St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-05-24
to take care of it till we get to Boston" "
and the conductor passed on. ..-. T.,

to take care of it till we get to Boston,"
and the conductor passed on. !.
AS he went forward. evidently he told
the story, for heads began to turn, and the
men and boys came sauntering in from the
other cars to see the fellow that had the
baby left with him. Plenty of jokes were
cracked at my expense, for every now and
then I heard a regular guaaw, and some
such phrases as, "Precious green eh ?'''
"such go" "Looks fatherlyv' etc, etc.
l was in rage. My blood boiled furi-
ously. One minute wanted to swear, the
next to kick every person and thing in the
car. l supposed in my passion I gave the
poor little thing in my arms grip, for she
uttered quick, little cry. She stopped in
a moment, and I looked at her. She lay
in my arms so innocent, and helpless, and
fair, and white, and looked up at me with
such a complacent placidity, that somehow
l felt my anger dying out in spite Of me-
my embarrassment too.
~ may as we'll be man as such con-
tcmptible sneak" thought. II was an in
efable greeny to get saddled in this way,
to be sure, but that's my fault, and not
this poor little pussy's and I may as we'll
brave it through. AS for these confound-
ed fools, just let 'em laugh, that's ALL"
So I settled myself cody to the care Of
my baby. People after a while grew ac-
customed to see her in my arms, and most
Of the forenoon she slept soundly.
But oh, how heavy she grew! I SEEM
ed to have leaden weight tugging heavi-
er and heavier upon 1ue. How on earth
do women lug about children, day after
day, in the way they do? For me, I'm
certain I'd rather NOW, though I never
tried it,
However, to my story. Toward night
my baby walked; and walked fretful and
hungry, I suppose. She began to cry; a
long, despairing, entirely uncompromising
cry. People began to look again, curious
to see what master nurse would do.
| tried every possible means to pacify
the child; my watch, my eagle buttons,
held it up to the window, I dandlcd it,
nearly turned it upside down; no use
Baby properly despised my miserable ef-
forts to make it forget its needed and right
full consolation, and cried louder and loud
er till at last l seemed to hold nothing in
my arms but an immense squall. A man
could stand no longer, let alone cadet,
and I rose desperately from my seat, de.
termine1 to appeal to some lady or woman
forassistance. sIpassed through the Car,
some Of the younger ladies broke into their
senselcss litter again the older ones looked
out Of the windows and the men eyed NE
with knowing sort Of leer, that, had not
my arms been occupied, they would have
had hit straight out from the shoulder.
One motherly looking person whom I ap-
preached hopingly, transfxed me with a
stony, virtuous sort Of glare, that made me
shake in my shoes as if I had committed
the objectionable otfcnse. I gave up in
despair, and was about to return to my
seat, when gentleman at the extreme end
Of the car beckoned me forward. It was a
little family party, the gentleman, his wife,
and colored girl with them, who held
their babe in her arms. The gentleman
and bis wife were both young, and evident
ly Southerners.
owe heard about this baby from the
conductor" said the gentleman, as I came
near. "My wife has been fd getting ever
since s. it began to cry. Can we do anything
for you?
The lady leaned past him.
"Will you let me look at your baby, Sir,
moment p she asked in, it seemed to me
then, the sweetest tones I had ever heard.
She held out her arms, and l laid the
baby in them.
"Such young child-and SO pretty,
too! How it cries! What is the matter
with it?''
81 don't know, madam, unless it's hun
gry." I answered. "It has had nothing
to eat since that woman got in this morn
ing. I don't know what to do with it."
"Poor little love!' exclaimed the lady,
"what shame ! no wonder it cries !" She
hesitated, glanced at her own baby in her
servants arms, at her husband, then,
blushing like any rose, the sweet mother
laid my baby on her bosom, beneath her
shawl, and hushed it's cries as if it had
been her own-of her very flesh and blood.
Her husband smiled, and leaning for
WaIu as II 10 prOtect 1ef from the gaze OF
others, made room for me on the seat with
their nurse. .r.
explained the affair to him, told him
my name, and found that my family was
not unknown to him. As we talked,
saw that his wife, listening, examined the
dress Of the child on her lap, felt of its
texture, and finally unclasped some chains
that held up its sleeves A little minia-
ture was set in the clasp of each. She
looked at them, then she said: i
III am convinced, Sir, that the woman
who abandoned this child in your care is
not it's mother. In the first place, no
mother con1 do such thing; then this
babes clothing is of the most exquisite
make and quality, and in these sleeve.
! chains are two miniatures. See one q
! nan nf(on,on NTH o,,orlofs &l,o oAl l.>,.