The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-01-28
BOB'.S BABY.

room of Wakesha station, waiting for the
train to come in. Not that he was expect
lug to go anywhere-he only wished he
could-but he liked the hustle and excite
ment of the scene, and, what was more to
the purpose, he sometimes picked MP a
stray penny by giving the porters lift, or
standing guard over some gentleman s
travelling bag, or carrying some lady S
supernu,nerary parcels.
On this particular occasion there was an
unusual hustle, for it was Christmas MORN
ing and the depot was thronged with those
awaiting the arrival of friends, or who
were themselves bound on a holiday excur-
sion.
Presently the engine with its long train
of cars came snorting and thuudering up
the track, and the crowd surged forward
to the front of the platform. Bob, for
that was the boys name, was about 20 DO
the same when he was stopped by a showily
dressed woman with a child in her arms.
"Please take my baby for a moment" :"
said she. 'I've forgotten something"
eyes ma am" said Bob, receiving the
child and seating himself on the trunk
again, while the woman, dropping her
travelling bag at his feet, hurried away and
was lost in the great crowd.
Bob waited patiently, not doubling that
she wonld Immediately return to claim her
little charge but the minutes went by,
the whistle sounded, the bell rang and the
train began to move slowly out of the de-
pot, and still she did not appear. Then
Bob started up in alarm, and ran toward
the departing train, and as he did so, he
distinctly saw the woman's face at win
dow.
"The lady-she's lost her ba0y-take it,
somebody ~ he cried, and held it out to
two or three gentlemen who were rushing
into the cars at the last momens-as gen
tlemen will.
But neither of them seemed inclined to
avail themselves of the offer. The train
moved faster and faster, and finally whisk-
ed out of sight while Bob stood still, gaz-
ing in the direction in which it had vanish
ed, an image of surprise and dismay.
''Gingo - exclaimed he then, turning
his eyes from the line of blue smoke which
still floated above the tree top, to the face
of the child in his arms; and in that sim
gle word he expressed volumes.
"Wel1, what is the meaning of this ?''
asked the depot master, his attention now
for the first time attracted to the scene.
''Why, you see, the lady asked me to
hold her baby while she went to get some
thin, and she was carried off without it."
'The lady? What lady ?''
''Don't know. Never seen her before"
''Where did she come from ?''
"Don't know. The fust ] see, she was
standing right in front of me.''
"Where was she going?"
81 don't know. Don't know nothing
about her only she asked me to hold the
baby, cause she'd forgot somethin'. She
left her bag, too there 'tis"-pointing
with his foot because his hands were other
wise engaged "and l know she went off
in the cars, cause l see her looking out
the winder."
There was certain straightforwardness
about Bob's story which carried conviction
with it, and none of the little circle, Of
which Bob was now the centre, thought of
doubling its truth.
While the depot master was defberating
what to say next, rough looking boy
about Bob's age, who had left off shouting
ssWashkesha Chronicle" to hear what was
going on, cried out
ooh, amt you green! She didn't mean
to come back
"That's so, 1 guess,' said the depot
master.
"Bobby, my boy, you're sold, and have
got a baby on your hands," said another.
In short, it was apparent that the young
newsboy had expressed the sentiments OF
all the men present.
The next question was how Bob should
dispose of this very odd and unexpected
Christmas present.
"You had better go at once to the town
authorities and let them take the child,''
said the depot master.
:'Yes.'
Certainly" chimed in the bystanders;
and SO the matter would have been settled,
but the baby, who had been looking won
deringly from one to another, now nestled
closely to Bob's shoulder, and began to
wall pitiously. 1t was only a natural re-
suit of finding herself left so.long among
strangers, but to tender hearted Bob it
seemed direct appeal to his sympathy and
protection.
sTshould like to keep her. should.like
to take her home," said he.
ssGood for yeu ~ said the man who had
not yet spoken--only a poor coal-heaver,
begrimed and smutched from top to toe,
ssGood for you! You see, gentleman, 'taint
no ways certaiu't the woman won't come
back next train. SO what's the hurry about
sending the baby to the poorhouse-for
that's WHAT would come to. If the wo-
man don't come, and we don't hear moth
ing after we've advertised, pears to me
it'n be time enough to talk about the poor