Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-02-25
The Rival Babies.

UNCLE LUTHER BEECHER's grand CO.
operative baby-show, which was to have
been one of the feature of the poultry and
dog exposition at Young Mems Hall, is
not visible to the naked eye as yet, but it
came very near making start on Satur-
day afternoon. Two women with babies
entered the parlor set aside for the little
popsey- wopseys, and, taking seats on
opposite sides of the room, proceeded to
stare at each other coldly and suspicious.
ly. One was tall female with auburn
hair, and the other was q little lump of q
woman with very black eyes and n de-
termined look. Although they were
alone in the room, neither spoke, but
they commenced to unpack their off
spring.
The auburn-h haired lady finally pro-
duced from the midst of innumerable
wrappings pale, scrawny- lOOking in.
FAINT, wearing considerable gold chain
and an expression of settled melancholy.
The other baby was chip of the old
block, so to speak-a corpulent cherEb
with puffy cheeks and big eyes, who pro-
ceeded to suck its fat thumbs with much
composure.
The silence was becoming oppressive
when the tall woman broke it. She re-
marked with affected solicitude:
"What is the matter with your baby,
mum' The poor little thing looks quite
unwell."
The little woman's black eyes snapped,
but she answered with forced COM
posure: Minerva Geraldine was never
sick a day in her life, madam, and she
Is sixteen months and ten days old. Has
your little one been ailing long?"
The tall woman's hair began to raise
up, but she pretended to be looking to
see where the pin was pricking her sad
faced babe, and made no reply. Pres
emily she wound the infants gold chain
around her finger In an distracted man
ner, SO that the other woman would
see 1t.
The rival mother produced coral
necklace with blue locket, and care.
lessly clasped 1t about Minerva Gerald
ines neck.
Then the other, in tones of alarm, ex-
claimed: "Why, Alphonso, have you
lost your little gold rings" Alphonso,
who was about thirteen months old,
vouchsafed no reply, but only looked sad,
and his mother, after brief search, pro.
duced the ring from needle-case, and
with glance OF triumph forced 1t on
his finger.
The little woman was pale, but CON-
pressed her lips with stern determination.
Reaching down into her basket she
brought out silver mug aud wax doll
with real hair. She trembled with ex.
element, for she had shown her full hand
She won; the silver mug settled it.
ibid you intend to put that over
grown monstrosity on exhibition here?"
INQUIRED the fiery-haired female, glaring
wildly at her rival.
"Why don't you hire out your living
skeleton to side. show?" screamed the
little woman, her eyes swapping with
rage.
Woman
Creature!"
1t looked as If there might be blood
shed, and humane reporter who had
overheard the wrangle rushed In TO inter-
fere.
"Is my little darling a monstrosityg"
as my AlLhonso a living skeleton?"
Both lnterroga.ions rang out simulta
neously with a shrillness that drowned
the yelping of the CANNES and the crow
ing of the prize ROSTERS in the next apart.
ment.
Ladies'" said he with an expression
of great solicitude, they are both angels.
But, for Heavens sake, do not detain me.
for ! have just been exposed to the scarlet
few"
And each exasperated female clutched
up her baby and nursing. bottle and
basket and bounced out. he was alone.
Detroit Post