Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-02-25
THF RIVAL BABIES.
Scene mt the Detroit Baby Sho,
From the Detroit Free Press

From tne UeCrOlt Free ITees.j
Uncle Luther Beecher's grand cooperative
baby show, which was to have been one OF
the features of tho poultry and dog exposition
at Young Men Hall, is not visible to the naked
eve as yet, but it came very near making
start on Saturday afternoon: Two women
with babies entered the parlor set aside tor
the little popsey-wopseys, and, taking seats
on opposite sides of the room, proceeded to
stare at each other coldly and suspcously:
One was tall female with auburn hair and
the other was Il little lump of a woman with
very black eyes AMI a determined look. Al
though they were alone in the room neither
spoke, but they commenced to unpack their
otfsprings.
The authenticated lady finally produced
from the midst of innumerable wrappings
pale, scrawny- looking infant, wearing con-
siderable gold chain and an expression of
settled melancholy. The other baby was a
chip of the old block, SO to speak-a corpu-
lent cherub with puffy cheeks and big eyes,
who proceeded to suck its fat thumbs with
much cOmpOsure.
The silence was becoming oppressive when
the tall woman broke it, She remarked 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 composure: mi
nerva Geraldine was never sick a day in her
life, madame, and she is Is months and 10
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 the sad-faced babe, and
made no reply. Presently she wound the in
fant's gold chain around her finger, in an alb
stracted manner, 50 that the other woman
could see it.
The rival mother thereupon produced a
coral necklace with blue locket, and care
fully clasped it around Minerva Geraldine's
| neck.
Then the other, in tones of alarm, exclalm-
ed: "Why, Alphonso, have you lost your
little gold ring ?" Alphonso, who was about
13 months old, vouchsafed no reply, but only
looked sad, and his mother, after brief
| search, produced the ring from needle-case
! and, with glance of triumph, forced it upon
his finger.
| The little woman was pale, but compressed
her lips with stern determination. Reaching
down into ber basket she brought out silver
mug and wax doll with real hair. She
trembled with excitement, for she had shown
her full hand. She won; the silver mug set
! tied it.
| D1U yOU mtCuu W pUN Cn"' wv CIV" u
monstrocity on exhibition here ?" inquired
the fiery-haired female, glaring wildly at her
rival.
"Why don't you hire out your living skele-
ton to o side-show p screamed the little wo-
man, her eyes swapping with rage.
"Woman!"
''Creature!'
1t looked as if there might be bloodshed,
and humane reporter who overheard the
wrangle rushed in to interfere.
lis my little darling monstrocity?,'
''Is my Alphonso a living skeleton?''
Both interrogations rung out simultaneously
with shrillness that drowned the yelping OF
the CANNES and the Growing of the prize
roosters in the next apartment.
Ladies'" said be, with an expression OF
great solicitude, '"They are both angles. But
for heavens sake do not detain me, for !
have just been exposed to the scarlet 1ev-
And each exasperated female clutched up
her baby and nurs;ng-bottle and basket and
bounced out. He was alone.