The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-12-27


ter again the older ones looked out Of
the windows, and the men eyed me with
a sort Of knowing leor that, had not my
arms been occupied they would have
had a hit straight out from my shoulder.
One motherly-lookiug person whom I
approached, hOpingly, transdxed me
with a stony, virtuous sort of glare,
that made me shake in my shoes as if l
had committed the objectionable Of
fence. 1 gave up in despair, and was
about to return to my seat, when gem
/ tlemau at the extreme end Of the car
| boCkOned me forward. It was a little
family party tho gentleman, his wife,
and o cOlorud girl wiJh them, who held
their babe in her arms. The gentle
man and his wife were both young, and
evidently Southerncrs.
"Wo heard about this baby from the
conductor, said the gentleman as l
came near "My wife has been fdgot-
ling ever since it began to cry. Can we
do anything for your"
The lady leaned past him, "Win
you let me look at your baby, sir, a mo-
mont2" she asked in Gt seemed to me
them the sweetest tones / ever heard
She held out her arms, and 1 laid the
baby in them.
Such a young child, and so pretty,
too! How it cries What is the mat
ter with it?"
'I don't know, madam, unless it's
hungry" I answered. ut has had
nothing to cat since that woman got in
this morning I don't know what to
do with it."
"Poor little lovcl" exclaimed the la
dy "What a shamel no wonder it
criosl
She hesitatod, glanced at her own
baby in her servants arms, and at her
husband. Then, blushing like any
rose, the sweet mother laid my baby on
her bosom, beneath her shawl, and
hushod its cries as if it had been hor
owu, Of her very flesh and blood.
Her husband smiled, and leaning for.
ward as if to protect her from the gaze
of others, made room for me on the
seat with the nurse. 1 explained tho
affair to him, told him my name, ant
found that my family was not unknown
to him. As we talked, l saw that his
wife, listening, examined the dress of
the child on her lap, felt of its texture
and finally unolasped some chains tha
held up its sleeves. A little miniature
was in the clasp of each She looked
at them; then she said:
IT am convinced, sir, that the woman
who abandoned this child to your care
is not its mother. In the first place M
5 mother could do such thing; then thi
childs clothing is Of the most exqui
= site make and quality, and in thosr
, slceve-chaius are two miniatures. See
one gentleman with epaulcttcs, thu
j other a beautiful woman, evidently q
p lady. Depend upon it, the child is
stolen one, or came to her hands b.
S some unfair myans. What can b.
donc?'
r "Do not be troubled, madam, abou
the fate Of this child. After the posi-
bility or probability you have suggest
{ ed [ will not leave it in Boston 1 vii
{ take it to my mother, and advertise th
D case. If its parents arc found, [ shall
, be glad; and if not, I think my mothe
D will care for the rest Only" I added
! 81 wish the meeting were safely over"
The lady's eyes sparkled throug
tears II can't tell you" she said
- chow what you have done, and are do
ing, seems to me; but 1 think you to
noble to dread anything. I will an
swer for the mother that has such
sonp
d "Softly, softly, if you please" expos
D tulated her laughing husband; "don'
be quite obliyious of the fact that 1 ez
ist"
She turned to him with a look tina
o must have silenced the veriest grumble
- in the world,
We reached Boston, took n carriag
g together and only at the hotel entranc
a did my new friend bid me adieu.
+ "God bless you'll" said the beautiful
u noble woman, as she gave me back m
y baby, I should have knelt and ksse
9 the hand of such a princess, but m
~ arms and L were then so awkward at bg
d by-tending, that nothing else seemed
possible accomplishment at one and III
d same time. The clerk glanced suspi,
4 iOusly at me and my burden. awe al
u full, sir; not a room to be had
= [ Concluded neEt lgeeb.