The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-06-06
III III II = = = = = : = >
Joe Stansbury,s Baby

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9ni Joe Stansbury's Baby.dqB 2
Joseph aStansb1ry, and his wife,
Ester, were q neat couple, in good cir
cumstances, having no children, and
living in nice, clean, tagged alley
way called in Philadelphia a court.
Mrs. Stansbury was q BIT of a shrew,
as almost all smart and cieahly house,
Keepers usually are. She kept her
husbands clothing in the best of or
der, promptly sewing on all loose or
missing blttons,a and her house was
usually in apple pie order. ISaeh ex-
cellent cooking as Mrs. Stansbnry's
was is aotsoften tasted in plain fami-
lies IL moderate means. Her shrew-
ishness, in fact, served as q piquant
sauce to their happy and contented
life; and Stansbury used to say that a
little fretting once IN a while was nee
essary stot the shealth of his excellent
st1ouse.9ifnb& sta3S 18G uEo7t sFoliaf g
2 At dusk, ,oue evening. Mrs. Stans-
bury went out to the hydrant in the
court tofetehi q pail of water. On re-
turning, she found an old sbasket sus-
pended from the knob of the front
door. 3 Putting her hand into the Bas-
ket she felt something alive and kick
ing, but So wrapped in rags that 40
further, discovery , could 9 be made
without unwrapping the object. A
piece of paper folded like a letter, lay
besifes the animated bundle. Mrs.
Stansbury immediately returned into
the house, and by the light of the lamp
examined the5billet. ItIwas directed
to her. husbandsd She broke the seal
and read as follows:
," To JOE STkNsBURY-Sir: send
you the ababy, which you will please
take good care of, and bring up right,
SO that it may turn out to be a better
man than it's daddy. Oh, Joseph
Eve just found you out: and what a
sly old rake. you prove to be n Who
.wouldt think that such sober old
spindle shanks could be such q tear
ing down sinner? The child is yours
-you may swear to that. Look at it
lis Joe Stansburys ALE over. You
deceived me shamefully Joe in saying
you was a widower but do q fathers
duty by the young one and I'll for
give you. .N4nsEqs nEOZl 18tI92so1
Your once loved, but now neglected
and heart-broken NANCY.
ipP.i S.-Don't let that shrewish,
wife of yours see this
note. Gsmmen her with some kind
of a story about the baby, or she'll tear
its eyes out. sal H9 ui3@4s N.
: Stansbury was in the basement
kitchen, quietly eating his supper and
little imagining what storm was
brewing over his head. The door of
the kitchen was violently thrown
open, and his wife's voice yelled OUT
= sfStansburyi come up here, you old
villain--here's 8Smesssfor you.o ,ifi3H
y The astonished9 husband hastily
obeyeds the summons. isE9 9u5 aI39ilio
sissDon'f you want to see your Nancy
the heart broken Nancy p1 cried Mrs.
as the meek partner oil her
bosom hobbledsup into the court.8o Z
.'Nancyl! !swhat Nancyais that ?n says
the husband, in fearful 0astonishment,
in anticipation of a maIri-
tempest. sifei5ai8a g@f971 .
. sfWhy,i, Nancy the mother of this
baby that's been hung up at cur door,
Mr.. Stansbury IL Oh you look very
innocent, bnt just read this note, and
then look into that basket. Don't be
afraid !: it won't bite; it's got no teeth,
poor thing. You'll know it: for, as
The hussy says, it's Just like you, all
over. Please goodness, TIL have my
revenge---I'n expose you9before eve-
rybody9,isun sa7f sidS ijHa oghimaA
In iessthan five minutes the Stans-
bury front door was surrounded by all |
The gossips of the coul't-attraeted to
The spot by the3loud voice of the in
jufed wife-7to witness the process of |
the baby Anxious ex-
pectations sat on every countenance,
Is the jealous woman snnpinned rag
after ragafrom the body of the found |
ing, theIyigorons mo ovement of which |
severyb0dy Tiad3 G9gissh
It is full of the devil already; that |
tho ws it's agenuine chip of the block,
You'll soon see that it's like him in
sverything--in short,a Stansbury all
over" ZOO sdt-na ,slsasc ehl zs
AT last, all athe swaddling clothes
being removed. out darted the baby in
he shape of large gray cat, sewed
up iria straight jacket! Sudden cha
grin of Madame Stansbury, together
with thewailings and ludicrous strug-
giles of puss to get Free caused roars
If laughter among the spectators, in
which poor Stansbury at first family
oined. But when he saw that his
wife relished the joke, his mirth was
hearty and boisterons. 3 Pussy was
adopted, into the family, and ever af-
er wentiby the name o..Joe STAINS /
1ury's baby.sai 30 EHcifgoE is1ia i-ssfi
3 q y 4 "a 3 F. 4