Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-29
ALL ABOUT A BABV.

A few days since, while worthy Method
list minister Of Athens, Tennessee, was
working in his garden, a strange proceeding
took place in his house, where his good
wife and two children were. A negro wo-
man brought in basket, and depositing it
on a bed walked out. The wife called her
husband in, and told him of the circum-
stance. The two examined the basket, and
10! it contained nicely dressed baby, and a
$40 bill, and pretty note, in q feminine
hand, desiring the lady to take charge of
the little innocent and her remuneration
would be ample. The good man stormed.
The good wife tried to pacify him, and
seemed well commended with the charge.
Something in her manner indicated that
she knew somewhat about the affair which
the minister did not know, and he resolved
to ferret it out to the very bottom. He en-
gagged pious Deighbor, and got sn officer,
and the negro woman became the object Of
their search. She was at length found, and
said in explanation of the part she had
Played, that the child ard basket had been
placed in Der charge by DIR. Ruth A.
French, of Knoxville, with instructions to
deliver them safely to the minister's wife.
The minister and the chur Oh brother and
bhO ISStCcc 0nA b4sO OdDJ SuO OaSAON
forthwith made an expedition in force to
Knoxville. A good deal Of noise began to
grow out of this tale Of two cities, and the
baby made some of it. 1t objected to being
tossed around in basket, and robbed Of
needf1l repose in the bosom of its family.
The Office Of DR.. Ruth A. French was
found, and being completely surrounded
by the forces from Athens, she was
obliged to surrender the secret. Her story
Is: Last summer Southern lady with her
husband came to East Tennessee, spent
Soma weeks at the springs, and then took
lodgings in respectable boarding house OF
Knoxville, where the lady remained doni-
ciled after her husband left for bis home,
South. A month ago she gave birth to
child and DR.. French attended her, and the
lady confded Ter story to her physician.
She was of good birth and connections, the
daughter of . clergyman and married
woman, but had loved he- suitor, now her
husband, 'not wisely, but too WELL" The
marriage ceremony and the birth-reeord
Of their child would be at singular variance.
She could not take that child just then to
her Southern home, and her husband,
too, had forbidden her TO come with
1t. What was she TO dc? The Methodist
Episcopal conference was In session IN
Knoxville, and at the house where DR..
Ruth A. French boarded, was the Athens
clergyman and his wife. To the wife DIR.
French narrated the story, and the good
woman agreed to take the infant and keep
it until it was claimed by its rightful pa
rents. She had said nothing to her husband
about it, but thought it would be time
enough 10 explain the matter to him after
the little stranger came. He few into such
storm of virtuous Indignation that she
could not tell him, and went nosing round,
until the probabilities are that he has maze
trouble for that too late married pair in
their Southern home. In the meantime
DR.. Ruth A. French is taking care OF the
baby, for the good man of Athens would
not allow bis wife to redeem her promise.