Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-01-11
A SYMPATHIZING REPORTER.
How n Young Reporter Sympathized With
an Unfortunate Mother at the Re-
cent Exposition of Babies in
New York City.
Rochester Democrat.

an Unfortunate Mother at the Re-
cent Exposition of Babies in
New York City.
Rochester Democrat.
A young reporter of New York pa
per attended the baby show and inspect
ed pair of twins. every pretty, in
deed" he said, with sweet earnestness
(Which is the oldest?"
Neither" said the mother, lookins
surprised and somewhat angry.
81 observe" he continued, pointing a
one of the cherubs with his pencil, "tha
this little one does not look well.
trust he has enough to eat?"
He is girl, sir, replied the mother
with intense dignity. "Her diet is prop
erly attended to, sir"
Yes, of course" continued the young
reporter, looking more critically at the
child,-"I was aware of that. l mis-
spoke. Now don't you think the pale.
ness Of the little thing is unnatural.
would not insinuate that it has MOI
enough to eat, but is the food of tht
right kind? Now l know that nothing
builds up the system more rapidly than
roast beef. You have heard of the
blood-cure, l suppose. l would not rec
ommend that in this case-as yet; but
the child ought to have liberal supply
of roast beef at once.
Il do not understand you, sir," re-
remarked the mother in a frightened
tone, but in such low voice that the
reporter did not hear her.
Hal said the young man, looking
more closely at the cherub. Why, see
here the little one has no teeth. This
is extraordinary. Born so, MADAME"
"Yes, sir" was the reply of the I'M
happy lady, as she searched with hel
alarmed eyes for the police.
singly. That's very bad, indeed. |
suppose the unhappy child has been
brought here as curiosity. Andy
Jove! it has no hair worth mentioning
Poor thing!" He turned to the mother
and remarked knowingly and patroniz-
ingly. Let us be thankful, my dear
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 restoratives.
Should the latter fail, we still have
switches, and puffs, and that sort of
thing. Indeed, my good woman, take
courage 1t takes skillful man to dis
cover what is false and what is genuine
in the woman of the period; and we may
overlook the comparatively slight mis-
fortunes of your innocent and still beau
tiful child. All is well, madam; all is
well, believe me-
He looked with serene wisdom at the
eyes of the mother. Why,
bless my soul!'' he added hastily, as he
turned his attention to the sleeping
blessing. What's become of the-thc
lower limbs of the unfortunate crea-
ture?' He placed his hand softly upon
the long white dress, as if it had been
one of his own boils. There were two
yards of dress below the waist, and, ap-
nothing inside of it. Il never
saw the likep' exclaimed the young re-
porter. 'And the little one-what there
is of it-seems to be so bright, too. It's
really marvellous. Born so, my poor wo-
MANI
Ye-yes, sir faltered the mother,
nearly fainting with apprehension.
"Ah, well, never mind, remarked the
reporter, dashing away surreptitious
tear and turning with philosophic ten
1erness to the agitated parent. Nature
has so ordained things that what one
never has one seldom misses. How
much better it is that your beloved
child should be born without legs than
that it should live to have its legs cut
off in ave will say in railroad disas-
ter. Think of that, my poor woman,
think Of that. And here comes in the
influence of science again.
| dare say you will live to see this child
walk yet The time will come when you
will remember in every prayer the gen
ius of the inventor. For there are cork
egs, madam, there are cork legs
The child thrust up an exceedingly
fat hand. Dear mcl exclaimed the
young reporter. Isis this natural?
Excuse me- see how it is. This early
rose, this embryo person, has been obi
5ed to encounter a wasps nest. The
ways of Providence are past compre-
Now, why should this precious
infant have been subjected to pains
which would have made a grown person
howl? Bless my heart! how that hand
is swclled Some carelessness here, I'm
afraid Fell me, my good woman, do
you ever intrust this sweet child to the
tender mcrcies of the hired grip"
:" No, sir, said the mother, something
akin to smile curiously breaking the
continuity of her frightened express
sion.
But never mind,' continued the
young reporter, brightly There are
worse things than stings, | hope. Let
us not be discouraged by such slight
truble as this, madam. A sting hurts,
but it's easily cured. For there's sweet
OIL madam-there is sweet oil.
The baby awoke with start and a
cry. The latter made the young report
er jump so violently that he shook off
his eyes glasses. What's that?'' he said,
hastily replacing his eyeglasses and
then turning to the gentle phenomenon.
Mcrciful heavens! what's the matter
with its face? 1t is the countenance of
an old man-of a fend. Observe those
madam Note the unearthly
look. Is it angry? Is it crazy? Have |
offended it somehow? | never saw such
a look on an alleged human being be-
fore. This is the most extraordinary
Of all"
The baby opened it's mouth for yell.
There" shrieked the young reporter,
his hair standing on end and his teeth
chattering, its gone! There is no face
left, madam There is nothing there but
a horrible chasm, through which | think
can see the spotlcss pillow below. 1t
is meaningless, shapeless mass of
abominable pink, hedged around with a
faint suggestion of damnable blue and
black. 1t is monstrosity, madam. Do
take it awayr'
He turned pale and acted like a sick
person, but recovered himself directly.
It's hard case, my poor woman he
said, struggling to be calm and cheerful,
"a very hard case, indeed. But take
Do not be discouraged. Have
you not read that nothing is created in
vain? Even this semblancc of humani-
ty, awful as it is, comes in that category,
am sure. We may at least assume
that it has soul; and we know that not
a sparrow is permitted to fall to the
ground unnoticed. Even the hairs of
our head are numbered; and you may
rest assured that this miniature repre-
of our truly fallen humanity
was sent hither for some good purpose.
1t is awful, my poor woman admit it.
But let us look higher,-let us cast our
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