Litchfield enquirer., 1858-10-28

: of conscience.
 ] Sisler-in-law came that afternoon as Tom I had predicted. She was in very bad humor, and brought an intricate piece of crotchet-work 1 in her basket.
 There, don't ask me how an,' was the first salutation. "No one who has to bear ssuch things as l have, can be we'll" Y Dear me, what has happened p inquired | Don't ask me" replied sister-in-law He Us your brother, and 1 won't expose him. l won't mention the time he comes home at night, and I'll say nothing about his temper and won't even allude to the fact that can't have dressmaker in the house but he must say she is good looking. But will say, what bear \ no one else would put up with for moment <" !; And sister-iu-law piled her crotchet-needle with II redoubled energy
 ,N 1 was about to make some consolatory re- 4 mark, when Hepsiba opened the door, and, Il her voice =" reckon you'll hey to come, Mrs \ Psalter-I can't do nothin' with that young l 'un"
 N There is no help for it now, so I was ob- ,l ged to inform sster-n-aw that friend of mine N had left baby in my care for few days. 4 Well, you must be of very obliging dis i position to take charge of so young child" said sister-n-aw. "Its more than 1 would do. You will never be thanked for it, either ; and if 1t was ever sick for the next two years, the fault will be laid on your shoulders. Any one must be crazy to leave a baby of that age for strangers to take care of. You foolish, good-natured Emma, must say" began to be of her opinion, at last--and the more so, as the child began to scream pas sionatey and manifest the greatest dislike and disgust to all present. Various means of pa clficatlon, which occupied the whole afternoon. were tried in vain The child was evidently pining for it's mother, aud would not be conl- forted. Just as the gentlemen arrived in the evening, 1t sunk into all uneasy nap, aud l de- ) scended to the paror. Sster-u-law had ta- ken Fanny on her knee, and Tom was walking about the room, while Psalter lounged on the sofa, and John locking out of the window.
 Wel that is a nice little baby, isn't it., Fanny !' were the first words 1 heard sister .iil-law utter.
 -'' Yes, tnss'a ar1,, 5 replied the child.
 "Wbat is the lady's name, Fanny" que ried Jane
 " I don't know," said Fanny, "but guess
 Uncle Tom does-he brought it, you know"
 "Uncle Tom brought the baby?
 " les, Aunty, the night it stormed SO" an- swered the unconscious little mischel-maker. Sister-in-law sprang to her feet
 "Oh, Tom, you villain p she cried, "have l found you out at last And you, too, Enl- ma-to think that you would couhtenance such proceedings in your house Pve suspected something for long time, and now Oh, Tom, Tom, Tom !"
 "Just listen one moment, and I'll explain" pleaded Tom.
 Don't speak to me-" answered Jane, not one word will l listen to-" ' But you must" I cried, "Tom was going to tell you all about it in few days lie"
 "Thcre is no need of all explanation" said Jane " the fact speaks for tself If Tom brought that baby here----" " He did," answered, but" "Thcre are no buts about it," interrupted Jane, hurrying on her things. " l am goiug to ma and pa.7
 Such scene followed Every one explain ing at the top of their voices, and sister-ln-law disregardng everything that Was said, and re- beating that she knew it all along, and that she was going home to her parents. In fact, she did at length, despite all our endeavors, gain the strcet door and descended the steps, followed by Tom, whose agitation knew no bounds
 The twilight was melting into darkness but
 it was still light enough to discern every fea- ture, and, as the pair descended the steps, all- other couple ran full tilt against them. Instead of the usual half apology, the female, who was stout and forid, turned ,ound, looked full in Toms face and collared him. | "I know you," she cried " It's him, James, l knew him. Make him tell you what he has done with our baby"
 I Tom staggered back.
 "Thank heaven !" he cried, '" it is the ba- by's mother So you didn't mean to leave it, after all 7"
 !" Mean to leave my baby" answered tn. woman, "what do you mean? Tell me what you've done with the child, or I'll choke you. Alter I'd caught little Billy, I came back to I where I'd left you, aud you wasn't there, you kldnapper Where is the baby, before 1 call the police p
 l Your baby is safe, ma'am," said sister-in- law, who began to comprehend affairs. And l must say you have the least gratitude ofany one ever heard of. We supposed, of course, that your child had been abandoned, ard it has been well cared for by the gentleman whom you should thank instead of abuse'
 By this time I had brought the baby to the door, and after much explanation, the injured mother began to admit the possibility that the whole affair had not been preconcerted plan to rob her of her child, aud coDdescended to receive our apologies, and departed. Only too glad to be relieved from this dilemma, we re entered the house, and there explanations and apologies were made, forgiveness was accord ed, kisses of reconciliation were exchanged, and in the greatest unanimity we all sat dewn to tea.
 T Every story should have it's moral and the one that deduct from this is: Never keep a