The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-16
MRS. CRUDLES CURTAIN LECTURES.
Continued from our last issue.
THE ,SIXTIEENTIT LECTURE

BABY IS TO BE CHRIsTENED; MRS. oAUDIE CAN
VASES THE MERITS OF PROBABLE GoDFATHERs.
"Come, now love, about baby's name? The
dear things three months old, and not name
to its back yet. There you 60 again! Talk of
1t tomorrow No; Wen talk of it tonight.
There's no having a word with you in the day
tlme-but here you can't leave me. Now don't
say you wish you could, Caudle; that's un-
Kind, and not treating wife--especially the
wife am to you-as she deserves. 1t isn't
often that | speak; but do believe you'd like
never to hear the sound of my voice. might
as well have been born dumb!
81 suppose the baby must have godfather;
and so, Caudle, who shall we have? Who do
you think will be able to do the most for it!
No, Caudle, no; Pm not selfish woman
nothing of the sort-but | hope I've the feel
ings of mother and what's the use of a godr
father if he gives nothing else to the child but
name? A child might almost as well not be
christened at all And so who shall we have?
What do you say? AHybody? Aren't you
ashamed of yourself, Caudlei Don't you think
\ something will happen to you, to talk in that
wayY don't know where you pick up such
principles. Pm thinking who there is among
our acquaintance who can do the most for the
blessed creature, and you say-'AnyJody
Caudle, you are quite heather.
"There's Wagstaff. No chance of his ever
marrying, and he's very fond of babies. He's
plenty Of money, Caudle; and l think he
might be got. Babies, l know it-babies are
his weak side. Wouldn't it be a blessed
thing to find our dear child in his will? Why
don't you speak l declare, Caudle, you
seem to care no more for the child than if it
was a strangers. People who can't love
children more than you do ought never to
have em. You don't like Wagstq6? No more
do much; but what's that to do with it
People who've their families to provide for
mustn't think of their feelings. / don't like
him; but then Pm a mother, and love my
baby You wOnt hare IVagStaf, and that's
fiat? Ha, Caudle, you're like nobody else
not fit for this world, you're not.
"What do you think of Pugsby? can't
bear his wife; but that's nothing to do with
it. know my duty to my babe; wish other
people did. What do you say! Pugsby's
acicked tellO~? Ha that's like y0u-always
giving people bad name. We mustn't
always believe what the world says, Caudle; it
doesn't become us as Christians to do it.
only know that he hasn't chick or child; and,
4 besides that he's very strong interest in the
\ Bluecoats; and So if Pugsby--. Now, don't
fly out at the man in that manner, Caudle,
you ought to be ashamed of yourself You
K can't speak well of anybody. Where do you
(. think to go to?
''What do you say then, to Snggins
s. Now don't bounce round in that way, letting
4 the cold air into the bed ! What's the mat
ter with Sniggins You acoldnt ask him q
favor for the lOOrid Well, it's good thing
a the baby has somebody to care for it: l will.
What do you say / Shant? l will, l can
tell you. Sniggins, besides being warm
man, has good interest in the Customs; and
there's nice piclzings there, if one only goes
the right way to get 'em. It's no use, Caudle,
s your fidgeting about-not bit. I'm not
! going to have baby lost-sacriiced, l must
say, like its brothers and sisters. Vhat do
mean by sacrificed Oh you know what
mean very well. What have any of 'em got
by their godfathers beyond half-pint mug,
knife and fork, and spOon-and a shabby
coat, that | know was bought secondhand,
for / could almost swear to the place And
there was your fine friend Hartley's wife
what did she give to Caroline Why, a
trumpery lace cap it made me blush to look
at. What II 1Cas the best she could a60rd
Then she'd no right to stand for the child.
People who can't do better than that have nc
business to take the responsibility OF god
4 mother They ought u know their duties
better.
swell, Caudle, you ami object to Gold
man Yes yOu do p? Was there ever such q
man ? What for HSsa q usurer and a hunks
Well, Pm sure you've 40 business in thi'
world Caudle you have such high-hoWI
notions Why isn't the man as rich as The
bank And as for his being usurer-isn'
it all the better for those who come after him
I'm sure it's well there's some people in the
creatures who throw it away. But you arr
the strangest man | really believe yol
think money sin, instead OF the creates
blessing: for / can't mention any OF on
acquaintance that's rich-and Pm sure W
don't know too many such people-that yol
haven't something to say against EN-; IL
only beggars that you like-people with no
a shilling to bless themselves. Ha thoug
YOU'RE my husband, | must say it-you,re
man of low notions, Caudle. /, only hop
none of the poor boys will take after thel
father
'And should like to know what's tn
objections to Goldman The only thin
against him is his name; | must confess 1t,
don't like the name of Lazarus; it's low, an
doesn't sound genteel-not at all respectable
But after he's gone and done what's propt
for the child, the boy could easily slip Laz
ms into laurence. Pm told the thing doI
often. No Caudle, don't say that-pm not
mean woman; certainly not quite the revers
i've only parents love for my children; al
must say til wish everybody felt as di
81 suppose, if the truth was known, you
like your tobacco-pipe friend, your pot-cor
panion, Prettyman, to stand for the child
You'd hare no objection thought MOI