M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-06-21

my arms and | we're then so awkward
at baby tending that nothing else
seemed a possible accomplishment at
one and the same time. The clerk
glanced susplciously at me and my
burden.
"We arc full, sir. Not room to
be had"
sent ior the proprietor, and again
my name vouched for me. What it
| is to haze a family in the landl
aBIt where in the world, Mr.. Ed
ward, ,Yhe demanded, "did you get
that child 2"
! | told the story. lie shook his
head, but said nothing.
| sent for a chambermaid to come
to my room. ! begged other to take
the child and care for it during the
night. I put my hand in my pocket.
| gave her a ridiculously large bribe,
but was young and green. She took
the child. Fl. bl s ,l.
But shure, an ye're not the young
gintleman that nd be aither leaving
yer baby? Holy Virgin! My char.
acterud Se ruined intirely."
assured her of the1rectitude Of my
intentions, ani sent her of, but shd
was at my door in the morning before
| had left my bed, aud nothing would
INDUCE her to keep her charge another
instant. F" g
book the stage for my country
homa,g The driver recognized the lad
he had driven SO often over the same
road
"How you're grown, to be sure, Mr..
Edward. Your folks won't know you,
I'm thinking, specially with that baby
in yolr arms. Seems to me you're
getting to be q family man leetle too
early"
! laughed and took my seat. But
a5 we began to near my home | grew
terribly nervous and cowardly. The
house stood back some distance from
the road, and as ! walked up from the
gate | saw the whole family gathered
on the piazza to welcome me. | think
| should rather have walked up to
tie cannon's mouth. My sister start.
ed down the steps to meet nae, then
stopped. | stepped up on the piazzi.
My mother, pale as death, sunk into
her chair. My pretty cousin, Ella, on
whom | had always, from round jacket
days, been sweet in a sneaking sort oI
way, darted an annihilating glance at
me and ran to support my mother. -
My father advanced.
"What do you dare to bring here,
you shameless young rascal! Is this
a place"
He broke down so angry that utter.
ance was absolutely impossible. AT
any other time | should have shouted
with laughter at the ludicrous specta
cle he presented; now | only hastened
to tell my story. In a few moments
my mothers arms were round me, my
sister and cousin were cOntesting {
L'euri for possession of my baby, an(
my father recovered from his rage suf
ticiently to welcome his only son, tho
did hear him growl through his
white beard, "Contounded spooney!'
] advertised far and wide to no pur
pose But my baby grew so into the
affections Of all the household that
had no other steps to take. We nam.
ed her Pcrdida, and | left her with my
mother. When returned, year after
year, found her each time grown hea.
vier and prettier, and she each time
manifested an affection for me, charm,
ingly iegitimate-for was she not "My
baby (" AS such | cherished her.
She vas six years cid when | left
West Point for active service. After
that | led a wandering and adventur
ou8 life for years "by flood and field
my baby" wrote me, at first often
! Her fist letters were curious speci
, mens-half.written, halfprinted, ant
sometimes her meaning eked out will
rude drawings. In these days she
was charmingly personal. 81 do 81
and sol think so and SOL love Sc
and So" But years changed her cali
graphy, and, alas | the feeling Of hel
letters. Now, in her charming girl
: ish characters, stood "Your motheI
does 50 and So" or, "Your siste,
thinks and loves" &c. Ny mothe
wrote:
"We can't call Perdida your 'baby
any longer. She does not permit The
title, and you, were you to see her
could scarce imagine that our fai
: young queen was ever baby. All
too old to be enthusiastic, but our dar
ling is surely the loveliest vision these
eyes have ever rested on. She makes
hearts ache, but as yet their pain il
: vain. We tried to be so cautious, bu
she has somehow learned about hel
finding, and it is bitter knowledge tt
the proud little heart. 1t may be tina
that makes her melt only to US. Viii
you never come home to see cs an(
, her"