The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-07-25

|
have seen service in Florida, in Mexico, on tn,
borders, and bear of honorable sears few
When | was just seventeen, cadet a
West Point, l was on-my way home for thu
first time in three years. Early in the morn
ing | took my seat in the cars from New YorE
to Boston. wore my uniform, and | may
own up now,) was not so unconscious or in
different as | seemed, to the many admirho
glances young ladies bestowed upon it and
the embryonic colonel or general within. To
ward the middle of the forenoon an Irish wo
man got into the cars. They were crowded
and she not having the respect for the mill
tary which the others had had, took what was
almost the only unoccupied seat, and by my
side. The woman was well clad and clean,
so kept my place. In her arms she had a
child-a young babe of some six or eight
months. 1t was plump, beautiful happy lit
tie thing. had very unmanly and cadet
ish weakness for babies and children, and it
was so long since had been SO near to eth
er that petted and noticed this little crea-
ture not little.
At noon the train stopped for fifteen min
utes. Most of the passengers got out. |
meant to have the novelty of six O'Clock
dinner in Boston, so did not stir from my
seat Seeing that did not, the woman beg
gcd to know if would hold her baby for a
few moments while she got out. | assented, /,
She put the child in my arms and vanished.
The minutes passed away; one by one the
passengers returned presently, when the bell
rarg. a crowd came with a rush to resume
their former places, the locomotive started;
we were off; and where, oh, horror of horrors!
where was that woman! My hair began to
rise; and the sweat TO start from every pore,
still / waited, hoping that the woman was
trying to get through the other cars, and
would come finally to assume her reponsi-
blity. \ quarter of an hour elapsed, every
body was quietly seated, and still | held that
child. People began to stare, Young ladies
to litter felt myself as red as a lobster
The conductor passed through; ] stopped
him. With a shaking finger pointed to the
burden in my arms, and stammered out some
thing about the mother having been left be-
hind.
What the ID" he exclaimed, as his eyes
fell on the child. We'll you're in for it and
no mistake. | saw that woman after she got
out, streaking it like mad, away from the de-
pot, but thought she had her young one
with her. You're nicely took in and done
for, that's fact
but what's to be done with this childr
asked.
Don't know, I'm sure how far are you
goingF
TO Boston, tonight
'Then guess you'll have to carry it along
as far as there. Then you can take it to one
of the hospitals or asylums where they attend
to this sort of business, and leave it. Per
haps some of the ladies will help you take
care of it till we get to Boston, and the
conductor passed on. And as he went for
ward, evidently he told the story, for heads
began to turn, and then men and boys came
sauntering in from the other cars to sec the
fellow that had the child left with him. Plen-
ty of Jokes were cracked at my expense, for
every now and then heard a regular gufaw,
and some such phrases as Precious green,
eh Such a gor Looks fatherlyf &c, DC.
/ was in a rage. Ny blood boiled furious
". One moment wanted to swear, and the
next to kick every person and everything in
the car. ] suppose in my passion l gave the
poor little thing in my arms grip, for she
uttered quick, little cry. She stopped in a
and | looked at her. She lay in
nv arms so innocent and helpless and fair
and white, and looked at me with such COM
placeut placidity, that somehow I felt my an
rer dying out in spite of me-my embarrass-
ment too.
Il may as well be man as such con-
iemptible sneak thought l. Il was an in
sffable greeney to get saddled in this way TO
be sure, but thst's my fault and not this poor
little pussy's, and may as well brave it
through. As for these confounded fools just /
ct 'em laugh, that's all
So settled myself coolly to the care Of
nv baby. People after while grew accus-
omed to see her in my arms and most Of the |
lternoon she slept soundly. But oh, how
ieavy she grew. seemed to have leaden
weight tugging heavier and heavierupon me.
How on earth do women lug about children
lay after day in the way they dol For me,
I'm certain, I'd rather mot though 1 never
ried it.
However, to my story. Toward night my
Daby walked, and walked fretful and hungry,
suppose. She began 10 CRY; long de
pairing, entirely uncompromising CRY. Peo-
pie began to look again, curious to see what
master nurse would do. tried every posi-
,le means to Paeify the child: my watch, my
sagle buttons, held it Up to the window, l
handled If, nearly turned it upside down;