M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-06-21
THE CADE US BABY.
A Beautiful Story.

w men was Just seventeen, q cadet
at West Point, | was on my way home
for the first time within three years.
Early in the morning tool my seat
in the cars from New York to Boston.
wore my uniform, and q may own
up now,) was not 30 unconscious or
indifferent as seemed, to the many
NdmiiinR elancos young ladies be-
slowed upon it and the embryonic
colonel or general within. Towards
the middle OF the forenoon an Irish
woman got into the cars. They were
crowded, and she, not having the res.
pect for the military which others had
had, took what was almost the only
nnoccnpied seat, and by my side. |
am or was a democrat The woman
was well.clad and clean, so | kept my
place. In her arms she held a child
"a young babe Of some six or eight
months. 1t was a plump, beautiful,
happy little thing. | had a very un-
manly and uncadetish weakness for
babies and children, and it was so long
since | had beer so near to either that
| petted ard noticed this little creature
not a little.
Atnoon the train stopped for fifteen
minutes. Most of the passengers got
out. ! meant to have the novelty of
a six o'clock dinner in Boston, 50 ibid
not stir from my seat. Seeing that |
did not, the woman begged to know if
| would hold her baby for q few mo.
ments while she got out. assented.
She put the child in my arms and van.
ished. The minutes passed away
one by one the passengers returned;
presently, when the bell rung, a crowd
came with rush to resume their pla.
ces; the locomotive started; we we're
of; and where, oh, horror of horrors!
achere was that woman9 My hair be
gan to rise, and the sweat to start
from every pore, still waited, hoping
that the woman was trying to get thro'
the other cars, and would come finally
to assume her responsibility. A quar-.
ter Of an hour elapsed, every body was
quietly seated, and stll | held that
child. People began to stare, young
ladies to titter. | felt myself as red
as q lobster. The conductor passed
through; stopped him. With a shak-
ing finger pointed to the burden in
my arms. and stammered out some.
thing about the mother having been
left behind.
What the d-l!" he exclaimed, as
his eyes fell Oh the child. lagWell,
you're in Tor it, and no mistake.
saw that woman after she got out,
streakiug it like mad, away from the
depot, but Thought she had heryoung
one with her. You're nicely took in
and done for, that's a fact"
"But what's to be done with this
child 2" | asked.
Don't know, I'm sure. How faI
are yOu going!"
"To Boston tonight"
"Then guess you'll have to carry
it as far as there Then you can take
it to one OF the hospitals or asylums
where they attend to this sort of bust.
ness, and leave it. Perhaps some O.
these ladies will take care oft till VIC
get to Boston," and the conductor
passed on. AS he went forward, evi.
IDENTIFY he told the story, fer heads be-
gan to turn, and then men and boys
came saunteTing in from the Other
cars to see the fellow that had the ba
by left with him. Plenty ofjoke}
were cracked at my expense, for every
now and then heard irregular gufiaw
and some such phrases as "Preciou'
green, eh9" Such gow Looks
fatherly!" &C., &c.
was in a rage. My blood boilet
furiously. One minute | wanted t
swear, the next to kick every person
and thing in the car. | suppose il
my passion Igave the poor little thin:
in my arms a grip, for she uttered I
quick, little cry. She stopped in
moment, and | looked at her. Sh,
lay in my arms so innocent and help
less, and fair and white, and looked NJ
at me with such complacent placidity
that somehow | felt my anger dying
ont in spite OF me-my embarasS
ment too.
81 may as well be a lnan as such
contemplate sneak" | thought. {"
was an inefable greeney to get sad
died in this way, to be sure, but that
my fault, and not this poor little pus
sy's, and | may as well brave it thro'
As for these cOniounded fools, just le
'em laugh, that's ALL"
So settled myself coolly to the carr
of my baby. People after a whil'
grew accustomed to see her in m,
arms, and most OF the afternoon she
slept soundly. But oh, how heavy
she grew. seemed to have a leader
weight tugging heavier and heavier
upon me. How on earth do womer
lug about children day after day, in thC