Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-20
POLLY PEMBROKE,S BABY.

POLLY PEMBROKEs BABY.
'Dear me,'' said Polly Pembroke, what a
noise and confusion! I am sure should 20
crazy if l lived in the city"
Polly Pembroke was farmers daughter,
who had come down to New York to buy the
material for the first silk dress she had ever
owned real deep blue, to be trimmed with
velvet of darker shade.
And Polly's golden head; was dizzy with the
thunder of omnibus wheels and the rattle and
rush of elevated railways, and the succession
OF brilliant things in the shop windows-and
Polly sat holding on to her parcels in the
great echong depot, and wondering why
everybody was in such hurry.
For the express train was just going out,
and Polly and Miss Jones, the village dress
maker, who had come with her to select the
important dress, were obliged to wait fifteen
minutes for the way-train, which condesended
to stop at 'Whip-Poor-Will Glen" where
Polly lived.
She was Il pretty little primrose of a maiden,
with large, wistful eyes, lovely yellow hair,
and cheeks as pink as a daisy, while Miss
Jones, who sat beside her, was straight and
stiff, and upright and wrinkled. as became a
single woman of sixty.
And just as Polly was wondering if there
was no end to the stream of humanity flowing |
through the Wide-open depot gate, TALL
handsome gentleman, with dark complex.
ion and deep Spanish eyes, came in with a |
little babe in his arms.
"Stewardess," said he to a respectable look |
ing quadroon, with a scarlet silk handker- !
chief twisted picturesquely around her head,
who was busting the window sash, II am 20.
ing out on the Chicago express, and l have
forgotten message which must be tele-
graphed to my place of business at once; will
you be good enough to take this child min
But the stewardess hastily drew back.
mo, sab, if you please" said she. "I've
heard O. many cases where spectacle women
was left wild strange children on their hands
jist dis a-Wayw
Instinctively, Polly Pembroke held out her
arms.
"Let me take the baby, SIR" said she, color
ing all over with pretty eagerness. cpl hold
it for YOU Children are always good with
The stranger DOTTED his hat courteouslv.
II am infinitely obliged to you," he said,
"and III trouble you no longer than I can
help"
"Polly, Polly! are you going mad?" whis-
pered Miss Jones, pulling the sleeve Of the
girls dress.
But Polly paid no heed to her.
"Suppose that gentleman shouldn't come
back!" cred Miss Jones, elevatng both
hands.
III. He WILL" said Polly, gently rocking the
little mite on her knee ooh, look, Miss
ASA ~ ~ OcCldIc 1GS ldugu-
mgp
"Pretty?" groancd Miss Jones, rolling her
Whitley. blue eyes skyward. ''Polly Pembroke,
do believe you've taken leave of your sen.
closedp' ''
"What of it?' said Polly.
"The Chicago express has gonev'
"Well," said Polly, "What of that%'
'Child, don't you comprehend? Your fine
gentleman was going in the Chicago express"
cried Miss Jones.
Il suppose he has missed the train" said
Polly quietly.
"Not hev' shifted Miss Jones. "He has
skunk quietly in by another wav, and is.
laughing in his sleeves at you and your folly
this very moment"
"Nonsensew said Polly.
But she looked a little disturbed, neverthe-
less, and glanced rather anxously at the
door through which the tall gentleman with
the Spanish eyes had disappeared.
Come" said Miss Jones, jumping up
briskly, and gathering Ter parcels in her
hand. "There's the bell for our tran.''
"But can't go and leave the child" cried
Polly.
"Humph!" snorted Miss Jones. "Are YOU
going stay here all night with it."
"But what shall do%' said Polly, begin
ming to be little bewildered and frightened
ssPerhaps, Miss Jones, we had better wait until
the next train"
'And not get home until nine o'clock at
night" crOaked Miss JONES'"
II don't see what else we can do"
But the train came and went and still no
one appeared to claim the baby.
Miss Jones grew desperate.
"POlly Pembroke" said she, "pye no pa
tience with you for getting us into this scrape
What 10 you suppose is to be the end of it
Polly rose up quietly.
81 am going to take the child home with
u.s." said Polly.
81 ann" reiterated the girl. "Poor little
LET it be sent to the house of refuge or to
the poorhouse, or some such PLACED" screamed
Miss JONES'
''With those eyes?" said Polly looking
down into the tender, pleading orbs. "Ney,
er! 1t will be all right am quite sure, Miss
to the suspicious quadroon, who had taken
care to keep at a safe distance all the while,
"here is my address. Give it to the gentle.
man when he comes back"
eyes," said the woman, pursuing up her lips.
"But it's my 'pinion as nobody won't see hide
nor hair Of him again"
So Polly Pembroke brought home not only
a blue silk dress, but dark-eyed baby into the
bargain.
''Child," said Deacon Pembroke, 81 can't
blame you for doing charitable action, but ]
am afraid you've taken terrible charge upon
'Don't fret, father-don't fretp said Mrs
Pembroke, who was CHEEKY little body, with
an invincible habit of looking on the SUNNY
side of everything. "It seems nice, healthy
child enough, and I dare say it will be called
for. Besides, don't the good book say that
whatsoever gives one of the Lords little ones
even cup OF cold water in His name, shall
not be without a reward"
And so the days passed by, and the weeks
and even Polly embroke, the most trustin Q.
of mortals, began to think that she had been
the victim of a conspiracy, and that she was
destined to bear the whole responsibility Of
this little nameless life.
''Mother," said She wistfully, II nav keer
her, mayn't l, if I'll give up going to see
Cousin Sue in Boston, and not ask father for 3
new cloak this winter9 And We'll take sum
mer boarders next season, and I'll raise poul
try, and she shall be no expense to you
mother, indeed"
"Weli, we'll, child" said MRS. Pembroke
with moisture in her eyes, shave your owr
way"
public institutions" said Miss Jones, severely
WOur little Rosebud?" said Polly, showerins
soft kisses on its velvet cheeks. dOh, never
never Miss Jones''
'sYou was big fool to begin to with, and