The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-04-01


ban, and give utterance to yell of tri.
umph. Mr.. Corban broke into cold
perspiration. He had never been 80
near baby before in his life. 1t was
almost too much for him. He had a
strong mind to stand the remainder of
the way, or until somebody vacated
seat, but his knee gave an extra twinge
and decided him to try and endure the
terrible state ofthings. He took a pa.
per from his pocket and essayed to read
but the baby had launched out in one
of those baby refrains, which is like
music in the ears of all mothers, and
the cooling 80 confused our bachelor he.
ro that he could make no sense of his pa
per, 50 he pocketed il with the savage
determination to petition the next Con.
gress for women with babies to be kept
in car by themselves.
AT the first stopping place he was on
the lookout for seat and to his joy dis.
covered the gentleman in the next seat
making preparations to leave; but be.
fore he was fairly out of his seat, an old
lady in green shawl aud poke bon
net had edged into it, and cut off Mr..
Corban's hopes. OF course, she turned
around and began at once to talk to the
baby.
"Dear little chicken How old is it,
marin ?"
"AlmCst eight MONTHS" said the
proud mother.
swell l declare what large child
of his age! Why, there was my Enoch,
when he was a year he warn't mite
nor grain bigger than that 'ere child I!
But then Enoch; he had the whooping
cough, and the measles, and the nettle-
rash, and the collaretta infanticide be.
fore he was eleven months And l ex-
pect the disease had some effect upon
his constitution"
81 should think So" replied the ba.
by's mother.
"You look tired, DEAR" went on the
old lady; "the baby must be dreadful
heavy. Why don't you let its pa take
him?" with reproachful glance at the
savage countenance of Mr.. Corban.
"Pm not his pa" grumbled Mr.. Cor
ban, pulling his hat little farther down
over his eyes.
"Oh ! You amt. Wal, now, that's
curis" said the old lady. 81 should
have thought you war for sartin. The
baby is the image ofyou-jest the same
kind of nose; and its eyes has got the
same expression"
Expression, indeed Mr.. Corban was
boiling over! He always peculiarly
prided himself on his expression; and
here was this old ogre comparing him
to that dumPling- faced, huckleberry.
eyed baby!
"Wal," said the old lady, slowly, a
though she had reached the conclusions
after some thought, 81 spose as its like.
ly this is post mortem child, which
means one as is born aft the death OF
its father and you married its mother
rather soon after her husband departed
this vale of tears. Wal, that's got tc
be dreadful common. But my Elijah
mouths, and l amt begun to think o.
a second partner; though squire Hud
son, has been left 50 helpless and unfor
tuni. with them six children of his
that l don't know. L hope the Lore
will show me my duty, and give mt
) strength to take the Squire for better OF
for worse, if it's right and best! dom
never want to shrink no duty, marn
When did your first husband diC
marm?"
"Parkersburg!" screamed the con
ductor. "Stop five minutes for refresh
ments! Change cars for Wallingford
Amsterdam and Myrtle Ridge"
The woman with the baby rose quick
ly. A thrill Of JOY went through Mr.
Corban. He thought she was at hel
journeys end. He too, rose with alac,
rity.
"Can / assist you in any way
madam ?" he asked.
"Thank you. 1 will Just trouble you
to hold baby while go and get cuI
of coffee. l breakfasted early and
need something warm. Be careful ant
hold his head high, he is subject to thu
Group"
And, before Corben could utter one
word of refusal, she had put the baby
in his arms, and was running off will
the crowd.
Our hero felt himself growing ho
and cold alternately. He had served
two years with credit in the war, ant
been in score Of battles, but through
, it all, he had never experienced such {
sinking at the stomach as came owe
: him now. Most of the passengers lef
the cars and Corbon would have doni
likewise, but he feared that he NIGH
lose sight of the baby's mother, and tn,
! train would start without him. So il
an agony of terror, lest something
dreadful should happen, he stood Their
in the aisle, holding the baby at arm
length, and fixing his frantic gaze OF
the door through which his delivere
would come.
I, "All aboard" cried the stentorial
, voice of new conductor and the peo
pie rushed in. But the passenger
. Were most of them, new ones, for ther
was junction at Parkersburg; ah'
worst of all the baby's mother was no
, among them.
, The bell rang: the cars were moving
, the door was shut with bang, and tn
, train went OFF. Corbon waxed desper
ate.
"Halloa, there" he shouted to tn
; Conductor. "Stop! this train cannot g
! on there's woman left behind; sh
went 10 get II cup of coffee. Stop
g tell you this instant, SIR"
. "What's up ?" asked the conductor
"She's left the faby"
! "Your wife? Oh never mind. Sue