The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1875-04-09

operative baDy-ShOw, which was to
have been the feature Of the poultry
and dog exhibition at Young Mems
Hall, is not visible to the naked eye
as yet, but it came very near making
a start on Saturday afternoon. Two
women with babies entered the par
lor, set aside for the little popsey-
wopseys, and taking seats on oppo-
site sides of the room, proceeded I'd
stare at each other coldly and suspi-
ciously. One was o tall female with
auburn hair, and the other was a lit.
tic lump Of woman with very blnck
eyes and a determined look. AL
though they were alone in the room,
neither spoke, but they commenced
to unpack their offspring. The au-
burn haired lady finally produced
from the midst of innumerable wrap
pings a pale, scrawny-looking infant,
wearing considerable gold-chain, and
an expression Of settled melancholy.
The other baby was d chip Of the old
block, SO to speak--a corpulent
cherub, with puffy cheeks and big
eyes, who proceeded to suck his fat
thumb with much composure.
The silence was becoming oppres.
sive, when the tall woman broke it.
She remarked with affected solici-
tude. Asss. s8
"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 compospre "Minerva Ger
aldine was never sick day in hel
life, madam, aud sheis sixteen months
and ten days old, Has your little
one been ailing long?"
The tall woman's hair begun tc
rise up but she pretended to be look.
ing to see where the pin was prickine
her sad-faced baby, and made no re,
ply Presently she wound the in
fant's gold chain around her finger in
an abstracted manner SO that ths
other woman could see it.
The rival mother produced a cora
necklace with blue locket, and care
lessly clasped it about Minerva Ger
aldines' neck. l
Then the other in tones Of alarm
exclaimed, "Why Alphonso, boy
you have lost your gold ring? AL
| phonso, who was thirteen month
old, vouch-safed no reply, but onl,
looked sad, and his mother after
brief search produced the ring fror
q needle-case, and, with q glance Q
triumph, forced it on his finger.
The little woman was pale, bu
compressed her lips with stern deter
mination. Reaching down in he
basket, she brought out a silver mu
and q wax doll with real hair, sh
trembled with excitement, forshe ha
shown her full hand. She won tn
silver mug settled it.
"Did you intend to put that owe
grown monstrosity on exhibitio
hereP' inquired the fair-haire
female, glaring wildly at her rival.
"Why don't you hire out your Ii
ing skeleton to q side show
screamed the little woman, her eyt
swapping with rage. I'd
"Woman r
"Creature p
/. II looked as if there might
bloodshed, and d humane reporte
who had overheard the wrangl
rushed in to interfere. gNi
rls my little darling q monstro
typ
fa'Is my Alphonso living skel
d ton2" -al i4-ii- ~ W ~
I Both interrogations rang out siI
0 ultaneously with shrillness til
l dawned the yelping Of the canin
and cicwing Of the prize roosters
the next apartment.
I Ladies', 2 said he, with an exprG
. sion of great solitude, "they are bo
0 angels. But for Heavens sake doi
detain me, for | have just been q
) posed TO the scarlet few"
0 And each exasperated fema
0 clutched mp her baby and nursin
d bottle and basket and bounced OF
0 He was alone.