The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-03-10
SAVE THE BABY.
A Thrilling Incident of the California
Flood.

A man and his wife and little girl started
to go to church last night, and got caught
in the rain. 1t wasn't much of Ii night for
weather." the old man remarked, only he
wished all the p'aguey preachers were in
perditien.
"Why, pan' said the little daughter, ten
years of age.
Chow can you talk so, John, before
Pet?' demonstrated the wife, who was a
pious woman, and would have gone to
preaching through flood.
"Any preacher" continued the old man,
who got madder at this attempt to restrain
his right of private Judgment, swho would
think of calling his flock out on a night like
this, ought to have millstone hung about
his neck, and-'
"Now, John, don't.''
"Pappa, you do as mamma says.''
"Who's the head of this household If
there should be three drowned corpes-es
tonight, Matilda, I'll hold your parson re-
sponsible on the other side of Jordan p
said John, fiercely.
Husband, that amt good grammar, :"
said Matilda, feeling hurt at the irreverent
condition of that functionary's mind.
They were now on Clay street, at Kear-
ny, making their way to Montgomery, to
catch car. The crossing was bad, and
John picked up the miss to carry her over.
This he successfully executed, but during
the passage she let fall her doll, and away
it went, IN the surging current of the gut
ter.
"Oh, dear, baby's gone Baby's
drowned p cried the child, in great dis
tress.
"Confound the doll! What did you
bring it out for on bad night?'' demand
ed the parent, intending this as keen
sarcasm on Matilda. "Baby's baptized by
this time," he said, in the same spirit.
But the child cried out again that baby
was in the water, and made such an ado
that the attention of foot passenger was
attracted. He was good man, also on his
way to church, maybe, and an idea got into
his pate that an infant had got in the water
and was being carried down. Without
waiting to inquire, he yelled out, "I'll get
it p and bolted down Clay street, crying
out, "save the baby ~ stumbling over
box and nearly breaking his shin. He lost
his hat before he got to Montgomery street,
and it was carried into the street and run
over by a car. But he rescued the 'sbaby"
just as it was about to be sucked into a
sewer, and took look at it. The language
he used the next instant raises a doubt as
to his being churchman.
"Bless me 1! it's only doll-baby '' said
he.
Eyes, sir, and we could have told you
that if you hadn't been in such hurry"
said John, looking at the water-rat with
| contempt.
Pm sure we ara very much obliged to
you, sir,' said Matilda, trying to make
amends for Johns rudeness.
IS You're welcome, ma am" said the res
cuer, who had waded in and got his hat,
and was stufing his pocket handkerchief
into the crown to stop leak where wheel
had cut away the hurricane deck "quite
welcome. thought your baby was afoat,
| which is the reason went" 7sl 4EE
Yes, sir, and we're thousand times
obliged just the same,' said Matilda.
"If it had been a brat you'd caught it,
which is one satisfaction, amt it2n said the
exasperating John. "Good night, sir !;
rather moist for us church people. Looks
like rain
"Yes, it's damp" said the man, starting
back up Clay street to look for his umbrel-
la, which he dropped when he started on
the chase, and which hoodlum stole and
marched off with mmediately.-Saas Fran
cisco Alta. so ri,