Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-07-04
"But isn't there a nurse or some such
,erson here, who would take care of

"There was nurse brought her on
sir, queer foreign looking thing, witt
a yellow skin and hair as black as night
and with gold hoops in her ears, but sh
talked, and talked something about tn
next steamer; 1 couldn't understand
her lingo, sir, and she went right bacl
to New York on the 9 O'Clock train"
Joseph Verley looked aghast, staring
at the rosy baby as it lay Growing il
the woman's arms, and wonderin:
which of his lucky stars he should cal
on to aid him in this unlocked for EN-
ergency. A full grown young nice,
would have been bad enough,-but 1
baby!"
$50 this is my niece" he muttered
"And what am going to do with her p
He turned suddenly b the woman
''What time does the next train for Win
field leave?"
:" In an hour, sir.''
"M ould you be kind enough to TAXI
care of the child til ten Isuppose i mus
take it home with me; for can't very
well drown it or throw it under the ca
Wheels"
"Sirr' calculated the astonished stew
ardess.
But Mr.. Verley turned on his heels
and strobe out of the depot, scarcely
able at first to comprehend the disaster
that had befallen him. The train wa.
at the depot when he returned, and the
woman awaiting him with the sleeping
baby in her arms.
"Asleep, eh?" CONNIE need Mr.. Yer
ley. well, that's luck"
"Where's the nurse, sir ?" inquired
the woman.
co The nurse? what nurse?"
"Why, l suppose you went to get &
nurse.'' .ta.
"Neyer once thought of it," ejacula-
ted Joseph, madly shifting his forehead
" Here-give the thing to me quick, the
train is moving"
He had hardly time to spring OF
board as the locomotive gave an un-
earthly shrek, while the baby followed
suit vigorously.
He staggered to his seat, holding the
umbrella and child in one hand, while
in the other his valise swung backward
and forward.
"There, there, bless its little heart p
he exclaimed initiating the colored wo-
man. "We won't cry, so we won't"
But the baby evidently had an Opin-
ion of her own on that subject, and
would cry in spite of various blandish,
ments practiced by the bewildered un-
cle-such as shaking the umbrella
swinging his watch and trotting both
knees.
People began to look around reprOach-
fully; young men shrugged their shoul-
ders and young ladies giggled.
Hush, hush! there's a darling
whispered Mr.. Verley.
But still the baby wept and walled,
and gnashed its gums, for teeth it had
but two.
Mr.. Verley began to look around in
the car in search of some matronly
dame of whom he could seek counsel,
but in vain. There were three ladies
in the car, and they were young, with
round hats and dimpled cheeks,
"They don't know anything about 1t, >
groaned Mr.. Verley, in anguish of spir-
it-"Oh, why didn't / have common
sense enough to get Il nurse? IsuppOse
there is no danger of the badly bursting
its lungs, but think if there was such
a contingency, this baby is in fair way
of meeting it. Then roar away, my
young friend, can stand it as long as
you can.'' -
Vain boast; as fertile as vain, as Mr..
Verley soon discovered. The baby not
only cried, but it screamed; it doubled
itself over in more ways than contor-
tionist's widest fancy could imagine,
and became apparently frantic with
passion. The perspiration broke out in
large beads on Joseph's brow; his face
flushed, and still the cars thundered on.
"What's to become of me?" he pom
dered, holding desperately on to- the
cringing waist and watching its pur-
pile face with species of despair. 81
don't wonder that Harold died. 1 shall
die in week if this thing goes on.
And it seems so easy for Barbara Smith
to take care of her little brothers and
sisters. If Barbara Smith were only
here"
And Verley pulled the baby up in a
sitting posture with jerk.
Cpl" quoth Mr.. Verley, stake the
back express at four O'Clock in the
morning, and go straight there. And
you stop crying, you little hypocrite
but it won't do any good; Pm not to
be caught twice in the same trap"
Barbara Smith was watering her tube
roses in the bright sunshine, when he
arrived with his valise and baby.
"Why, what sweet baby"
eyes, very sweet" he responded dri-
ly, "It's my niece I was to meet at
Speedville."
"why, L thought that she was a
young lady"
$50 did /, but 1t seems she is not
Barbara, what do you suppose brought
me back!' he added, speaking very
fast for fear the baby would cry.
81 don't know" faltered Barbara,
crimsoning still more. "Perhaps you
forgot something"
"Yes, L did"
"What was it?" asked Barbara, q lit
tie disappointed. u forgot to ask You if
you would marry me-"
"Dear me, was that all? ?" asked the
young lady, demurely.
"Isn't that enough? Say, Barbara,
will you!"
"Ill think of it," answered Barbara,
evasively.
"No, but tell me now. Quick-the
baby is waking up"
swell, then-yes.
Barbara had taken the little thing in
her arms and disappeared before she
had time to utter her waking yell.
A week afterwards Joseph Verley
took the 80 train, with his wife and