Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-01
BoB's BABY.

ment of the scene, ana, what was
more TO the purpose, he somstimes
picked up a stray penny by giving
The porters lift, or standing guard
over some gentleman's travelling bag,
Or carrying some lady's supernumer-
ary parcels.
On this particular occasion there
was an unusual hustle, for it was
Christmas morning, and the depot
was thronged with those awaiting
the arrival of friends or who were
themselves bound on a holiday ex-
cursion.
Presently the engine. with Its long
train of cars, came snorting and thun-
dering up the track, and the crowd
surged toward to the front of the
platform. BOb-for that was the
bows name-was about to do the
same when he was stopped by show
lily dressed woman with q child in
her arms.
Please take my baby for moment,
said she. I've forgotten something.
Yes, ma'am, said Bob, receiving
the child and seating himself on the
trunk again, while the woman, drop
ped her traveling-bag at his feet, hur-
ried away and was lost in the crowd.
Bob waited patiently, not doubling
that she would Immediately return
to claim her little charge; but the
minutes went by, the whistle sounded,
the bell rang, and the train began to
move slowly out of the depot, and
still she did not appear. Then Bob
started up in alarm and ran toward
the departing train, and, as he did so,
be distinctly saw the wonan's face
at a window.
The lady-she's left her baby
take it, somebody he cried, and held
it out to two or three gentlemen who
were rushing into the cars at the last
mon -ent-as gentlemen will.
But neither of them seemed inclin-
ed to avail themselves of the offer.
The train moved faster and faster,
and finally whisked out of sight,
while Bob still stood gazing in the
direction in which it had vanished,
an image of surprise and dismay.
Gingo! exclaimed'he then, turning
his eyes from the line of blue smoke
which still foated above tie tree
tops to the face of the child in his
arms; and in that single word he ex-
pressed volumes.
Well, what's the meaning of this?
asked the depot-master, his attention
now for the first time attracted to
the scene.
| Why, you see, the lady asked me
to bold her baby while she went TO
get something, and she was carried
off without it.
| The lady? What lady?
l don't know. For 1 never seen
her before.
! Where did she come from?
Don't know. The fust l see, she
was standing right in front of me.
| Where was she going2
Don't know. Don't know nothing
about her, only she asked me to hold
the baby, because she'd forgot some
thing. She left her bag, too; here
tits, pointing with his foot, because
his hands were otherwise engaged,
and I know she went off in the cars,
cause I see her looking out the win
der.
| There was a straightforwardness
about Bob's story which carried con-
viction with it, and none of the little
circle, of which Bob was now the
center, thought of doubling its truth.
! While the depot-master was delib-
Grating what to say next, "a rough
looking boy about Bob's age, who
had left off shouting "Wakesha
CIropicle"to hear what was going on,
cried out.
| Oh, amt you greenl She didn't
mean to come back.
That's so. guess, said the depot
master.
Bob, you're sold, and have got q
baby on your hands, said another
In short, it was apparent that the
young newsboy had expressed the
sentiments of all the men present.
You had better 90 to the town au-
thorities and let them take the child,
said the depot-master.
Yes.
Certainly, chimed in the bystand
ers; and so the matter would have
been settled, but the baby, who had
been looking wanderingly from one
to another, now nestled closely to
Bob's shoulder and began to wal
piteously. It was only natural re-
suit of finding herself left so long
alone among strangers, but to tender
hearted Bob it seemed a direct ap.
peal to his sympathy and protection.
/ IshOuld like to keep her. l Ishould
like to take her home, said he.
Good for you! said man who had
not yet spoken-only poor coal
heayer, begrimed and smutched from
top to toe. Good for you! You see,
gentlemen, 'tain't noways certain't
the woman won't come back next
train; so what's the hurry about send.
ing the baby to the poor-house-foI
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 any objections tc
thia view of the case, and the coal
HEAVIER added:
1t will cost something to advertise
though; don't knows that ought tC
come onto Bob.
Certainly not, said the depot-mas
ter, taking out bis pocket-book, ,an ex
ample which was Immediately fol
lowed by others, so that an amount
was collected quite sufficient to de
fray all contingent expenses, anC
handed over to Bob. Then he walk
ed out of the depot with the baby
and carpet-bag, followed by his
friend, the cosl-heaver.
Have ride on my keart? asked
the latter
Don't care if I do, if it's in yolE
} way, said Bob.
I'll make it in my way, said tn,
oood uafurad man So Roh eliuba6