Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-05-19

son whom approached hopingly, transfixed me
with stony, vrtuous sort of glare, that made
tne shake in my shoes as If had committed
Tie objectionable offence. | gave up in de-
spair, and was about to return to my seat. when
a gentleman at the extreme end of the car beck
oned me forward. 1t was little family party.
the gentleman his wife, and a colored girl with
them, who held their babe in her arms. The
gentleman and his wife were both young, and
evidently Southerners.
1--WE heard about this baby from the conduc-
tor" said the gentleman, as came near. "My
wife has been fageting ever since it began to
! cry. Can we do any thing for youP"
/ The lady leaned past him. "Will you let me
| look at your baby. sir, a moment ?" she asked
| in, it seemed to me then, the sweetest tones
/ lnd ever heard. She held out her arms and
| 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 hungry"
answered. alt has had nothing to eat since
that woman got in this morning don't know
what to do with it."
"Poor little love :" exclaimed the lady. "what
q shame! no wonder it cries." She hcsitated,
/ glanced at her own baby in her servants arms,
at her husband, then, bushing like any rose,
/ the sweet mother laid my baby on her BOSOM
beneath her shawl, and hushcd its cries MS If il
had been her own--of her very flesh and blood
Her husband smiled and leaning forward as
( II to protect her from the gaze of others, made
/ room for me on the seat with their nurse.
explained the affair to him, told him my namt
and found that my family was not unknown to
him. As we talked, | saw that his wife, listen
/ ing, examined the dress of the child on her lap
felt of its texture, and finally unclaspcd some
chains that held up its sleeve. \ little minia.
ture was set in the clasp of each. She looked
at them, then she said, 81 am convinced. sir,
that the woman who abandoned this child in
youi care, is not its mother. In the first place,
no mother could 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 a gentleman with epau-
let's the other beautiful woman. evidently a
lady. Depend upon it, the child is stolen
one, or came into her hands by some unfair
means. What can be done?"
"Do not be troubled, madam, about the fate
of this child. After the possibility or proba-
bility you have suggested. | shall not leave it
in Boston. will take it to my mother, and ad-
verllse the case. II its parents are found,
shall be glad and if not, think my mother
will care for the rest Only" added, 81 wish
the meeting were safely over"
The ladys eyes sparkled through tears. ~
can't tell YOU" she said, chow. what YOU have
done, and are doing, seems to me, but | think
you too noble to dread anything. | will an.
swer for the mother that has such a son ~
Softly, softly, if you please" expostuated
her laughing husband "don't he quite obliyi-
GUS of the fact that / exist" She turned to
him with look that must have silenced the
veriest grumblcr in the world.
We reached Boston, took carriage together
and Oul, NJ tho ho,ol ou,r,ro. an So. ,,.,,
friends bid me adieu God bless YOU - said
the beautiful, noble woman, as she gave me
back my baby. should have knelt and kissed
the hand of such princess, but my arms and
] were so awkward Mt baby tending. that moth
ing else seemed possible accomplishment at
one and the time Tho clerk planced
suspciously at me, and nv burden.
1--WE are full, sir. Not room to be had"
/ sent for the proprietor, and again my name
vouched for me. What is it to have i family
in the land? "But where in the world, Mr.
Edward he demanded, "dd you get that
child" | told the story Ho shook his head,
but said othng.
| | sent for chambermaid to come to nv
room. begged of her to take the child, and
care for it during the night. At first she woul /.
hear to nothing. put my hand in my pocket.
| gave her ridiculous large brbe, but was
young and green. She took the child.
but shuie an ye're not the young gentle
man that I'D be afther leaving yer baby? Holy
Nargin. My caracther I'd be ruined inlirev in-
tirely." | assured her of the rectitude OF my
intentions, and sent her off, but she was ut my
door in the morning before | had left my bed,
and nothing would induce her to keep her
charge another instant.
took the stage for my country home. 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
your arms. Seems to me you're getting to be
u family man a eetle too early"
l laughed, and took my seat. But as we be-
gan 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 10 welcome me. think should
rather have walked up TO the cannon's mouth.
My sister started down the steps To meet me,
then stopped. stepped up on the piazza. My
mother, pale as death, sunk into her chair Nv
pretty cousin, Ella, on whom had ALWAYS, from
round jacket days, been sweet in sneaking
sort of a way, darted an annihilating glance at
me, and ran to support my mother. My father
advanced.
"What do you dare to bring here, You shame
less young rascal Is this place" lie broke
down so angry that utterance was absolutely
impossible. At any other time | should have
shouted with laughter at the ludicrous spectacle
he presented; now only FASTENED to tell my
story. In few moments my mothers arms
were round me, my sister and cousin were con-
testing a Peuri for possession of my baby, and
my father recovered from his rage sufficiently
to welcome his only son, though did hear him
growl through his white beard "Confounded