss corpse
And presently | could not look for the cXi~en-
cieS ofmy own position demanded my every
thought. The bear above was deccndng with
huge stiid and angry growls, and another be-
low--a great black monster, of whose presence
in the Enclosure had not been awarc-was
shambling alone to the support of his comralc,
and had already almost reached the pole.
The fix was terrible, but il lasted only an in
slant; for the keeper now made his appearance,
and with few hearty woops sent the blacl,
bear to the right about, while my pursucr stop
ped short with terrific growl
"What are you doing here:' cried the
keeer as staggered upon the gound. II
must give you in charge to the police for u-
matte y
"Neyer mind me-" said family, "look to
the child, for dare not"
"Thc child?-what child."