Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-03-01
And Robin said. Ibid you everP"
And Jack said. did you ever?'
And Jingo said, Ibid you everP'

And Filler barked and balkel with
.-...
1 he baby looked as though he thought
!: NJ ghty iunny to have company. lie
laughed and crowed at Robin aud some
hing trickled down the corner oi his
little mouth while he crowcd. making |
him look ten times cutter then ever.
o. but he WAS Il snug little baby, |
though, and rich. There in his rags and
tags, in the fence corner in the winters |
snow aud wind; he was u mighty rich !
baby. His mamma was not rich; she |
was destitute. She knew what it meant
to be there that day; but the baby Was
as rich u baby as ever was seen. Drops
trickliug down the corners of his mouth,
laughing Tor its company. He was
mighty rich.
His papa died." said the woman.
The baby crowed and laughed as though
he thought it the funniest thing in the
world.
"My little boys papa took care of US.
said the woman, I'VE had shelter and
plenty then; now we are wandering in
the winters snow. We have no home
at all.'
This was too much for the baby. He
spread his little mouth, aud jumped,
and laughed and laughed again at his
mamma q joke --rl- d !-- - --.s
, Then up spoke Jack. and said. III
think it, strange that well-of people are
50 Indifferent to the suffering OF the poor
and helpless."a avs d. la- a. :
Says Fifer, II am . dog, but God
made me SO; L see 1t takes the human
race to beat US In dogglshness." ss
& ss0ih vnn coma fhrnnOh h
the town."
"Yes," said the. woman, II came
through the town. o. how bright and
comfortable it looked. The people APP
peared so cheerful and happy. saw
ever 80 many babies wrapped up 80
warm. and in such pretty clothes. Such
happy looking people were carrying
them about. One. j saw at window in
its mothers arms, and its papa standing
by them. He kissed both of them as |
passed, How strong he looked. A
great many people looked at me, some
| Kindly, but most OF them were cold and
hard, Very seldom did l see u friendly
look of pity. / wrapped my baby closer
and hid him, poor. ragged. helpless
thing. and hurried on"
"Well." says Robin, Did not the
mayor help your Did you apply to tht
Yes said the woman, applied te
the mayor. He said was a fraud"
"a fraud" says Robin. ''how coulc
that be? The baby is no fraud"
mo" chimes in Jack, Jingc ant
Fifer, 1.-The baby is no fraud"
WELL" says Jingo. '.let US take thes'
people in our crowd. We will all q,
aloug together, and bet we will &c
along all right before we are done. 81
come along. What shall we call ou
new folks ?" -,s. =
Why says Fiier, "let US call tn
baby .Rooter,' because his nose is pol
ished like u little pig snout."
And they all agreed and went along
and they called the baby Rooter. an,
bis mamma they called Little Rootei
Mamma" and llllle ROuter WaS. Soo
, the biggest man in the crowd.
They came ON down the road, an
they all paused al the beautiful scene bt
fore them. There to the .elt ran lii
winding river shining in the sunset lik
a silver ribbon. In front was the beat
tiful town. Chimneys pouring npwar
blue columns OF smoke from snow
covered roofs A busy clang and hun
Of industrious life Here and thel
steeples and spires rising above hous'
,, tops. and smoke pointing aud reachin
upward to the sky. 1t was II beaullil
, Christmas eve sunset, bathing in i
gorgeous light snow covered, peac
:, iul. Kentucky town.
See" said Robin, 'show beautifl
. nature, eniivened by the works OF mai
:. and how comfortable look the habits
tions of men here, enl,vened by III
| glorious setting OF nature in her aspe
! to-day"
Il tell you what let's do." said HI
i Lets get up concert for the benefit
- !. the baby lingo, what can You do ?
Says Jinge, Il can sing
Yes" says Robin, land equal to al
: '. bird IN Kentucky woods, my MANN
says. And you, JACK, what can "
!, dop'
7 Says Jack, II can Dance" and wi
that he put his hands to his hips, al
!, there in the snow cut capers until The
= everyone, laughed till tears came
~ their eyes, and Robin cried, ''hold"
= "And you, Fifer P" says Robin.
\ Says Filter, II can play fiddle to th
Il L
with heart to hear me and not cry"
= "Cry!" says Jack, "who wants
o o cry?" :,
- is pleasure, but to cry is delight. v
4 Will see who brings in most money
~ our concert tonight" .5
~ But" says the woman. "where is t
fiddle; see no fiddle here"
oh" says lingo, .'that will be I
:, right. The fiddle always turns up at t
4 right place in stories. Never mind t
- tiddle''
- BY this time Ii was after night. so tn
- went on down into the town. jim
8 perched upon Robins shoulder and Ja
n and Fiter walking along by his side. "a
between them was the woman, carryi
|. - the baby in her aims.
~ 1t was clear, calm, starlight night
y one of those nights when the snc
n crunches and rings under your step, a
20 sounds come to you clear and sha
=. from great distances.
=, They went along past comfortat
-, dwellings. from whose windows ca,
light and shadow from within, and fir,
- whence came voices OF romping chlidr
;un ut play.
- They passed shops, in whose windo'
:, were displayed the wealth OF the 1ndi
n, in toys and Christmas goods.
~ y, But they went on until they came
=. =. the tavern, and there they went in.
There IN the tavern WAS crowd
r men and boys from eighty to eighte
,. years Of age. Principal among the
~ at least at the moment ROBIN and |
" troupe went in, was IL big, burlv. coal
-, looking man with stubby beard Il
- Scant hair, who was telling story
y, which the crowd were listening Il
:" laughing.
Il The story was not Il good story to
n- listened to bY man OF eighty nor b
OF eighteen, tor it was coarse Il
IN dirty story. cungenial to the tobac
fumes and foul air and scent of liquor
o. the room.
10 The entrance of the troupe interrul
~ ed the mans story. and lie looked wi
il vindictive irown upon the presun
ht tuous interlopers.
The woman stood up in the corn
~ with the baby In her arms. while I
troupe ranged themselves in a row. a
re Jingo sang one of his sweetest lore
D. songs.
=, Then Jack stepped out and dance
Such dancing had never never been Sc
~ in that tavern on christmas eve day IL