The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-07
From the Rochester N. ~ Demoerat.l
Sympathetic Reporter.

A young reporter Of New York paper at
tended the baby show and inspected pair Of
twins. "Very pretty, indeed" he said with
sweet earuestness. (Which is the oldest2"
''NeitherP' said the mother, looking surprised
and somewhat angry,
81 observe" he continued, poiating az one
of the cherubs with his pencil, "that this little
one does not LOOK well. 1 trust he has enough
''He is a eirl, sir!" replied the mother VII
TO- sir" ,
porter, looking more critically a. The cbiid ST
was aware OF that l miss, ,.,oke Now don,t
you think that the pslane - IF tba T,tia r.,
Ia unnatural? would not insinuats fbat i has
not enough 70 es's but is the food OF Tie riybt
~ Wv, know that nothing builds up
me system mo re rapidly than roast beef. Won
nave neard CT the blOod-cuTe [ suppose9 7
@oaLd not rec ommend that ia this cass-as vet.
@ ons t1e % celLt ought to have a liberal supply OF
Il do not understand vo1 si, ,, -o,,,..,, -,
mother IN q frightened tone, 51t in such low
voice tnas Toe reporter did not hear her
- any said the young man. Looking mora
cileSs'y at the eherub, "Why, see herel tbe
Boro so, msdame?'
Yes sir" was the reply of the unhanov
.suy as she searched with her alarmed ewes for
No teeth" pursued The reporter mus,noIx
That's very bad indeed. snnnoss l5a ~. ~.
nsppy child has been brought here as curt
osity, And-by JOvel it has no hai- worth
mentioning; Poor thngP' he turned to tbs
rnotner uaI'in; and remarked, knowingly and pas-
rohzlnely: Let be thankful, nv pnor
woman, for the progress Of science aud 1bs
artS' rms unfortunate cnild can be uroVidad
WIN WIN teeth bg the deutist, aud the,e--thers are
har restoratives. Should the latter fail ne Slill
Switches IN "a and .,
lhaeee, my good woman, take courage. II
taxes skllltul man to discover wbAt Is falae
ana what is genuine IN the women of ths
PTgitoa; ana We may overlook the comparatively
s4nS slu4nS lnlSIortunes OF your Innocent and still
De antiful child. All il we'll, madame: All is
well, believe me-" 80 60
He looked with sersne wisdom at the wide
open eyes OF the mother. "Why, bless my
soulT' ne added hastily, as he turned his atten-
ton accidentally to the sleeDing bjess,ns
WHAT'S become of the--fhe lower limbs OF
tins unfortunate cTeature?' He placed bis
hand softly upon the lo1g white dress as IL it
nau oeen one OF his own b0ils There WAS Two
Sards OF sress below the wsist, and apparently
hoth'ng Inside of II. 81 never saw the likaT'
said the young reporter. "And the little ope--
what tneIe is of it-seems to be so bright. too.
man?" ~ ny PoOI W.
"Ye-ss, SIR" replied the mother, nearly faint.
ing with apprehension,
"Ab, well, never mind" remarked the re-
por.sr, uasnlng away surreDtitous tear and
turning with philosophie tenderness to the aSj-
tated parent. Mature has so ordained things
tnat what one never has one seldom misses
Cow much better it Ii that your beloved child
ShoRld be born without legs than that it should
1--we TO have its legs cut off in ave will sav in
railToad disaster Think of that INV 1oor
woman, think OF that And here comes in the
amellorahng influence of science again, Idars
say you VIII live TO see this child walk vet.
nne tilne WIN come when you will remember in
Of fhos svya
legs' ""0 00i~
The child thrust up an exceedingly fat hand.
az lear T9eF exclaimed the young reporter
1s-ls this natural? Excuse me. 1 see how
u is. This early rose, this embryo person. has
peep Obliged to encounter a Wasps' nest The
WAYS OF Providence are past comprehension,
NOV, NOW, why should this precious infant have been
subjected TO pains which would make grown
person howl? Bless my hesrtl how that hand
ls sWeiled, Some csrelessness here, 1 am
AFRAID. Tell me, my good woman, do YOU ever
InIrqst tnis sweet child to the tender mercies Of
,"NO, sir, responded the mother, something
akin to smile curiously breaking the continui-
ty OF her frightened expression.
But never mind, continued the young re-
porter porter 9rightly. There are worse things than
stings, L hope. Let Us not be discouraged by
sucn slight trouble as this, madame. A sting
hurts but IL is easily cured. For there is sweet
oil, msdame-theTe is sweet oil''
AHo uaof aWOke WIN start and cry. The
iattsr made the young reporter jump so violent
ly that he shook off his Eyeglasses and turning
TO the gentle phenomenon. 'Merciful heavepsl
what's the matter with its face? It is the
eounteeance of an Old man-of q fisnd. OBJ
serve those wtiakles, madam. Note the up
earthly look. Is it angry? Is it crazy? Have
offended 1t somehow? l never saw such a look
en- an alleged human being before. This is the
most extraordinary misfortune Of ALL"
Inc baby opened its mouth for veil
Ihers! shrleked the young reporter, his hair
standing on end and his teeth chattering. 'ips
gone! There's no face left madam There's
nothing there but horrible ohssm, through
which think can see the spotless pillow be-
low 1t is meaningless, shapeless mass OF
ahominable pink, hedged round with faint
suggestion OF dsmnable black and blue. 1t isa
monstrosity, madam. Take it awayl"
he turned pale and acted ike 6 sick persOu
but recovered himself directly ''It's hard
case, my poor woman he said, struggling to
De calm and cheerful. "a very hard case, indeed.
But take comfort. Do not be discouraged.
Have you not read that nothing is created in
vain? Even this sembauce of humanity, awful
as 1t is, comes In that category, am sure We
may at least assume that it has a soul; and we
know that not q sparrow is permitted Is fall to
tue ground unnotced. Even the hairs Of our
head are numbered; and you may rest assured
tnat tols miniature representative of our truly
iaHen humanity was sent hither for some good
purpose. 1t is awful, my poor woman-I sd
mltlt. But let us look higher-lst us cast our
gaze into the blessed fature Think Of Heaven
my poor woman! think of Heavenr'
de smiled swsetly and brightly: bat he
turned hastily and sought a retired corner
wherein to hide his tears.