Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-09-08
MALVIMA.

Young Tom Collins, law-student
had just come into a strange inherit
ance. He sat solitary in his little board
ing-house room, trying to realize it.
eff the poor child hadn't me- he
said to himself, sit could go and apply
for admission to some institution. If
hadn't it, l could; but Lord! that is
not the idea. l must decide what l
am to do"
Tom had solemnly promised to care
for the newborn baby of his only sis
ter, who had just died.
He tried to mediate. He had often
before, during his life, made the same
attempt, but had never to any extent
succeeded. He did not seem like one
born to take things into very serious
consideration. But this case seemed
to require it. No good joke came to
the rescue. Tom really had never in
his twenty-five years felt such an aw-
full sense of gloom. His natural hilarity
could only suggest to his mind the
rather poor consolation that he chad at
least over night to consider on the bu-
siness."
Here Tom was interrupted by a
knock on the door--an occurrence un-
usual enough in the little upper room
where he had long since ceased re-
garding even the bell-pull as resort
in any extremity, so completely was he
accustomed to be let alone. Before
Tom could respond to the knock it was
followed by cry of mingled entreaty
and command, such as only hungry ba-
bies know how to emit.
GIVE fetched the poor little dear
around, sirl' remarked a woman whose
marvellous rotundity of person showed
to fine advantage, as she waved her
screaming parcel as though it were in
cense wherewith to purify Toms bach
elor room.
"Good Lord!" he calculated.
you'd ought to git a cow" said
nurse, still brandishing her charge.
"Therel there! there! It's got wind
this minute, mixin' milk. Have you
found nurse, sir? And baby wants
Clothes"
"It's got on too many clothes now,"
said Tom. 81 think that's what it's
crying about; see how red and hot it
isI'
Poor inexperienced Tom! he had Of
Tended the woman-cast recklessly
overheard his only anchor!
She dropped her shrieking charge
upon Toms bed and started toward the
door.
"Very well, sir!" she said solemnly,
81 see you know all about babies-I
may gop'
"Oh! OH" gasped Tom, ''do not!
In the name of mercy do not! 1t shall
have clothes! Why do you say 1 want
a nurse? Are you not one? 1 assure
you 1 know. nothing, absolutely moth
ing of babies!--I never to my knowl-
edge touched one!'
Real despair is impressive. The wo-
man was Modified.
81 am, sir" she said, turning conf
dentially to Tom, ga 'naontkIy.' 1 am
willing to stay with you while I can.
But, sir,.a person in my position has
no dependence. My sammons may
come any day or hour. 1t is impossi-
bic to calculate. Day and night is all
The same to me. There amt on earth
% me thing SO inscrutsble as this i'm
of calculating when we
shall be sent for. I'll work for you
while 1 can, sir, but when my call
comes, no earthly thing can keep me-"
Tom took all these remarks in a re-
igious point of view. From person
If Mrs. Primmin's robustness, they
amazed him. He felt a vague fear
est, as he mentally expressed it, there
night be ga bee in the old lady's bon
let.p
"Ohl cheer up! cheer up, Auntie,"
ne said, "you look hale and hearty.
You've overtired yourself with my
,oor sister. If you'll stay and take
charge of that little thing for me, I'll
.isk your getting summons. s."
"Your poor sister found great conso-
alton in your promise for her child"
.emarked Mrs. Primmins pathetically.
ITS desperate resort leaving baby
o young man, but in her strait, she
vas fain to catch at any straw"
"Can you," said Tom, looking
yloomily at his now silent prize Oh the l