Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-27
NO. 203.
Misfellatlepits.
TIE DOCTOR'S BABY.

Well, never.a he exclaimed. "Drollest
thing"
why, what is it, Doctor 2" we all demanded
Just you come out here to the swamp
cried the Doctor. "Come quick ~ And,
catching up one of the blankets, he strobe off
again The spider was hastily set aside. We
resumed our snow shoes, and followed after
nun as last as possible: but he had gained
quite 4 start We did not come up with him
Til nc had entered among the cedars, and was
coming out upon one of the open holes, which
looked still broader and muddier since the
thaw. On the very edge where the icy snow
oordered the black muck, the Doctor drew
up, There" he exclaimed. "For PHYS
sake, just look here" pointing to the mud.
"Ihem hat he gets me Little baby's feet!"
We all started. Sure enough, there in the
mud we're some little footprints not more than
three or four inches long, toes and all, as
plain as could be, patted down into the soft
muck. Some little foot had evidently run
along there not many minutes ago. ''Just
made, too" continued the Doctor. Then,
after a hurried glance around, he stopped to
examine them. Wash winked to me, then to
Rsed and Wade, who were regarding US with
curious looks. We all choked down a great
grin. Unless we were much mistaken we had
a "sott tn ne" on the Doctor. "Wen, if this
don't beat the Dutch!" resumed the Doctor,
standing back step. "There isn't house
within fifteen miles, that know of. How the
little thing ever got up here is more than
can guess; but (stooping down again) it's a
| baby's foot fast enough"
1T may be that an Indian family is camp
ing about here, not far off," suggested the
hypocritical Wash. ''Perhaps this is little
papoose."
'Barefooted too, observed Wade ssor else
nothing but very thin moccasin. Look at
those little toe marks Can't be over q year
and half or two years old"
Poor little thing, it must be LOST
remarked the Doctor refectively, and with
touch of feeling which did him credit, but
came near making us shout with suppressed
merriment. And, boys" cried he with sud
den gravity 1--WE must tryi to hunt it mp.
Poor baby, here all alone in the dark swamp
he can't be far off, either.
If it's lost child, we certainly ought to
hunt it up," said Raed.
'And if It's papoose, should like to see
it, remarked Wade.
.'Mere common humanity demands that
we find the lost baby" Wash affirmed.
So we all began to search along the bor-
ders of the muck-hole with affected zeal
but the Doctor was in earnest
"Ah there's where he stopped to play in
the mud. See where his little fingers clawed
ii up there said he. 'And here's where
he clambered up on to the snow; and out
here is another track. He's left the hole,
and gone off into the woods"
! Here and there we could still see the little
footprints close together on the damp snow
as we hurried on.
"See where he broke off those tender
sprouts! Wash noticed. "Little cub Isn't
it curious? wonder where his mother is.'
Pve heard of children being carried off by
wi baa nd tyyslA
men, Perhaps we've stumbled upon an ex-
ample ~
Like enough, said the Docter.
Luckily it WAS getting too dark for him to
our faces. m
II declare. he walks ell for little one. =
said Wade after a while. 'sWhy, we've come
as much AS quarter Of mile from the muck.
hole"
few moments after, we came out to a
large yellow birch-tree, or rather a stub; or
rather stub; for it was all decayed, and evil
IDENTIFY hollow, having great open hole in
the trunk at the roots. The little footmarks
led directly toward this hole.
lyon don't suppose he's crawled into that
hole, do you, asked the Doctor. ~ declare,
he has !" continued he, pointing to wet track
in the wet punk within the aperture. Gone in
there, as live!"
We all took look.
The inside OF the tree had r0tted away :and
the hollw cavity extended both upward and
downward into the root beneath the ground
"a dark hole indeed. ~
"F.n in there, Pm afraid y exclaimed the
Doctor. ''Baby, little chuck! are you down
there Likely as amy way there's water at the
bottom! Ifit wern't so dark down there!
Got any matches, boy? Lets make q torch?"
Ipulied off crispy roll of the cuIled bark,
and lighting it, let it down into the opening.
The Doctor had not thought Of looking up
the hollow trunk. Nobody would expect
baby TO climb a tree, of course. But, the
moment we put in the fire, there was a great
scrsmbltng overhead on the inside: and
shower of dust and punk ratified down.
''Gracious" exclaimed the Doctor '.The
little rascal is up, instead of down! II don't be
ieye it is child. But that is a bsby's foot
fast enough" said he, stepping back, and
again examining the track. ''Yes, little brat.
Scared, suppose. How can he climb! They
say little babies can swim, too, shouldn't
wonder if they did make wild men in inst
this way
| Then, in a coaxing voice. "Come, baby,
come down. We wont hurt you. Oh mo-
we'll take you to your mother"
But the baby gave no indications Of coming
down; and, despite the dust which niied the
aperture, the Doctor again poked bis head
to see if he couldn't discern him.
Light another piece Of bark, hit, SAID he,
"and let me take it, I can see something up
there. hut IN be skinned ii il looks like
baby |!
20, the Dark and, putting IL on the end
of stick, we thurst it up the hollow, and saw,
M some ten or twelve feet, not exactly a
baby but big raccoon peering cautiously
down, with his visage turned askew as If he
thought it more than commonly good joke.
'Sold' calculated the Doctor, pulling out
his head, and gazing comically At the little
track.
"Well, l never knew that before IA rae
coon makes track just like little child's!
Well, live and learn. I've been completely
done for Go for me, boys!I won't say :
word! Go for me as much az you're = mind
to! But, for PHYS sake. don't tell Of this in
town, boys" he sdded pathetically monent
later. "rwould be the ruination Of me. Con.
found that raccoon. Lets give it to him
Camping out
NEW MTIcYr