Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1873-01-02

ally fishing after the floating paper, her
eye caught one word, and the truth 1ashed
upon her.
The culprit stood revealed. 1t was
rather damper on Mr.. Porter,s entnu-
siasm; he couldn't scold Baby Nell, for
she would have laughed and crowed, and
thought herself having grand frolc.
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, Pd like to know, that
you let the baby do anything she choosess
What are you hired for, pray? If you
are worth no more than that, you'd better
go home"
"If you please, sir" Dick began, "Mrs.
Porter sent me to the store to bring that
bundle from the drawer, and 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" she answered, land
there was nothing else to do"
'No, 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 glance at Baby Nell, who
serenely sucked the toe of her slipper,
and was the only happy one of the party,
| Mr.. Porter took his hat and banged him
self out.
Dinner was rather solemn meal with
MIR. 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 unjustly treated, ate
his potato in solemn, not to say sullen,
rice pudding, with raisins in it, Mr..
Wheeler burst in unannounced. He
looked very pale, and a 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, I suppose?"
''Haven't heard anything" said Mr.
Porter, shortly. "All I know is, ought
to be in the city now, and am here''
For which, I 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. I 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.
sWhat a singular escaped" Mrs. Porter
murmured; and as Baby Nell gave one of
her sudden springs forward, and signified
her desire to climb out of her chair to her
fathers shoulder, he took her in his arms,
and laid his hand on her curly head, with
tender, moved look in his eyes. "She
little knows what she has done to-day"
he said, softly. Then suddenly looking
toward Fred, he said, in voice that
was little husky, Fired, my boy, pass
your plate, and let father give you some
more pudding" But Fred's appetite was
gone, and there was great tear rolling
down one fat cheek.-Inte7Tor.