The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-02-04
4 BABY
WHAT WILL TEREN DO WITH HI
BY MRS. S. T. PERRY.

Jonn Morton, one cold morning, as the SER
want girl came bouncing into the 0ning-room |
with bundle in her arms, and made the an
nouncement that baby bad been left on the |
stoop. OF al The bundles thai had ever been |
left at John Mortons house this was the most
unlooked tor and The most unwelcome
"Gou see ma am" said Bridget Il went OUT
10 get the morning paper and to sweep Oh .ue
stoop, and | sees the bundle lying on inc mat;
L went to lift it in my ms ana IL mo'e.,' anu
says to myself, what can aa'S ue. anu
when L opened the shaw ana sees the |
baby.''
"What will we do with ?" said Mrs. Nor.
ton.
'Send it to the police station at once" re-
piled her husband. Here, Michael" he con-
tinued. take this child to the station, and tell
them II was lett On our stoOp"
"Let me look at it first" said Mrs Allison,
Mrs horlon's mother. as she arose from the
breakfast table and approached the chiidess
coupe, who were already bending over the
little wall. AS the old shawl was thrown off
from the babe, lie Moses in the bulrushes,
Behold, it wept."
''lt's hungry" said Mrs. Allison. "How
thin It's little arms and hands are. 1t looks as
lift was nearly starved Let us feed it before
we send it away.
Bridget had been child's nurse; she had
ALREADY prepared some food, and was BRING
ing it to the dining-room. Il ran through
the yard, ma'am, and got Mrs. Wortbington's
babys bottle and she is coming right over to
see" The baby took its nOurishment eagerly,
and then fell asleep.
Its garments are very clean, although
quite poor" said Mrs. Allison, as she began to
examine the little ones wrappirgs.
Eyes, and we don't know anything about
the blood" raid Mr.. Morton. 81 think
great deal of the blood. One wants to know
what sort aud quality he takes across his
threshold"
GAS to the sort" replied Mrs. Allison in a
low tone of voice, sit was one of those whom
Christ took into his arms and blessed, not
withstanding the rebukes of His Disciples;
and as to the quality, "Ofs such is the kingdom
of heavenp i
""e'l,' said Mr.. Morton, "you women must
do what you think best. The car is coming
and L must 60 down town. Michael can take
it anywhere you conclude to send it. There
is a "Home for the Frendless," an orphan
asylum, and halt dozen other charitable in
situations, where they take such things"
As Mr. Morton passed out Of the door he
encountered a number of ladies in their
morning wrappers rushngiin to get glimpse
of the wonderful arrival The gentleman
jumped on to the platform of the car with on
ly hurried good morning." lest he should
be overwhelmed with such questions as"What
will you do with ,t?" "Who on earth put it
there" &C., &c.
"Well, really" exclaimed Mrs. Montague, as
she went into the dniug room, 'you are in
trouble enough. I'm SO glad it wasn't left at
our house." and the pretty little woman
shrugged her shoulders as she bent over the
little slerper now lying on the sofa. Il would
not keep it minute; the longer you keep it
the harder it Will be to get rid of it,"
"W bat will they do with itw asked Mrs.
turner OF any one who might choose to
answer so difficult question. "Mrs. Morton
nOnilp'f ia q a. rp nj ii CHI icptt
TO children
SO no, indeed" said bustling Mrs. Worth
ineton. "Ive had four children and know
what it is to take care of them. To be sure
I've always had nurse for each child, and
never slept with one night. You know my
nervous system would not admit of my hav-
ing the care OF them. l love them derrIy, but
my nerves are too weak to have them with
me much OF the time; tut l see that they
have good nurses, and can't help the rest"
Eyes, said Mrs. Hart~ ell. who hadn't any
children, and hoped she never would have,
you have been married ten years. Mrs. Nor
ton, and are such nice housekeeper, and so
precise in your living that baby would turn
everything topsey tuIvey, and you would have
TO work across the grain all the rest OF your
life. | never could take other peoples chill
dren.'
=" hat will they do with it, Mrs. Allison ."
asked another lady who had stood by silent,
aud always concurred in everybody's opinion.
The mother OF thirty years ago was this good
old lady. She had brought up SIN children
in the days when mothers were old fashioned;
Sue never bad nurse for one of them. Her
own handa made all their li9te garments, and
her nerves were firm enough to bear all their
Childhood grievances, and to adjust all their
you'g hearts troubles and differences. She
hau head this conversation, and her GOOD.
warm, mothery heart felt troubled.
W nat could she anSWerp If if had hcon
years ago she would have taken the little
wall INTO her own nest, made 1t welcome. and
Called it her own. But she would not advise
het daughter; she must act accord Dg to the
dictates OF her own conscience. Mrs. Allison
was too old TO share much in the care,
though she would gladly do what she could ii
bapy stayed.
The ladies' discussed the question at home,
IN each others houses. and down town shop
ping. Meanwhile baby slept on, slept as
sWeetly as ii in its own cradle, at its own
home. with loving mother watching over 1t.
He giveth His beloved Sleep" The Father
WIS watching with loving eyes over the little
ohe whom nobody owned, staying where IT
was so Welcome
Mother" said Mrs. Morton, after the la
dies had gone out, what will we do with it (?
DO you think it is our duty to keep this
baby?"
daughter" she replied, shave you no mis-
Sh'hSo ouou1 ocuuiuS IL away III is one oil
Christ's little ones Feed my Lambs" she
continued, as she left the room to ask God
what they should do with it.
After Mrs. Allison left the room Mrs Mer- |
ton was left to her own thoughts. To take a |
baby was serious matter. She had often
been asked to adopt child, but she always |
sad that she never would do it-but this has |
Deen sent IN such strange manner. She be-
gan 10 weigh the fors and againsts about keep
ing 1t. The against scale seemed to 90 down
great deal further than the other John
would not want the additional expense of hir-
ing nurse; if baby stayed she would have to
take care OF it herself. This would debar her
from so many pleasures she had hitherto en-
joyed. But is it right to live only for our
selves? Did not the Master command us to
work in His vineyard? and if she sent baby
away would He not say to her "Inasmuch as
ye did 1t not to one of the least of these We
did it not to Me?"
Mr.. Morton came home earlier than usual
that night. He found baby still there. He
ana not seem much surprised; he too had
been pondering all day whether it was right
to send baby away. At all events they would
not send 1t away that night and when morn
ing came the decision had been made. Babv |
was to stay. They named her Faith, because
they trusted the Father that He had sent her
there for good, and not for evil
For days the neighbors in the block could
hear the ceaseleSs music of Mrs. Mortons
sewing machine, and if they had looked in
they would have seen numerous garments of
SOFT muslin and warm flannel, under process
OF completion into sundry little garments
Some of the ladies said Mrs. Morton did not
know what piece of work she had under
taken; others that she was so foolish to con-
line herself at home so much taking care of
somebody else's baby, whom nobody knew
ANYTHING about.
Baby did bring great deal of care with if.