The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-04-01
COL. DEM. 80 VOL. XXXIV.. NO G
And the conductor passed on his wav.

And the conductor passed on his way.
"Bless your soul, sir!" said the old
lady in the next seat, giving Corban
nudge with her parasol, ''you'll suffocate
that baby! Don't you see you're hold
ing Its feet where its head should be :?
He's wrong side up"
Corban hastily rescued the youngster,
which uttered shrill yell at his treat
ment.
YOU'D orter be ashamed of your
self?' went on the old lady indignant
ly, ITO toss that blessed child around in
such an on-human way. A man never
orter have no children that don't have
no material feelings towards 'em. Sir,
you was baby once yourself!"
Just then, a yellow faced woman
slipped In the seat in front of Corban.
She was middle aged, but her dress had
the gushingness of sixteen. "Lovely
child" she exclaimed insinuatingly.
The baby began to squizzle up its face
and flourish its fists.
"Dear me, how forward it is! How
old is it, sir?" inquired the spinster for
such she was.
u don't KNOW" growled Corban.
Been widower long, sir?" inquired
the lady.
"No. never had a wife,
"Bless me! Then she's run away and
left you! Dear, dear! how could she
leave such nice man, and such dear,
darling little baby ?"
"What's that? ?" inquired a middle
aged gentleman near by, who was evil
IDENTIFY little deaf. "Your wife gone
and left you, sir? Just my case ex-
actly. My poor Jane departed this life
last May. l got her the handsomest
gravestone money could buy. There's
an angel on it with all her wings spread
and this Latin Requires
her cat IN Peace. The gravestone MAX
er said it was good epigram, and /
consented as she was fond of cats.
By this time the baby began crying
Justify, and the whole car sympathized,
especially the females.
"lt's got the cholera morbus I" said
the old lady. "It'll die for sartin II
something hain't done!"
"Die? You don't think so ?" cried
Mr.. Corban.
"Dear me! ~ said the little thin faced
woman, "what an inhuman creature its
mother must be-"
"Take it, my good lady, do !" cried
Corban, imploringly. "I'll give you a
hundred dollars to take it,"
"What is all this row about ?" said 9
sharpnosed man, with a newspape In
his hand. ga child is it? Fall back
gentleman; and let me look at it. fit
should prove to be the one."
"How? what do you mean ?" queried
dozen voices at once.
at is, it is! 1t can be no other !" ex
claimed the sharp nosed man. "Hov
strange that 1 should chance upon it
Listen to this, and he read from a papel
in his hand the notice:
| "STOLEN.- Supposed to have beer
stolen from its carriage in Central
Park, on the morning of the Sth inst.
a male child about nine months old
Said child had blue eyes and rather
dark hair and is remarkably forward
child. Any person who will return
him to his afflicted parents, at No.
Forty.ninth street, or give information
that will lead TO his recovery, shall re
ceive reward of $500.
LOUIS Roscoe"
"Wal, never?" exclaimed the oil,
lady. 1T must be the very same baby
This child has blue eyes and darl
hair, and pears remarkable forw'dw
eyes, ,ma'am m,unquestionably the yer,
same," remarked the sharp nosed man
confidingly 81 consider ii my duty t,
take possession"
"Oh, take it, do?" cried Corban, i'm
ploringly "I'll give hundred dollar
to get it off my hands,"
mo doubt you would, my man; bu
l amt took in in that way. Ny name il
Smithers-Peter Smithers, Sir; and
live in Albany. Pm a magistrate, Sir
and arrest you for chill stealing"
81 tell you 1 didn't steal it. Sh
went off after cup of coffee"
"Don't trouble yourself to repeat tina
story again. | understand the cas-
fully" said Mr.. Smithers, promptly.
Conductor, is there place on tn
train where this rascal would be an.
safer than here?"
"We don't run prison vans" respond
ed that worthy, sulkily.
"Well, gentlemen" said Mr.. Smith
ers, blandly, "you are all men of honor
and have wives and children, or ough
to have, and you all have feelings c
sympathy, doubtless, for the parents O
this unlucky babe; and depend upol
you, gentlemen, to assist me in guard
ing him until we reach station wher
l can place him in charge of the prope
officials. At the next stopping place
will telegraph to Brideswell, and hav
constables ready to lake possession @
him the moment we arrive"
"You shall pay dearly for this p roar
ed Corban, now fairly infuriated. "Yes
sir, I'll take the law on you the momen
we get anywhere where there is an,
law. Call me a rascal indeed %
Just at that moment the sharp sigma
of "down brakes" sounded, and in
few moments there was shock, an,
the train came to sudden stop.
Everybody rushed out to ascertain
the dihiculty; and it was found that
wheel of the engine had broken, an,
the locomotive was off the track,
No one was injured; but IL woul
occupy some time to get things so tina
the next train could run; and in tn
meantime Mr.. Corban thought, wit
rapture, he could make his escape. ii
formed the plan of dropping the unfol
tunate baby and fleeing to the woods