Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-01-03

ally fishing after the floating paper, her
eye caught one word, and the truth flashed
upon her.
The culprit stood revealed. 1t was
rather damper on Mr.. Porter's enthu.
siasm; he couldn't scold Baby Nell, for
she would have laughed and crowed, and
thought herself having a grand frolic.
He couldn't shut her up in her room, and
tell her to stay there all the forenoon, for
he well knew she could do more mischief
shut up in a room for five minutes than
he could undo in as many hours; so he
turned his anger toward Dick; "What
were you about, I'd like to know, that
you let the baby do anything she choosesf
What are you hired for, prayS If you
are worth no more than that, you'd better
go home"
"lf you please, sir, !" Dick began, "Mrs.
| Porter sent me to the store to bring that
bundle from the drawer, and l hurried
every step.of the way, and just got back
in time"
Then there was no one to look after
the baby" said Mr.. Porter, turning re.
proachfully to his wife
Fred wasn't here, I" she answered, "and
there was nothing else to do"
mo, of course he wasn't here. He
never is where he ought to be. You see
what comes of your heedlessness, young
man. You can go to your room, and stay
there till dinner. time;" and then without
so much as a glance at Baby Nell, who
serenely sucked the toe of her slipper,
and was the only happy one of the party,
MIR. Porter took his hat and banged him.
self out.
Dinuer was rather a solemn meal with
Mr.. Porter's family that day. The head
of the house had not recovered his good
humor. 1t was sore disappointment,
and an inconvenience to him not to be in
the city at that moment; and Master Fred,
considering himself uniustly treated, ate
his potato in solemn, not to say sullen,
silence. BY the time they came to the
rice pudding, with raisins in it, Mr..
Wheeler burst in unannounced. He
looked very pale, and good deal ex.
cited.
"Well, sir" he said, "you have reason
to give that baby of yours good many
extra kisses to-day. You haven't heard
the news, supposeP"
Haven't heard anything" said Mr..
Porter, shortly. "All know is, | ought
to be in the city now, and am here"
For which, tell you, you have cause
to be more grateful than ever you were in
your life. There has been an awful acci
dent: the down train collided with the
eleven o'clock express, and there has
been terrible slaughter. l don't know
how many killed-some say hundreds
They have telegraphed up here for sur
geons and nurses, and the doctors are all
going down now, on the one O'clock"
Then there were exclamations of con
sternation and terror, and thankfulness
all mingled together When Mr.. Wheeler
hurried away, he left paler faces around
the Porter table, and just as solemn ones
but faces wonderfully subdued
''What singular escapew Mrs. Porter
murmured; and as Baby Nell gave one Of
her sudden springs forward, and signifeC
her desire to climb out of her chair to hel
fathers shoulder, he took her in his arms
and laid his hand on her curly head, will
a tender, moved look in his eyes "Sht
little knows what she has done to day,
he saidi softly. Then suddenly lookins
toward Fred, he said, in voice tha
was little husky, Fred, my boy, pas
your plate, and let father give you som,
more pudding" But Fred's appetite wa
gone, and there was a great tear rollin,
down one fat cheek.-Inte1ior.