The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-01-10

Mountain on the left hand-a giant bull
wark furrOwcd and bare. There are
SO many seams on the sides of this
mountain that they have given rise to
its name, Veta, which in the Spanish
tongue means "vein. "-Scribner for
January.
How Reporter Sympathized With an
Unfortunate Mother.
A YOUNG reporter of II New York
paper attended the baby show and in
spected Il pair of twins. Every pretty,
indeed,' he said, with sweet earnest
ness. (which is the oldest?''
"Neitherr' said the mother. looking
surprised and somewhat angry.
81 OBSERVE" he continued, pointing
at one of the cherubs with his pencil,
that this little one does not look well.
trust he has enough to eat?''
He is girl, sirr' replied the moth
er, with intense dignity. ''Her diet is
properly attended to, sir!''
Eyes, of course" continued the
young reporter, looking more critically
at the child. "But don't you think
that the paleness of the little thing is
unnatural? Now know that nothing
builds up the system more rapidly than
roast beef. You have heard of the
blood-cure, l suppose. l would not
recommend that in this case--as yet;
but the child ought to have liberal
supply of roast beef at once"
81 do not understand you, sir,' re-
marked the mother in frightened tone,
but in such low voice that the reporter
did not hear her.
"Hahr' 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 un-
happy lady, as she searched with her
alarmed eyes for the police.
mo teeth" pursued the reporter,
musingly. THAT'S very bad, indeed.
suppose the unhappy child has been
brought here as curiosity. And-by
Jove! it has no hair worth mentioning.
Poor thingr' He turned to the mother
and remarked knowingly and patron
izingly, ''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 dentists,
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 a skillful man to dis
cover what is false and what is genuine
in the women of the period; and we
may overlook the comparatively slight
misfortunes of your innocent and still
beautiful child. All is well, 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 attention accidentally to the
sleeping blessing. whats become of
the the lower limbs of this unfortu-
nate creature?' He placed his hand
softly upon the long white dress as if
it had been one of his own boils. There
was two yards of dress below the waist,
and apparently nothing inside OF it..
II never saw the liker' said the young
reporter. ''And the little one-what
there is of it-seems to be so bright,
too. It's really marvellous. Born so,
my poor woman?'
"Ye-yes, sir,' replied the mother,
nearly fainting with apprehension.
"Ah, well, never mind" remarked
the reporter. dashing away surrepti-
tious tear and turning with philosophic
tenderness to the agitated parent. INA
ture 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 it's legs cut
off in ave will say in railroad dis
aster. Think of that, my poor woman,
think of that. And here comes in the
amcliorating influence of science
again. l dare say you will live to see
this child walk yet. The time will come
when you will 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 metz exclaimed the
young reporter. "Is-is this natural?
early rose. this embryo person has been
obliged to encounter a wasp's nest.
The ways of Providence are past COM
prehens..on. Now, why should this
precious infant have been subjected to
pains which would make a grown per-
son howl? Bless my heart! how that
hand is swelled. Some carelessness
here, I am afraid. Tell me, my good
woman, do you ever entrust this sweet
child to the tender mercies of the hired
girlp''
"No. sir,'' responded the mother,
something akin to smile curiously
breaking the continuity of her fright
ened expression.
"But never mind" continued the
young reporter, brightly. There are
worse things than stings, I hope. Let
us not be discouraged by such slight
trouble as this, madame. A sting hurts,
but it's easily cured. For there Is sweet
oil, madame-there is sweet oil.''
The baby awoke with start and a
cry. The latter made the young re-
porter Jump so violently that he shook
off his eyeglasses. whats that?''
he said, hastily replacing the glasses
and turning to the gentle phenomenon.
"Merciful heavens! what's the matter
with its face? 1t is the countenance of
an old man-Of fiend. Observe those
wrinkles, madame. Note the unearthly
look. Is it angry? Is it crazyP Have
l offended it somehow? l never saw
such look on an alleged human being
before. This is the most extraordinary
misfortune of all"
The baby opened its mouth for yell.
"Therer' shrieked the young reporter,
his hair standing on end and his teeth
chattering, "it's gone! There is no
face left, madame. There is nothing
there but horrible chasm. through
which think l can see the spotless
pillow below. 1t is a meaningless,
shapeless mass of abominable pink,