The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-11-09
fe's, with many imsgisings, and some

Tom had predicted. She was in very
bad humor, and brought m intricate piece
of crochet work in her basket. io
"There don't ask n how | am,p was
her first salutation. "No ono who has TO
bear such things as have, can be WELL"
Dear me, what has happenedr' I in
quired. a4
"Don't ask mo-" replied sister. 10 Jaw
He is your brother, and won't expose
him. won't mention the time he comes
home at night, and III say nothing about
his temper, and won't even allude to tho
fact that / cant have dresmakcr in the
house but he mus, say she is go d looking.
But l will say, what bear. no ono else
would rut up with for omeni." And
sister in-law piled her crochetncedle with
redoubled energy. q. .s'dasylsls gI.aui .il
l was about 10 mako some consolatory
remark, when Hepsibai opened the door,
and putting her heed in, exclaimed at the
top Of her voice. reckon you'll bnve tn
como, Mrs. Psalter, Lcan'tdo nothin' with
that young 'un." I ~
There is no help for it now, so was
obliged to inform sister-n-law that friend
of mine had left baby in my care for a
few days. ~ }5 10
Well, you must be Of very obliging
disposition to take so young a child," said
sister in law. {" It's more than would do.
You will never be thanked for it, either;
and if il is ever sick for the next two years,
tho fault will be laid on your shoulders
Any one must be crazy 10 leave 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 passionately, and manifest the
greatest dislike and disgust TO all present.
Various means of pacfication which occu-
pied the whole afternoon, were tried in
vain, The child was evidently pining for
its mother, and would not be comfortcd-
Just as the gentlemen arrived in the even
ing, 1t sunk into an uneasy nap, and |
descended to the parlor. Sister law had
taken Fanny on her knee, and Tom was
walking rcs,lcssly about the room, while
Psalter lounged on the sofa, and John
looking out the window.
well, that is nice little baby, isn't
it Farny!" were tho first words sister.in-
law uttered.
Yes, maam," replied the child.
Z" What is the baby's r.ame, Fanny
qucried Jane.
al don't know" said Fanny, but guess
Uncl" Tom does-he brcaght it. you
know"
"Uncle Tom brought the babyg'
ayes, Aunty, the night it stormed So"
answered the unconscious lutte mischief
maker.
Sster-in-law sprang TO her feet.
"Oh. Tom, you villanw she cried,
+" havc found you out at last9 And you,
too, Emma that you would couDten-
encc such proceeding in Your house! I've
suspected something for long time, and
now-Oh, Tom, Tom, Tomr'
"Just listen one moment and I'll explain,
pleoded Tom.
"Don't speak to me-" answered Jane,
not one word will listen to-
"But You must cried. Tom was
going to tell you all about it in few days.
"Thcre is no need of an cxplanati NJ"
said Jane, "thc fact speaks for ITSELF If
Tom brought that baby hcrc-"
He did," answered, but"
"Thcrc arc no butts about it," interrupt
ed Jane, hurryng on her things. +" / am
going home to ma and pa"
Such scene followed! Every ono OK
plainiug at the top Of their voices, and sis
ter-in- law disrcgardng everything that was
said, and repeating that she knew il all
along, and that she was going home to her
parents.
In f,c,, she did, al length, despite all
our endcavors, gain the street door and de
scended the steps followed by Tom, whose
agitation knew no bounds
The twilight was melting into darkness,
but il was still light enough to discern eve,
ry feature, and as the pair descended the
steps, another couple ran full tilt against
them. Instead o. the usual half apology,
the female, who was stout and florid, turn
ed round, looked full in Toms face md col
lored him.
"I know YOU" she cried. It's him
James, knew him. Make him tell you
what he has done with our baby"
Tom staggered back.
al hank heaven,' he cried, ait is tho
baby'S mother! So you didn't mean to
leave it, after all 2" .a ,.
"Mean to Lave my baby!' answered
the woman; "what do you meanl Tell
me what you've done with the child, or i'll
choke you. After I'd caught little Billy,
| came back to where I'd left You, and y u
wasn't there, you kiinapper. Where is
the baby, before ! call tho pcice9'
"Your baby is safe, ma'am," said sister,
in-law, who had begun TO comprehend
affairs. "And l must say you have the
least gratitude Of any one | ever heard Of.
We supposed, of course, that your child
had been abandoned, and il has been well
cared for by the gentleman, whom you
should thank instead Of abuse"
By this time had brought the baby to
the door, and, after much explanation, tho
injured mother began 10 admit the posi-
bility that the whole affair had not been a
preconcerted plan to rob her Of her child,
and condcscended to receive our apologies,
and departed Only too glad to bc re-
lieved from this dilemma, wo ro-entered