Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-07-03

shaking finger, pointed to the burden
In my arms, and stammeTed out some
thing about the mother having been lef,
behind.
"Wha, the 2" he exclaimed,
as his eyes fell on the child. "Weu,
you're in for it. and no mistake. l saw
,ha; woman after she got out. s,reaking
it like mad away from the depot, but
though, she had her young one with her.
You're nicely took In and done; that's
fact"
But what's to be done with this child?"
| asked.
Don't know, I'm sure. How far are
you going :"
ITO Boston, tonight"
"Then | guess you'll have 10 carry il
as far as there. Then you can take it to
one Of the hospitals or asylums where they
attend 10 this sort of business, and leave
it. Perhaps some of these ladies will
help you take it till we ge, to Boston )"
and the conductor passed on. As he
Went forward, evidently he told the story.
for heads began to turn, and lhen men and
boys came sauntering in from the other
cars-to see the fellow who had the. baby
left with him. Plenty of jokes were
cracked to my expense, for every now and
then | heard a regular guffnw and some
such phrases as precious green, eh ~
"Such gor' Looks fa,herlyr' etc.
l was in a rage. My blood boiled fu-
riously. One minute l wanted to swear.
the next TO kick every person and thing
in the car. | suppose IN my passion |
gave the poor little thing in my arms a
grip, for she uttered a.quick, little cry
She stopped IN moment, and l looked at
her. She lay in my arms so innocent,
and helpless, and fair, and white, and
looked up at Iae with. such complacent
placidity, tha, somehow | felt my anger
dying out IN spite of me---my embar-
rasment too.
Il may as we'll be man as such a
Fcontemptible sneak, I thought II
was an ineffable greeny TO get saddled in
This way, 10 be sure, but that's my fault,
and no, this poor little pussy's, and may
IS well brave 1t through. AS for these
confounded fools, just let ;hem laugh,
that's all
So settled myself cody to the care of
my baby. People after awhile grew ac-
z
Of the afternoon she slept soundly. But
Oh how heavy she grew! | seemed to
have leaden weight tugging heavier
and heavier upon me. How on earth do
women tug about children, day after day,
in The way they dos For me, I'm GER
tain I'd rather NOW, though | never tried
II.
However, to my story. Toward night
my baby walked and walked fretful, and
hungry. | suppose. She began to cry, a
long despairng, entirely uncompromislng
cry. People began to look again, curious
10 see what master nurse would do. |
tried every possible means to-pacify the
child; my watch, my eagle buttons, held
II up to the window, | handled I, nearly
turned it upside down; no use. Baby
properly despised my miserable efforts to
make il forget its needed and rightfUl con-
ISOLATION, and cried louder and louder Till
al las, seemed TO hold nothing in my
-ar ms 4bu. immense spuaii: "a man
could stand i; no longer, and rose despe-
ra;ely from my seat, determined to appeal
% some lady or woman for assistance
l2As passed through the car, some Of the
young ladies broke into a senseless litter
again, the older ones looked cut of 1.-THE
windows, and the men eyed me with a
knowing sort Of leer, that, had not my
arms been occupied, there should have
been a hit straight out from the shoulder,
one netherly looking person whom | ap-
preached hopingly, transfiXed ne with a
stony, vlrtuous sort of glance, tina mad
me shake in my shoes as if had commit
ted the objectionable offence. | gave up
in despair, and was about 10 return 10 my
seat, when a gentleman at the extreme
end OF the car beckoned me forward -
Il was little family party, The gentleman
his wife and celored girl with them,
who held their babe in her arms. The
gentle nan-a nd hisewife were both young,
and evidently Souiherners.
1--WE heard about this baby from the
conductor" said the gentleman, as | came
near. My wife has been fidgeting ever
since it began to cry. Can we do any
thing fo- you g.
The lady leaned past him. "Will you
let me look at your baby. sir, momcn,!'
she asked in, i, seemed 10 me then. the
sweet> ! tones l ever heard She held
ou, her arms and / laid the baby in
them.
such young child-and so pretty,
TOO. How HNcfies What Is the matter
with it,2"
al don't lli5ow. madam. unless its hun
gry," | answered. at has had nothing
TO ca; since thai woman got in thus morn-
ing. | don't know what 10 do with II.
Poor little love T. exclaimed the lady,
"whas a shame, no wonder 1t cries -
She hesi;ated, glanced a, her own baby
IN her servants arms, al her husband
then, blushing like any rose the sweet
mother laid my baby on her bosom, be
meath her shawl, and hushe1 lis cries as
if il had been her own of her very flesh
and blood.
Her husband smiled, and leaned for
ward as if to protect her from the gaze Of
Others, made room for me on the seat with
their nurse. Iexplained The affair TO him,
told him my name, and found that my
family was no, unknown 10 hum. As we
talked, | saw that his wife, listening, ex-
amined The dress OF the child on her lap,
felt OF lis texture, and finally unclasped
some chains that held up lis liltle slee"es.
4 small miniature was set IN the clasp OF
each one. She looked al them then she
said. Il am convinced, sir. that the won-
an who abandoned this child in your care