The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-02-04
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ers; and 80 the matter would have been
settled; but the baby, who had been
looking wonderingly from one to an
other, now nestled close to Bob's
shoulder, and began to wall piteously.
1t was only natural result OF finding
herself left so long alone among stran-
gers, but to tender-hearted Bob it seemed
a direct appeal to his sympathy and
protection.
"I should like to keep herI should
like to take her home," said he.
"Good for you'll" said man who had
not yet spoken-only poor coal-heaver,
begrimed and smutched from top to
toe. "Good for you! You see, gentle
men, faint noways certain t woman
won't come back next train; so what's
the hurry about sending the baby to the
poor-house-for that's what It would
come to. If the woman don't come,
and we don't hear nothing after we've
advertised, pears to me it'll be time
enough to talk about the poor-house
then"
No one offered an objection to this
view of the case, and the coal-heaver
added
eth cost something to advertise,
though; donno S that ought to come on
to Bob.''
Certainly not" said the depot-mas-
ter, taking out his pocket-book, an ex-
ample which was Immediately followed
by others, so that an amount was col
lected quite sufficient to defray all con-
tingent expenses, and handed over to
Bob Then he walked out of the depot
with the baby and carpet-bag, followed
by his friend, the coal-heaver.
"Have a ride on my keart?" asked
the latter.
"Don't care if I do, if it's in your
way" said Bob.
"I'n make it in my way" said the
good natured man. So Bob clambered in,
the horse started off at slow trot, and
the little cart jolted merrily away over
the cobble-stones, with its novel freight.
1t was not till Bob came in sight of
the little one-story house which he call
ed home, that he began to ask himself
whether he had not acted hastily in I'M
| dertaking such a charge without con-
sulting Mother Darby, as he called the
woman with whom he lived. For Bob
| was an orphan-nay, more, he had
| neither kith nor kin that he knew of in
the wide world. Ever since he could
remember, he had been passed from one
to another who had been willing to har-
Dor him little while, either for charity
or the work he could do. For two or
three months his home had been with
Mother Darby, receiving his board and
scanty clothing in consideration of tend
ing the cow, bringing in wood and rum
| ming of errands. So, "What will
Mother Darby say?" was the question
he asked himself as the cart stopped at
the gate, and, bidding the kind coal
HEAVIER good-by, he entered the house
with his burden.
What she did say was
"What under the sun have you go1
thereP"
"She's so pretty-and the woman
left her, and they talked of sending hel
to the poor-house. l couldn't help it., ,
answered Bob, rather incoherently.
"Mercy on us! What are you talking
about? can't make head nor tail o.
it, But give me the baby, do. She's
most frozen, poor thing!"
And as the woman, whose heart was
much softer than her speech, sat dowr
by the fire and began to take off tn,
child's hood and cloak, Bob's courage
revived, and he told the story from be
ginning.to end, as we know it already
GA pretty job you've undertakenn
said Mrs. Darby then. "The woman
neyer'H come back; that you may de
pend. She wa n 'tsits mother no more'l
| am"
81 thought you'd let it stay till some
, thing could be done," said Bob, de
, jectedly.
"Of course will. I amt wild In
: jun, to turn such baby as this adrif
by ITSELF" said Mother Darby.
She then warmed some milk and fe
/ the little one, and in 4 few minutes
, was sleeping quietly on Mother Darby
, past or future perils.
Her folks is well off, whoever the
: be-" said Mother Darby, examining tn
little blue silk hood, trimmed wit
swans down, and the embroidere
thibet cloak.
"The woman that gave her to me wa
3 sumner" said Bob; by which phras
he no doubt intended to express his az
probation of her fine clothes.
: Bob lost no time in advertising til
| child; but days went on, and no answe
:. appeared, nor did the woman return I
: claim her charge. The travelling ba
e contained nothing that would afford til
e slightest clew to the child's identity
r except the single name ''Elsie' on som
of the clothing.
S "Well, I'm sorry, but there's notl
= ing for it but to send her to the poo
hnuSo :, said Mother Darby