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

lily party, the gentleman, his wife, and a
colored girl with them, who held their babe
in her arms. The gentleman and his wife
werc both young, and evidently Southern
ers.
eve heard about this baby from the CON
ductor," said the gentleman, as / came
near. "My wife has been uneasy ever
since it began to cry. Can we do anything
for your"
The lady leaned past him. "Will you
let me look at your baby, sir, moment?"
she asked in, it seemed to me then, the
sweetest tones / had ever heard. She held
out. her arms, and l laid the baby in them.
"Such young child--and so pretty, too.
How it cries. What is the matter with it?''
III don't know, madam, unless it's hun
gry," answered. at has had nothing to
eat since that woman got in this morning.
I don't know what to do with ii"
oPoor little loyel" exclaimed the lady
what shamel no wonder it cries She
hesitated, glanced at her own baby in her
servants arms,at her husband then, blush
ing like any rose, the sweet mother laid
my baby on her bosom beneath her shawl,
and hushed her cries as if it had been her
own-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
their nurse. l explained the affair to him,
told him my name, and found that my fam
lily was not unknown to him. AS we talk
ed, saw that his wife, listening, examined
the dress of the child on her lap, felt of its
texture, and finally unclasped some chains
that held up Its little sleeves. A small
miniature was set in the clasp of each one.
She looked at them, and then said, ~
am convipc ced, sir, that the woman who
abandoned this child in your 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 Seel one a gentleman with
epaulets, the other beautiful woman, ev-
identity lady Depend upon it,the child
is stolen one, or come inte her hands by
unfair means. What can be done2"
"Don't be troubled, madam, about the
fate of this child. After the possibility or
probability you have suggested, l shall not
leave it in Boston. I will take it to my
mother, and advertise the case. If its pa
rents are found, shall be glad; and if not
I think my mother will care for the rest. "
"Only," / added, 81 wish the meeting were
safely over"
The lady's eyes sparkled through tears.
81 can't tell you now" she said, "what you
have done, and are doing, seems to me, but
l think you too noble to dread anything.
[ will answer for the mother that has such
son."
"Softly, softly if you please, expostula-
ted her laughing husband don't be quite
oblivious of the fact that | exist"
She turned to him with look that
would have silenced the veriest grumbler
in the world.
We reached Boston, took carriage to-
gether, and only at the hotel entrance did
my new friends bid me adeu.
"God bless you'll" said the beautiful, no.
BILE woman, as she gave me back my baby
[ should have knelt and kissed the hand
of such a princess, but my arms and were
then so awkward at baby tending, that no.
thing else seemed a possible accomplish
ment at one and the same time. The clerk
glanced suspiciously at me and my bur.
den.
1--WE are full, sir. Not room to be
had"
| sent for the proprietor, and again my
name vouched> for me. What it is to have
fanny IN the WORT. DuI where IN rnt
world, Mr.. Edward" he demanded, "did
you get that child?"
l told the story. He shook his head
but said nothing.
| sent for chambermsid to come to my
room | begged of her to take the chile
and care for it during the night. At frs
she would hear to nothing. l put my hanC
in my pocket, and gave her ridicuously
large bribe, but | was young and green
She took the child.
"But sure an ye're not the young gin
tleman that 'ud be after laving yer baby
Holy Vargin! My character would be ru
ined intirely, intirelyl"
l assured her Of the rectitude of my in
) tentions, and sent her off-but she was a
my door in the morning before left NJ,
bed, and nothing could induce her to keel
her charge another instant.
took the stage for my country home
, The driver recognized the lad he had dri
4 ven so often over the same road.
"How you're grown, to be sure, Mr.. Ed
; ward" said he, "your folks won't know
7 you, I'm thinking, specially with that ba
r by in your arms. Seems to me you're get
ting to be family man a leetle too early.
I I laughed and took my seat bat as W
began to near my home l grew terribl
a nervous and cowardly. The house stoo
? back some distance from the road, and a
5 walked up from the gate l saw the Who'll
: family gathered on the piazza to welcom
/; me. think l should rather have wake
0 up to the cannon's mouth My siste
/. started down the steps to meet me-the
= stopped. stepped upon the piazza. NJ
{ mother, pale as death, sunk into her chail
/, My pretty cousin, Ella, on whom had al
| ways, from round jacket days, been swee
D in sneaking sort of way, darted an ami
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