Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-02-12

"Almost eight mouths,' said the PROUD
mother.
"WeIl; [ declare! what large child
of his age! Why, there was my Enoch
when he was year, he warn't mite r,o1
grain bigger than that child But, then
Enoch he had the whooping cough bad
and the measles, and the nettle-rash anc
collarette infanticide afore he was II
m 3nths And | expect the diseases had
some effect onto his constitu ton :!
81 should think 50, replied the baby's
mother.
"You look tired, dear" went Oh the
old lady tie baby must be dreadful
heavy. Why don't you let its pa take
| MIN with very raproachful glance at
the savage ceuntenance of Mr.. Corban.
"lm not his pa 2, grumbled Mr.. Cor
| ban, pulling his hat little further down
over his eyes.
80! you amt. Wall, now, that's
curfsw p said Che old lady. u should
have thought you was sartin.' The baby
is the image of you-jest the same kind
of noise; and its eyes has got the same
expression"
Expression, iadeedl Mr. Corban was
boiling over! He had always peculiarly
prided himself on his expression; and
here was this old ogre comparing bin to
that dumpling faced, huckleberry-eyed
baby!
We'll" said the old lady, slowly, as
though she had reached the conclusion
after some thought, "I' spose at it's likely
this is postmortem child, which iiieans
one as is born after the death of its faith
er, and you married its mother rather
soon after her husband departed this vale
of tears. Wall. that's got to be dreadful
common now. But my Elijah has been
dead nigh onto l9 months, and amt
begun to think Of a second partner;
thoug h Squire Hudson, he has bren left
so helpless ond unfortuit 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 Squire
for better or for worse, if it's right and
best [ don never want to shrink no
duty, marm When did your first hus-
band die marm p
"Parkersburg !" screamed the conduc-
tor, ''Stop five minutes for refreshments ).
Change cars for Wallingford, Amsterdam
and Myrtle Ridge"
The woman with the baby rose quickly.
A thrill of Joy went though MIR. Corban.
He thought she was at her journey end,
He, too, rose with alacrity.
+ Il
he asked.
"Thank you. [ will just trouble you
to hold oaby while [ go and get cup OF
coffee [ breakfasted early, and need
something warm. Be careful and hold
his head high, he is subject to the Group"
And before Corban could utter word of
refusal, she put the baby in his arms and
was running off with the crowd.
Our hero felt himself growing hot and
cold alternately He had served two
years with credit III the war, and been In
a score of battles, but, through it all, he
had never experienced such sinking at
the stomach as come over him now,
Most of the passengers left the cars; and
Corban would have done likewise. but he
feared he might lose sight of the babys
mother, and the train would start with
out him. SO in an agony OF terror lest
something dreadful should happen, he
stood there in the aisle, holding the baby
at arms length, and fixing his frantic
gaze on the door through which his de-
liyerer would come.
"All aboard" cried the stentorlan voice
of the new conductor-and the people
rushed in. But the passengers were,
most of them, new ones, for there was a
junction at Parkersburg and, worst of all,
the baby's mother was not among them
The bell rang; the cars were moving !;
the door was shut with bang; aud the
train vas off, Corban waxed desperate.
"Hallo, there!" he called to the con-
ductor. Stop! this train can't go GU;
there's a woman life behind She went
to get cup of coffee. Stop l tell you
this instant, slr."
"What's up 2" asked the conductor.
''Shes left the baby p
"Your wife ? Oh never mind. Such
things occur frequently. She'll come
next ttain."
Il tell you to stop! 7 shall go crazy
And, Oh, Lord, what shall | do with
the baby Say, III give you five dollars
ten dollars-twenty-yes fifty dollars,
if you'll put back and let me Oft at Park
ersburg p
"I should have no objection to the
money, but [ couldn't .oblige you if you
were one Of the Rothschllds y
And the conductor passed on his way.
'Bless your soul, sir" said the old
lady in the next seat, giving Corban a
mud ge with her parasol, you'll sutfocate
that baby don't you see you're holding
its feet where its head ought tobe? He's
wrong side up
Corban hastily rescued the youngster,
which uttered ashrill yell at his treatmens