The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-06-17

that you was, sartain The baby is the mag
of ye-jest the same kind Of nose, and hi
eyes has got the same expression. - s'-i'
| Expression, indeed Mr.. Corban was boil
ing over. He had always particularly pride
himself on his expression, and here was thi
orge comparing him to that qumrling faced
huckleberry-e ed baby.
"Wall," said the old lady, slowly, as if sh
had reached the conclusion after some thought
4 s'pose as it's likely this is post-rhorten
I child, which. means one as is born after tn,
death Of its father, and you married its moth
er rather soon after the husband departed this
vale Of tsats. Wall. that's got to be dread
full common now. But my Elijah las beer
dead nigh on to nineteen months and hahn
begun to think of second partner. Though
Squire Hudsen-he has been rather attentive
to me lately, and the squire is left so hope
less and unfortinit with them six children Of
his, that don't know hope the Lord will
show me my duty and give me strength to
take the sqire for better or for worse if it's
right; and best: Idon't never want to shirk
no duty marin. When did your husband die,
marin 2" $50
"Parkersburg r screamed the conductor.
"Stop five minutes for refreshments and
change cars for Wallingford, Amsterdam, and
Myrtle Ridge
The woman with tie baby rose Quickly
A thrill Of joy went through Mr.. Corban.-
He thought she was at her journeys end
He, too, rose with alacrity.
"Can assist you any way, madam /? he
asked CALAMITY.
"Thank you, l will just trouble you to hold
baby while I go and get a cup of coffee
| breakfasted early and need eomsthing warm
Be careful and hold his head high he is sub
ject to the.croup"
And before Corban could utter enc word
by the way of refusal she had put the baby
in his arms and was rushing offw thccrowd
Our unfortunate hero felt himself growing
hot and cold alternately. He had served two
years with credit in the war and boon in
a score Of battles, but through it all be had
never experienced such sinking at the
stomach as came over him row. y
Most Of the passengers, left the cars, and
Corban would have done likewise, but he
feared he might lose sight of the baby's
mother, and the train would start without
him. So in an agony of terror lest some
thing dreadful should happen, he stood there
in the iisle holding the haby at arms length
and fixing his frantic gazs on the:door through
which ~ deliverer would come. 7 = -
4sAll aboard F. cried the stentorian voice of
new conductor and ths people rushed in
But the passengers were, most Of them, new
ones, for. there vas junction at Parkersburg,
and worst thai all the baby's motker was
not among them. The bell. rang the
cars were moving; the door was shut with a
bang; and the train was off. Corban waxed
desperate.
ssfIalloa, there !" he called to the conduc-
tor. .sStop This train ean't go Oh there's
woman left behind She went to ge5,a cup
of coffee! Stop, tell you this instant, sir =,
aWhat's upf asked the conductor.
ssShe's left the baby"
"Your wife? Oh, never mind. Sach things
occur frequently. She'll come next train.
II tell you stop! I shall 60 crazy And
oh, what shall do with the baby Say,
I'll give you FIVE dollars, ten dollars, twenty
yes, fifty dollars, if you'll back and let me
off at Petersburg p
Il should havena objection to the money,
sir, but couldn't oblige you if yd;.. Wers one,
Of the Rothschilis" -
And the conductor passed on his way.
"Bless your soul = said the old lady in tbs
pext seat, giving Corban nudge with her
parasof,, ''you' lIsuaocste that baby! Don't
you see you're holding hinwith his feet where
his head ought to be (? He's wrong side up =.
Corban hastily rescued the youngster,
which uttered -shril cry at his treatment.
t'You ort to be ashamed of yourself!' went
on the old lady, Indignantly, ssto toss that
blessed child round in such an onhuman way !!
A man never ort to have no children that
don't have no natural feelings toward 'erh.-
Sir. you was baby once yourself" IL
just then thin, yellow faced woman slip
ped into the seat in of Mfr. Corban. She was
middle-aged, but her dress had all the gush-
ingaess of sixteen -
"Lovely child*!v she exclaimed, insinuat-
ingly.
The ba9y began to squizzle up its face and
| AourisE itsk and fists ~:
Dear me how forward it is! How old is
it, s1r!" inquired the spfnstef, for such she
was sF-z -
Il don't know p growled Corban.
"Been wiaower long, sir 7" inquired the
l. Isuy. *
Il? No; I never had wife,
"Bless mep' cried the lady; "then she's
ran away and left you? Dear, dear, how
/ could she leave such a nice man and s9ch o
dear, darling little baby?" -. :
| "What's that inquired middle aged gen
tleman nearby, who was evidently little
deaf. 'sYour wife's gone and left YOU, sir p
Just my case, sir-exactly:' My poor Jane
departed this life last May. I got her the
handsomest grayestene chat money coald buy
There's angel en- it, with all her wings spread
and this Latin inscription :" r sqlti,es he,
cat IN peace" The gravestons maker said
that would be good epigram, and consent
ed, as she was fond of cat"
BY this time the baby began to cry Justify
and the whole car sy,npashized, especially
the female passengers. 81
"It's gothic cholera morhus,' said the old
lady. previously mentioned S:1tll 1ie fol
sartips if something hain't done
"Die! You don't think so p cried Cor
bans -
Dear me 7 said the thin faced lady, "wha,
an inhuman woman its mother 'was:'' .
''Fake it, my good lady, do,p cried Corban
imploringly.t s'pn give you a hundred dol