Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-11-30
THE CADETS BABY.

HINc btcH HttNttO III EitlA0d3 ih AHcAASO1
on the borders, and bear Of honorable
scars" few.
When l was just seventeen, cadet at
West Point, was on my way home for
the first time within three years. Early
in the morning l took my seat in the cars
from New York to Boston. | wore my
uniform, and Il may own up now was not
so unconscious or Indifferent as | seemed,
to the many admiring glances young ladies
bestowed upon it, and the embryonic col
onel or general within. Towards the mid
die of the forenoon an Irish woman got
into the cars. They were crowded, and
she, not having the respect for the militia
ry that others had, took what was almost
the only unoccupied seat, and by my side.
amor acas--a Democrat The woman
was well clad and clean, so | keptmy place.
In her arms she held child--a babe Of
some six or eight months. 1t was plump,
beautiful, happy little thing. l had a very
unmanly and uncadetish weakness for both
babies and children, and it was SO long. a
time since had been so near to either,
that petted and noticed this little thing
not little.
minutes. Most of the passengers got out.
| meant to have the novelty of six o'clock
dinner in Boston, SO l did not stir from
my seat. Seeing that did not, the wo-
man begged to know if | would not hold
her baby for few moments while she got
out 1 assented. She put the child in
my arms and vanished. The minutes
passed away; one by one the passengers
returned; presently, when the bell rang,
crowd came with rush to rcssme their
places the locomotive started We were
off-and where, oh, horror of horrors was
that womanP Ny hair began to rise, and
the sweat to start from evory pore still l
waited, hoping that the woman was trying
to get through the other cars, and would
finally como to assume her responsibility
A quarter Of an hour elapsed everybody
was quietly seated, and still held that
child. People began to stare, young la
dies to litter. I felt myself as red as a
lobster. The conductor passed through :
| stopped him. With a shaking finger
pointed to the burden in my arms, and
stammered out something about the moth
er having been left behind.
"What the ID |" he exclaimed, as his
eye fell on the child. "Well, you're in for
it, and no mistake. I saw that woman af-
ter she got out, streaking it like mad away
from the depot, but thought she had her
young one with her. You're nicely took
in and done for, that's a fact"
"But what's to be done with the child"
I asked.
"Don't know, Tn sure. How far are
you going?"
ITO Boston tonight"
"Theu Iguess you'll have to carry it as
far as there, Then you can take it to one
of the hospitals or asylums, where they at
tend to that sort of business, and leave it.
Perhaps some of these ladies will help you
take care of it till we get to Boston" and
the conductor passed on. As he went for
ward he evidently told the story, for heads
began to turn, and then 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 at my
expense, for every now and then heard q
regular guffaw, and some such phrases as
"precious green, eh?" "Such a gol"-
CLOCKS fatherly," etc, etc.
, was in rage. My blood boiled furi-
ously. One minute wanted to swear, the
next to kick everything and person in the
! :. l suppose in my passion l 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 so innocent, and helpless, and
fair, and white, and looked up at me with
such complacent placidity, that somehow
, I felt my anger dying out in spite of me-
my embarrassment, too.
"I may as well be man as such con
temptible sneak" thought. ~ was al
ineffable greeney to get saddled in thi
way, to be sure, but that's my fault, anC
not this poor little pussy's, and l may al
we'll brave it through. AS for these con
founded fools, just let them laugh, that
all"
|, So settled myself cody TO the care o
my baby. People after awhile grew accus
toned to soc her in my arms, and most o
the afternoon she slept soundly. But oh
how heavy she grew seemed to have
= leaden weight tugging heavier and heayie
upon me. How on earth do women lu
about children, day after day, in the wa
- they do? For me, I'm certain I'd rathe
/. NOW, though l never tried it,
is However, to my story. Toward nigh
my baby walked and walked fretful, an,
hungry, suppose. She began to cry
long, despairing, entirely uncompromisin
Icry. People began to look again, curiou
= to see what master nurse would do tri
ed every possible means to pacify the child
my watch, my eagle buttons held it up I
the window dandled it turned it up
side down nearly-no use, Baby proper
5 ly despisod my miserable efforts to make
forget its needed and rightful consolation
and cried louder and louder, till at last
,g seemed to hold nothing in my arms but a
., immense squall. A man could stand
d. no longer, let alone a cadet, and 1 ros
q desperately from my seat determined
appeal to some lady or woman for assis
Iance.