Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-22

How a Reporter Sympathized with
an lufOrtunafe Neither.
From DE Rochester Democrat

am Unfortunate Mother.
From the Rochester DemOcrdtl
young reporter Of New York paper at
tended the baby show and inspected pair of
twins. Very pretty, indeed he said. with
sweet earnestness; Which is the Oldest:''
priSed and somewhat angry.
observe. he continued. pointing at one
OF the cherubS with his pencil. that this little
Ia eat9'
"He is girl, SIR replied the mother. with
intense dignity. Her diet is properly attend
"Yes, of course continued the young re-
porter. looking more critically at the child.
81 was aware of that. misSpoke. Now don't
you think that the paleneSS of the little thing
Is unnatural? would not insinuate that it
has not enough To eat, but is the food of the
right kind. Now, know that nothing builds
up the system more rapidly than roast beef.
You have heard of the bOOd-cure, suppose /
would not recommend that in this case-aS
yet; but the child ought TO have liberal sup
ply of roast beef at once"
81 do not understand you. sir remarked
the mother in a frightened tone. but i'm such a
low voice that the reporter did not hear her.
Han! said the young man, looking more
closely at the cherub why. see here, the
little one has no teeth This is extraordinary.
Born SCI. madame?'
.Yes. sir was the reply of the unhappy
lady as she searched with her alarmed eyes for
the police.
-" No teeth" pursued the reporter musingly
That's very sad. indeed. l suppose the ui-
happy child has been brought here as curioS-
ity- And-by Joye. it has no hair worth men
moheT H turned and to the
ningly.. Let Us be thankful my poor woman
for the progress of science and the arts This
unfortunate child can be provided with teeth
by the dentist. and there-there are hair re-
storatives. Should the latter fail. we still have
switches. and puffs, and that sort of thing
Indeed my good woman. take courage, IL
takes Skillful man TO discover what is false
and what Is genuine in the women of the pc
Nod and We may overlook the comparatively
slight misfortune of your innocent and still
beautiful child. All IS We'll, madame; all is
well believe me-"
He looked with serene wisdom at the wide
open eyes of the mother. why, bless my
soul, he added hastily as he turned his atteIi-
tion accidentally to the sleeping blessing.
WHATS become of the-the lower limbs of
this unfortunate creature He placed his
had been one OF his own bOilS. There was two
yards of dress below the waist. and apparently
nothing inside of it. Il never saw the hke.''
said the young reporter. And the little one
what there is of it-seemS To be 50 bright too
IT'S really marvellous. Born so, my poor wo-
man
.'Ye-yes. sir, replied the mother, nearly
1aIntlng with apprehension.
All. well, never mind, remarked the re-
porter, dashing away surreptitious tear and
turning with phIlosophic tenderness to the
agltated parent. Mature has SO ordained
things that what one never has one seldom
misses. How much better ii is that your be
loved child should be born without legs than
that II should live To have its legs cut on i'm a
we Will say in a railroad disaster. Think of
mat my poor woman, think of that And
here comes IN the ameliOrating influence of
science again. dare say You will live to see
this child walk Yet. The time will come when
You viii remember in your every prayer the
genius OF the inventor. For there are cork
legs. madame, there are cork legs
The child thrust UP an exceedingly fat hand.
=. Dear me. exclaimed the young reporter.
II Is This early rose, this embryo person has
been Obliged to encounter wasps' nest. The
Ways OF Providence are past comprehension.
Now, why should this precious infant have
been subjected TO pains which would make a
grown person howl? Bless nv heart! how
mat hand IS swelled. Some carelessness here
ever entrust this sweet child TO the tender
mereies Of the hired girl?''
NO. sir, responded the mother something
akin To smile curiOusly breaking the cOntin,
uity of her frightened expression.
But never mind" continued the young re-
porter brightly. :" There are worse things than
such a slight trouble as this, madam. a stins
hnrts, but it's easily cured. For there is sweet
oil; madame-there is sweet OIL"
Inc BABY awOke with start and a cry; the
-kdltr made the young reporter Jump so viO-
lently that he shook of his eye glasses. What's
thatt he said. hastily replacing the glasses
snd turning to the gentle Phenomenon. Mer
cHui heavens. what the matter with its face?
~ Is the eountenance OF an old man-Of fiend.
observe those wrinkles. madame. Note the
mccarthy look. Is it angry? Is it eraZye
Il
such look on an alleged human being before
Ihis is the most extraordinary misfortune of
The baby opened its mouth for a YELL
There" shrieked the young reporter his
hair standing ON end and his teeth chattering
III gone. There Is no face left, madame.
There Is nothing there but horrible chasm
through which I think can see the spOtless
pillow below. IL is a meaningless shapeless
mass Of abominable pink. hedged around with
faint suggestion OF damnable blue and black
III Is monstrOsity, madame. Take il away
He turned pale and acted like sick person,
but recovered himself directly. Its hard
ease, my poor woman" he said struggling to
be calm and cheerful. "a very hard ease, in
deed. But take comfort Do not be discOur-
aged Have you not read that nothing is
created III vain. Even this semblance of hu-
mainly. awful as IL is. comes i'm that category
i am sure. We may at least assume that il has
soul and we know that not sparrow is per
mitted 10 fall To the ground unnOticed. Even
The hairs of our heads are numbered and YOU
may rest assured that this miniature represen-
tAflve of our truly fallen humanity was sent
hither for some good purpose. Ii is awful my
poor wOman-I admit. But let us look higher
let US east our gaze into the blessed future.
Think OF heaven, my poor woman! think Of
He smiled sweetly and brightly: but he
Turned hastily and sought a retired corner
wherein 10 hide his tears.