Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-07-09

talk. And the white headed children with
unwholcsome faces stared ut her, while
the large white dog walked solemnly
backward and forward behind her, Civ
ing utierance to his feelings at intervals
in ono short. dissatisfied bark Ii was
plain he had his suspicious. And tho ba-
by would not wake, aud Annie was
wretched
AT last with fatigue, excitement and
perplexity. the poor girl could really no
longer restrain her tears. She laid the
sleeping child on one of the cane settees.
and kneeling beside it, sobbed with all
her heart,
The children we're good deal interest
cd in this proceeding, and one finally ran
oil TO inform its mama OF these singular
transactions. The lady followed on the
heels OF the returning messenger, To An
MES immense relief. She listened 10 the
young hdy's story silently wiping her
hands~-which were freckled like her face
upon m apron that did not look likely
10 improve their condition, and eyed An.
ME and the baby intently, evidently uu-
able to determine respecting the truth Of
the story she had heard. But true or not,
Il was very plain that the baby needed
immediate care. And rs there are few
women. thank Heaven who arc not in-
terested in babies, Ms Atkinson gradu-
ally warmed both 10 Annie Atkinson and
to Angelina, while doing all that her ma
ternul love suggested for tho relief OF the
latter relieving her own feelings mean.
time by such hearty obdurations of Mrs.
Cadwallader rs would have made that fee
bio wumun's blood run cold could she
have heard them
After what seemed century TO Annie,
their united efforts were crowned with
success. The poor little thing sneezed
family. threw open It's eyes. and then
sent up weak. but most welcome cry.
Take her out in the air, now,n said
Mrs. Johnson, bestowing kiss on the
soft cheek. The fresh air will be best
for her. She might so to sleep again in
here. and that would never do. Besides,
she added, there's the whistle OF the
next train; maybe the noise and sight
will amuse her.
So, obedient and bewildered, Annie be-
gan TO walk the baby up and down the
platform. But she was paid for oil her ex-
ertion when she saw Mr.Morris approach.
ing the station followed by two arrange
ments on wheels, which the modern sys.
ten OF euphonism permitted the owner to
call carriages. Annie felt that her troubles
approached n period. She gave the baby
to Mr Morris preliminary to climbing
over TIE wheels into one OF the vehicles,
when : distraclad shrek from the train
which was pausing at tho station drew all
eyes and liked all ears.
There, gesticulating, holding out her
arms wildly. calling upon them to restore
her baby, her Angelina, her darling stood
on the platform the heroine OF tho yellow
shawl, the much maligned Mrs. Cadwal-
lader.
She waited for no assistance, paused for
no remonstrancc, but sprsng from the
train while it still moved, fell, picked her
self up, ran toward the astonished pair,
who held the baby between them in be-
wilderment, and seized 1t with grasp
which was almost fierce in its detcrmina-
ton. On, then, think the finest lady's
heart would have been touched little 10
have witnessed the blissful outpourings OF
that mother heart; though its possessor
was so poorly clad, and wore n yellow
shawl. How she kissed it, and pressed it,
and clietl over it. and laughed in its face,
and minded no more the wonder or smile
of those who looked on, than ii she anu
the baby had been alone in the wilder
ness.
The station masters wife changed her
mind, and looked upon Annie as no bet.
ter than Il child stealer, and wopt with
Mrs. Cadwallader; the three dirty chill.
dren looked on with delight. and the white
dog bsrked vociferously. People stared
from the train and gathered on the plat
form; there was quite n scene, indeed,
while Annie and Mr.. Morris stood waiting
for the explanation which came at last.
The unlucky Jonathan had been the
marplot Mrs. Cadwallader had found
him alter long search, and demanding the
medicine, received in lieu OF it a variety
of unsatisfactory stolies to account for its
loss, which she did not believe. But
leading him by the collar back to where
she had left the baby and Annie, they
reached the platform just as the train
stopped at the station before Dentonville.
Here a sudden accession of conscience in
duced Jonathan to cry out that the baby
had screamed so while he held her that
he had given her all the medicine in the
bottle I! Overwhelmed by his sisters look
and by remorseful despair Gas his sister
saidD he sprang from the platform as he
made this announcement, pulling his sis.
ter after him, as she held him by the col.
lar. He loosed her hold, and ran, and
she ran after him. And when she caught
him and returned TO the station, only the
smoke of the departing cars was visible
in the distance. Then distraction for her
until tho next train came. And they knew
the rest!