The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-12-27

TnE CADETS BABY.

IN the ranks, out an OulCer. LnCSG many
years. + have seen service in Florida,
in Mexico, on the borders, and L bear
Of "honorable scars" few.
When [ was just seventeen, a cadet
at West Point, l was on my way home
for the FIRST time within three years.
Early in the morning I took my seat in
the cars from New York to Boston.
wore my uniform, and CI may own up
nOw,) was not so unconscious or indif-
ferent as L seemed to the many admir-
ing glances young ladies bestowed upon
it and the embryonic colonel or general
within, Toward the middle of the fore
noon an Irish woman got into the cars
| They were crowded, and she, not hav-
ing the respect for the military which
others had, took what was the almost
only unoccupied seat, and bymy side.
am, or was a democrat. The woman
was wel-olad and clean, so 1 kept my
place. In her arms she had child, a
young babe of six or eight months. #
was plump, beautiful happy little
| thing. l had q very uumanly and un-
cadetish weakness for babies and child
ron, and it was so long since had been
so near to either that petted and no
ticed this little creature not a little.
At noon the train stopped for fifteen
minutes Most Of the passengers got
out. meauo to have the novelty of a
six O'CLOCK dinner in Boston, so I did
not stir from my scat. Seeing that l
did not, thowoman begged to know if
I would hold her babe a few minutes
while she got out I asscntcd. She
put the child in my arms and vanished.
The minutes passed away Que by one
the passengers returned; presently,
when the bell rung, a crowd came with
a rush to resume their places; the loco
motive started; we were off, and where,
oh, horror of horrorsl ,ghcrc was that
womanl My hair began to RISE and
the sweat to start from every pore; still
l waited, hoping that tho woman was
trying to get through the other cars,
and would come finally to resume her
responsibility A quarter Of an hour
elapsed, everybody was quietly seated,
and still held that child People be-
gan to stare, young ladies to litter.
felt myself as red as a lobster. The
conductor passed, through; l stopped
him. With a shaking finger pointed
to the burden in my arms, and STAN
mered out something about the mother
having been left behind.
"What the d-l!" he exclaimed as
his eyes fell on the child. "Well,
you're in for it, and no mistake l saw
that woman after she got out, streaking
it like mad from the depot, but 1
thought she had her young one with
q her. You're nicely took in and done
3 for that fact"
; But what's to be done with this
e child?' l asked
Don't know, I'm sure. How far
arc you gOiug?"
t "To Boston, tonight"
Then l guess you'll have to carry it
as far as there. Then you can take it
p to one Of the hospitals or asylums where
= they attend to this sort Of business
p and leave it. Perhaps some Of these
r ladies will help you take care Of it till
b we get to Boston," and the conductor
D passed on AS he went forward, evi.
e IDENTIFY he told the story, for heads be.
= gan to turn, and then men and boys
came sauntering in from the other cars
to sec the fellow that had the baby left
with him. Plenty of jokes were crack
e ed at my expense, for every now and
70 then heard a regular gufaw, aud such
+ phrases as ''Precious green, eh?' "Suci
a go" "Looks fatherly!" &c.
y 1 was in a rage. My blood boiled fu
J. riously. One minute 1 wanted tl
'i swear, and the next to kick every per
e son and thing in the car I suppose in
my passion 1 gave tho poor little thing
o in my arms a grip, for she uttered {
1t quick, little cry. She stopped in mo
q ment, and I looked at her. She lay il
a my arms so innocent aud helpless, ant
fair and white, and looked up at m,
r with such complacent placidity, tha
d somehow 1 felt my anger giving out il
q spite Of me-my embarrassment too
4 81 may as we'll be a man as such
b contemplate sneak" thought &"
p" was an ineffable greeny to get saddlet
ia this way TO be sure, but that's IN,
s fault, aud not this poor litto pussy
io aud 1 may as we'll brave it through q
N AS for these confounded fools, just le
l,r., 1..-I eI.Ef- III %