, 1867-11-08
A Nashville Mystery--A Lively Romance.

Saturday morning, June %, the New Ads
vertisements" of the Banner were led off by the
| following announcement:
A q. C.B-Duly received. The terms are agreed
n to- Address as above. Az right
There are many inquire. made concerning
this inexplicable and rather my sterious publica,
tion. Some considered it political cipher res
lating 10 the organization OF secret colored
league; others regarded il as catch or puzzle;
and all were mystfed. To the various ques,
tions which reached we were not able to re
ply. Not until a day or two ago did we come
into the real facts OF the case, aud as they are
not likely to injure any one, and may Indeed
serve one of the purposes Cf the above adver>
tsement as well as interest the public, We shall
detail them 1s
Sunday, the 10th of June. was unusually soft
and mild The rains of the evening before had
cleared the atmosphere, and the sun rose only
as 1t knows how to rise in pleasant dawn of
June. One of the most Jealous readers and pa
irons of the Banner-who lives on Summer
street-rose with the sun and as usual went to
tue front door for his paper. lie found it, not
neatly folded by the carrier, bat spread over
something upon which it had been carefully
placed He lifted it up and stood back aghast!
There lay on the step-in a beautiful willow
basket lined with light blue lannel-nestled in
a world of ruffies aud pretty linen-a rosy, black
u.
and gave a loud exclamation, which brought
down his wife, and the two surveyed the sleep
ing infant which reposed like little female Mo-
ses in its wicker ark. The wife looked furtiyeIy
at the husband: the husband blushed and looked
quisicaly at the wife. Then both laughed out
right. Aud 6nally-the surprise, the plague,
and the dumb show over-they took up the
basket, carried it within, and instituted a close
inspection.
1t was an uncommon pretty baby. This the
lady declared emphalically. The clothing-the
gentleman, who understands such matters re.
marked was uncommon fine. There was sweet
hood of delicate, white cambria, lined With pink
silk, gown of delicate cashmere, and dainty,
tiny, thread knit stockings. Around the child 8
neck necklace of coral, clasped with gold,
hung; and the piIlet it lay on in the basket was
ID complete outfit of beautiful baby-wear. Be-
meath all this was letter.
More and more surprised the further they
went, they opened the letter and read rs follows
from small, fair, feminine chirography, writ
ten on the neatest aud most family odored gilt
edged paper
Take care for this poor babe.
alt is as you see, well supplied with clothing.
You will also 6ud, wrapped in the folds of the
gown, purse, containing FIVE twenty dollar
notes. These are designed for its annual sup<
port and will be sent you on the first of every
year. If you consent to take the charge en-
trusted to you, place in one of the city papers an
advertisement acknowledging the receipt of this
aud give these three initials "a. G. B." by
which the writer may be able to address you on
all future occasions. desire that the child
may be called "Annie." Keep this trust sacred
as you wish for the grace of God and the graft
tude of MOTHER"
The gown concealed a beautiful portmonie,
which contained five fresh, new National Bank
twenty>dolar notes-two on the Second Ma
tional of Cincinnati and three on the First and
Fourth of st. Louis. The basket was full of
expensive clothing; and there was besides the
coral necklace small gold chain and silver
rattle.
Our friends considered the matter long and
well, and finally resolved to accept the trust.
Being poor, but charitable people, reduced
somewhat in means and themselves childless,
the burthen could not be very heavy. Accord
ingly, after a few days consideration, they in-
serted the above advertisement in the Banner of
the 22d of June.
Three days later they received a note enclos.
ing twenty dollars more, and these lines:
BLESSINGS on you; be faithful; you shall new
er have cause to repent your charity"
Since this last communication they have heard
nothing mLre. The child is remarkably we'll,
and is represented as particularly joyous and at.
tractive. 1t cries but seldom, has rosy cheeks
and black eyes, and promises TO be the image
Of Alas, of whom? We shall not try to
guess. The province of a newspaper is fact, not
conjecture We could surmise any manner of
mystery; make up all sort of a romance; cause
anxiety and trembling, perhaps al least TO one
poor. erring woman's heart. But We forbear.
The case as it stands is unique and curious. 1t
has city favor about it, and is certainly pretty
good for Nashville. Those who Wish to height
en- the mystery, may find material Tor toe Pur.
| nose in their own imag ginations. we merely
fnrnish the rough draft in outline.-NdshUitte
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