New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-07
BLESS THE BABY


The reader may be curious 10 know at wha; -,
the event sm about TO relate occurred. Reassu,
delcacy, however, prevent me from gratifying a.
so reasonable a desire; and | will only say that's
narrowing circumstance took place in the Sumrs,
a certain year. between the time Of the arrival Q.
first bear al the Geological Gardens IN London a
the present day.
had been a mdshpman an board the wsl-kn,
ship named after his Majesty King William
Fourth; bur, receiving letters from homo aelorn&
nv fathers death, had just returned 10 take poo,
sion as we'll as minor could, Of the family esn,
| was not very well acquainted with the sord-s
cent tie liquid part Of it--haying been brought ss
a oouptry-iown and shipped In boyhoOd but 70 IA
M for that bad an excellent opinion of myself q
WATCHED both with pride and anxiety the sprogtas,
what conceived to be promising moustaehe.
One evening, after getting myself into ial TO-
was displaying my horsemanship near the Zo5osa
Gardens wien saw in the path loading TO he Z
uance one of the loveliesi women that ever appean
TO tie eyes OF an ex-reefer. What was that 10 ~
do rot know. II was thing completely sotteal
my mind that was a fullgrown man Gnd that n
grown man has right to look at any woman. |
short d mounted gave my horse 10 the groom, 4
followed my divinity A little girl was behind ks
walking with the iunemaid, who had another co1
al infant in her arms; aud 10 my great satisfacaa
this careless servant put the baby presently into
aims Of the older girl not much bigger than i'set
wacl cd The proceeding, saw the little creature shs
walk was bat tottor at the best, svaying 10 s1d
under her burden, and the babys long clothes uslA
or tie ground.
MADAM" said 10 the ady-touohing my hat
ouarte,-deck shion, that baby, fear s IN dangs
GUS hands: ven are perhaps not aware OF II u
turned round instantly. IL was what l wanted; p
the fash | received from her be turtul eyes BAD
world of haughiincss in it; and although she beuk
head slightly and said " Sir, thank you, l did u
dane 20 coutI ne the conversation, but walkei apaj
on. In fact it was OBVIOUS the woman thought IA2
taken an unwaIrantabe liberty IN cnucLing uRe
Of a.. wa nd All when aWaxl
caus ht a smile at my discontinue on the face OF h
nursenaid who snaicLod the baby roughly awayA
diapation ming led with my awkw srdnees.
Who was this lady Was she the mother Of i
two childreni Was she the governess Was aal
relation Was she sing 10 or married She "a
single; she was the mothers sister, ] decided ua
that. And after all, was her naughty looA so
reprehensiblel Had sue not been addressed bil
stranger and that stranger mana man OF 500
what distiDgue figure and most promising mm
taclesl relented; and rs saw her enter the q
dens my heart gave great leap; for | consldsuA
NE con moDy likely that "A lion would break looS,e
something or olber occur 10 draw torih my cm'a
and extort her gratitude. | was not IN error 10
apticipaiions although the circumstance that did
cur was too wild even for al inag na'ion like nn
Had il come suddenly, almost think should han
shut my eyes, held my breath, and stood stu, bss
il was had 10 time to reflect; The uppermo,t hes
nv mind was that would DO something heroic, sons
thing desperate aud when opportunity oheredl4
stanian, ously did II
The party, with many others, were looking over
Enclosure at the bear bis pole; and IN order thss
might see the nursemaii had tie little gul IN A
arms. while the little gil had the baby in hers. Tt
! arrangement was not very reprehenslOle "a mona
tsry freak; for the maid OF course had got hold
| both the chidreB--the elder of whom was Juinpn2
VII glee; and my attention therefore was EXCLUSIVE
directed 10 the lady, who stood absorbed IN the spe
! tacle before me- All on a sudden there wac s5el
! from the little girl; the unfortunate baby was ow
the inclosure, and lying senseless on lite iaoe III y
arena, al the gigantic bear was hastily descertg
/ the pole TO secure his prey
To climb the inclosure aud spring into the areus n
not take me many moments-but It took me too mar
! was at little distance from the SPOT, and betnl
reached IT, the bear had caught up the infant, ws.
little face was buried in its fur; aud, on my appva1
made for the pole and began to ascend with greats
| pidiiy | followed without giving myself time di
! moments reflection, and while climbed caughth
| of the loDg-clothes OF the baby. The acton wa ~
| intended, but the consequence were dreadul-r
! hans fatal: for The bear loOsed his hold and theW
| little thing fell TO the ground. began mechanics;
| 10 descend; but did not dare To look at what w@
ali human probability corpse. And presently
could not look; for the exigencies of my own poah
demanded my every thought The bear above
defcending with huge strides and angry growis,
another below-a great black monster, of whose Pn
ence in the Enclosure | had not been sware-n
shambng along to the support Of his comrades
had almost reached the POLE
The fix was terrible but it lasted only an instaE
for the keeper now made bis appearance, and Wit
few hearty wallops sent the black bear TO the ~
abou,, while my pursuer stopped short with tesrs
growl.
'What are you doing there :" cried the keeper
| staggered upon the ground. " l must give you
10 the police for lunatic,"
Never mind me" said family; "lOck 10 b
child for dare not" p
1.-THE child what child 7"
care you blindi There " and forced my en-
| uIon the hideOus spectacle
The creatures head was off 1t was wax!
hardly know bow | GOT over the inclosure
sound of laughter was in my brain, as il I was M
of ears, and every ear was ringing its loudest. n
nursemaid enjoy ed the adventure more than anybe
but the little girl in her arms cluiched at me fuhou
as if charging me with the murder Of her dol;
was not pached ill the fragments of tnat sickem
baby were handed TO her over my shoulder. | dal
away; and il high time TO 90 so, for all the "a
paDy in the Gardens were rushing to the spot.
The fair cause of the mischief standing hr
way of, leaning On the of a tall, noble0oka
man wlih mOustaehes ten times as big as msne. n
seemed choking between recent alarm and pres.
mirth; and as passed,
Sir" said She with swelling cheeks and uns'sx
voice, my husband wishes 10 thank you for eurho
girls doll. But was eff like shot withcutssr
Whiting TO touch my hat and thankful was bc
out of the gate; for many of the spectators on ze
me run, followed mechanically
II would be vain to attempt to describe my rzt
tons as sped rapidly along. But in the mids, ID
knew what was before mel had an iatenseoa
sciousness Of what was TO be done. NY resolvsw
fixed, and felt an insane joy at the idea that no -
sibe intervention could prevent me from execuiaB
AS soon as reached home went straightway 20
own room, locked and boed myself in, sat delx
ately down before the glass, drew forth my razo5r
shaved of my moustaches. lAlbG