Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-04-19


To explain would take all night, and he
would never believe me If should at.
tempt II. He evidently attributed my
silence to inability to account for myself,
for he continued
"See here, my cove this won't do
You was a goin' to tie that young IN on
the ben-pull and leave Il there, IL
hadn't "a stopped you now wasn't you,
eh 2 Own up like man ~ And he
winked cornplacen.ly at his own shrewd-
ness.
Still could not answer.
Now, then" continued the officer,
drawing himself mp to his full height, and
assuming an air consistent with his dig.
nifty as guardian Of the public morals
"now then, l aln't goin' TO let you do
nothing Of the kind on my beat. II you've
got young galoot there as you're
ashamed Of, there's plenty of foundlin'
horspittles where you can get rid of il,
without leayln' II on respectable folks'a
doorsteps. An what's further"
But what was further he never In
formed me for at that moment a servant
appeared, put her head cautiously out,
welcomed me with "Lor Mr.. Scribl'us,
It's yea, Is II 2" and admitted me, while
the policeman stalked of with the proud
consciousness Of having done his duty
regardless of consequences.
While | was kicking the snow of my
boots, the servant stood gazing in amaze
meDt at my singular burden. The child
had cried himself to sleep out on the
doorstep, but was now awake again and
preparing for another roar. ''Alas ~
thought, "here is trying crisis. If my
fellow bonrders learn of this atfiir,
shall never bear the end Of Il. Something
must be done, and that instantly, TO keer
the little william from rousing tke house ~
hurried him up stairs, bouncing HIM up
and down, and lntoning II confused med
ley Of childish rhymes, but for the life of
me l could not remember more than a
line or two OF each. The result ran
somewhat in this strain;
Now lay me down to sleep
Roek-a-by baby upon the tree top:
When the wind blows
Shoe the horse, shoe the mare,
Let the little colt GO
To Banbury cross
To see a white lady get on black horse
and so on, ad Abii,sm and da cdpO.
Between the sianzas managed to d.
rect the girl to wake up her mistress and
send her 10 my room. She hurried off,
and during the interval between her dis
appearance and the advent Of mine
hostess. succeeded in soothing the boy
and laid him in profound slumber on
my bed.
My landlady entered.
The servant had evidently prepared her
for the worst, for her face wore the ex-
preston of a general who had resolved
to take a decided stand on some point,
had strongly intrenched and fortified him
self, and had his reserves well disciplined
and In good order. She entered without
the most distant salutation, took up her
position 10 the middle Of tue room, folded
her arms, threw back her head, and
looked me full IN the face. She was
waiting for me to open the engagement.
"Mrs. Barnaby," began after mo-
ment's conslderatlon-'FM Mrs. Barnaby,
you perceive l am 10 delicate situation. %
"Mr. Scrlblerlus," she responded, 81
should say you were"
This was not strictly encouraging, but
1 continued:
"Aud am going to throw myself Oh
your generosity"
Mrs. B was plainly de ermined moi
to commit herself, and maintained a dis
Greet silence.
can explanation of this affair will ia-
volve story of considerable length, but
hope"
fBefore you proceed with your story,
! Mr.. Seriblerius," said my lu1dlady frigid
ly, ''allow me 10 remind you that youl
week is up TO night. will dispense with
| further notice, II you have anything to
tell which a respectable woman like my
self should not listen to, and let you and
your infant yonder take quarters some
where else"
''Mrs. Bardaby," cried in despair
'hear me, pray, before turning me Ou
Of your house on such night as this
There is a lady in the ease-t0o ladies
in fact"
"Ladiss =" exclaimed the good woman
with an unmistakable sneer, every brstl'
Of her fnatronly virtue now rampAntll
erect. She would have continued at SOM
length no doubt, had not FASTENED L
interrupt her.
do not remember exactly what / said
but my language was well choseu, au'
served so far 10 soothe her ruflied feeling
that she listened with praisewOrthy pa
tience while l recounted in detail the cir
cumstances Of my remarkab e adventure
with which the reader is already aequaint
ed. My landlady was one OF those per
sons who, when in the wrong, apologize
In action rather than in words. Betor
my story was nearly finished, she hal
bent down over the sleeping child wilt
as much tenderness as If II had been he
own.
Poor, poor darling l' she murmured
as she arranged the folds Of its llttl
cloak so that il could breathe with create
I hstt oil .
its mothers name or her Whereabouts &
"Not one," answered.
"Poor, poor darling ~ she repeated
and then, as if struck with a sudden idea
" Have you looked for any marks abou
Its person 2"
, " A strawberry mark on the left arm
OF something Of that sort 20 / asked, a
I the romantic side of my nature thrillin
/ at the thought.
"Oh dear, no Names or initials o
e the clothing, mean"
4 The thrills ceased and as l gazed 9
: the mysterious wrappings in which lha
q tiny form was encased, It occurred to m
4 how helpless should have been If leit t
/ myself TO prosecute a search; or, havin
' once taken OFF the garments and exam
ined them, what a fine chance that infal
would have stood to go naked the rest
= It's life for want of a hand to put them {
!. again. While these horrible possibiliti
. were crossing my brain, the good LAD
A had commenced operations, keeping u
youngster quiet with Thousand mothe
ly caresses and Establishments. Wit
the investigation was completed, 81
q TUNED to me with an expression
- countenance that bespoke the result mo
]. plainly than any words.
II "There is nothing left but to adv'
m tise," she said after pause. "Do y
,e ever put such things into your paper ~
,e "No," l repledi "but ] will insert
notice tomorrow In the 'H-r-ld,' whC
a the parent will be sure to look. 1t is
r late tonight"
.. Al this reference to the lateuess Of {
10 hour, my landlady took the child in
~ arms, aud prepared to leave the roo
NJ bidding me good night. An afterthoug
a. timpelled me TO call her back.
e. cone, moment If you please"
m She halted in the doorway.
"My dear Mrs. Barnaby," / solemn
inquired, feeling It my duty to ask
~ question, and nervlng myself 10 the tai
,u Does the little dev-excuse me -ang
w.s ~ mean; stand in need Of the kindly NJ
~ istrations of a-a-"
We "a nurse % suggested Mrs. B.
~ "Of COURSE"
i,s "Yes, madam, as you observe, a au'
90 OF course but are there not-that il
Ss say -ahsm pardon me if l seem inqu
bs tive-are there not-ahem too kinds
be nurses 2"
az Certainly, Mr. Soriblerius," and
shall never forget that excellent woma
nk look, first Of incredulity, ard then Of b
III ror, as the full compreh ension of my
~ norance penetrated her aged brain. III
~ she added. for my further edIncatl