Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-08-20
The Cadets Baby.


! am military man-not private in the
ranks, but an oihcer these many years.
have seen servicein Florida, in Mexico, on the
borders, and 1 bear of honorable scars" a
few
When was just seventeen, a cadet at West
Point was on my way home for the first
time within three years, Early in the morn
ing took my seat in the cars from New York
to Boston. l wore my uniform, and q may
own up now was not so unconscious or in
different as | seemed TO the many admiring
glances young ladies bestowed upon it and
the embryonic colonel or general within To
wards the middle Of the forenoon an Irish wo-
man got into the cars. They were crowded,
and she, not having the respect for the militia
ry which others had took what was almost the
only unoccupied seat, ana by my slde. L am
or was Democrat. The woman was well clad
and clean, so kept my place. In her arms
she held a child-a young baby of some six
or eight months. 1t was plump beautiful,
happy, little thing. / had very umanly and
uncadetish weakness for both babies and child
ren, and it was a long time since had been
so near to either that | petted and noticed
this little creature not a little.
AT noon the train stopped for fifteen min
utes. Most of the passengers got out |
meant to have the novelty of a six clock
dinner in Boston, so l did not stir from my
seat Seeing that did not, the women beg
ged to know If would hold her baby for a few
minutes while she got out Iassented. She
put the child in my arms and vanished. The
minutes passed away one by one the passen-
gers returned; presently wheu the bell rang a
crowd came with rush to resume their places;
the locomotive started; we were off, aud where,
oh, horror OF horrors iohere was thdt woman
My hair began to rise, and the sweat started
from every pore; stIll waited hoping that the
women was trying to get through the other
cars, and would come hnally to assume her
responsibility. quarter oi an hour elapseui
everybody was quietly seated, and still held
that child. People began to stare, young
ladies' to utter Inc conductor passed tnroughi
! stopped him. With ashaking finger point
ed to the burden IN my arms, and stammered
out something about the mother having been
left behind.
What the d-l! he exclaimed as his eye
fell on the child. 'Well, you're in for It and
no mistake. ! saw that woman after she got
out strealdng 1t like mad away from the depot
but thought she had her young one with her,
You're nicely took IN and done Tor, that $ a
fact. -
But what's to be done with TINS child
asked
Don't know I'm sure. How far are you
going 2
ITO Boston tonight
"'Then guess you'll have to carry 1t as lar
as there. Then you can take 1t to one oil
the hospitals or asylnms where they attend to
this business, and leave 1T Perhaps some oil
these ladies will take care OF 1t TIL we get to
Boston" and then the conductor passed on
As he went forward, evidently he told the sto,
ry, for heads began to turn, and then men and
boys came sauntering IN from the other cars
to see the fellow W no had the baby left with
him. Plenty ofjokes were cracked at my ex-
pense, for every now and then heard regu'
lar guffaw, and some such phrase as precious
green, eh "Such goF Looks fatherly J.
etc, etc
1t was in rage, My blood boiled iurosly
One minute wanted to swear, and the neXl
TO kick every person and thing in the car.
suppose in my passion gave the poor little
thing in my arms grip, for she uttered
quick, little cry She stopped in a moment
and looked at her. She lay IN my arms sc
innocent, and helpless, and fair and white
aud looked up at me with sneh complacen