The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-02-25
The Rival Babies.

UNCLE LUTHER BEEcHER's grand CO.
operative baby.sho 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
". One was tall female with auburn
hair, and the other was little lump of q
woman with very black eyes and . de-
termined look. Although they were
alone in the room, neither spoke, but
they commenced to unpack their of.
spring. ~
The auburn haired lady finally pro-
duced from the midst Of innumerable
wrappings q pale, scrawny- looking in.
FAINT, wearing considerable gold chain
and an expression of settled melancholy.
The other baby was chip of the old
block, 80 to speak corpulent cherub
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:
"Whst 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
posture: "Minerva Geraldine was never
sick 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 it.
The rival mother produced coral
necklace with blue locket, and care.
lessly clasped it about Minerva Gerald.
ines neck.
Then the other, in tones of alarm, .ex-
claimed: "Why, Alphonso, have you
lost your little gold ring?" Alphonso,
who was about thirteen months old,
vouchssfed no reply, but only looked sad,
and his mother, after brief search, pro.
duced the ring from . needle case, and
with a glance of triumph forced it on
!
his finger.
The little woman was pale, but com
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 fery-haired female, glarine
wildly at her rival
"Why don't you hire out your living
skeleton to q side-show?" screamed tht
little woman, her eyes swapping with
rage.
Woman!'
| Creature!"
1t looked as If there might be blood
shed, and q humane reporter who hal
overheard the wrangle rushed in to inter
fere.
us my little darling monstrositye"
"Is my Althonso living skeleton?"
| Both lnterrogations rang out simulta
neously with shrillness that drowned
| the yelping of the CANNES and the crow
ing of the prize roosters 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 I have just been exposed to the scarle
few"
And each exasperated female clutchei
up her baby and nursing. bottle ant
basket and bounced out. He was alone
-Detroit Post. .f