Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-10-16
THAT AWFUL BABY.


THAT AWFUL BABY.
After I had taken my seat looked up
and down the Car to see if certain hat
and newspaper held the same place that
they held for many mornings before.
There they were, to be sure, and in
moment or two their owner rose deliber-
ately and took. seat as pear to mine as
circumstances would admit.
lived in an inland town and went
two or three times week to the "Most
Christian City" q hope every one recog-
nizes it by that name), to take lessons in
drawing and water-celors. On this par
ticular morning, after my listener had
changed his seat without SO much as
glance in my direction, the train stopped
at the Junction, and young lady in
Quaker costume, with baby in her arms
came in. There were but two empty
seats-one with the gentleman, and the
other with ME: She hesitated, and then
sat down by me.
The baby might have been c1g:it or
nine months old. It, or rather she Il
guessed rapidly that it was girl, for
boy-babies are going out of fashion,, re-
garded me- with fixed, solemn manner,
as if the bright feathers in my hat were
an insult to the colorless existence she
had been born into.
1 tried to disarm her with the wiles
that had seen other people use with ba-
bies; but whether l failed from want OF
practice in the art, or whether my efforts
were not so unconscious and hearty as
they might have been if had not seen a
smile haunting the face of nay listener
across the aisle-whatever the reason, the
sphlnx-ike face never altered.
II shall be rid OF you," thought, "in
q few minutes mere;;" but had counted
without my host. When I left the car,
my listener helped me to the platform as
usual, without any sign of consciousness
that he had ever done it before. The
Quakeress followed close after me: In
spite of her extreme carefulness, she
caught her foot on the step and fell to
the ground; but with the instinct OF
mother love, the same the world over, she
managed to lay the baby softly down be-
side her without in jury.
I took up the baby, awkwardly enough,
no doubt, while my listener lifted the
mother, but with a moan she sank down
again and tainted away.
The Quakeress had been the last to
leave the car, and the crowd, as we'll as
the conductor, had gone about their busi-
ness. My listener and I were left almost
alone to face this development of affairs.
"Tell me what to do, and I'll do it,"
said my listener, desperately, as he chafed
the poor woman's hands.
"Do you think you can carry her to
the waiting room? We can do better
with her there"
He took her easily in his arms, and
led the way with the travelling bags and
the baby to the ladies' room, where she
was laid, still unconscious, on settee.
Then he went in search of water, and
made nest Of shawls for the baby to lie
in, while I gave my strength t. reviving
the mother; but even Quaker composure
must give way at last to total depravity,
and she went off into such a passion of
crying and holding her breath that
considered a fit imminent, and took cour-
age to say to my listener, when he re-
turned with the water:
''1f you would hold the baby for lit
tie WHILE"
"The Fates torbid!" he said, holding
up his hands in whimsical dismay ; II new
er held baby in my life."
'sNeither did I, but have seen others
do it,"
"You must show me just what to do,
then"
He performed all my requests to the
the letter; but the baby, as if to make up
for its long silence, would not be paclfed
on any terms. I bathed the mothers
ace, and soon had the pleasure of seeing
her color return and her eyes open.
"Dont be alarmed,' she said, in a
sweet voice, II often faint"
She held out her arms to the baby,
who Immediately put on her Quaker quiz
etness ag'lin, as If it was mask but when
she tried to rise, she sank back with a
groan, and it became evident that she
had injured her foot >, The least motion
was agony to her, so there was nothing
for it but to take the baby again, while
my listener should 60 for doctor
The clock only indicated half an hour
before he was back ;gain, but I have
known whole weeks that seemed to me
shorter. -.-~.-
The doctor found no bones broken, but
the ankle was badly sprained. He
applied some soothing lotion, using all
our handkerchiefs tor the purpose, and l
was not so busy with my little tyrant but
that saw my listener furtively look at
the corner Of my handkerchief: He was
none the wiser, however, tor the only
mark was two German letters in text, in
such ffligree embroidery as would have
defed any lingu1st to name them.
The doctor could spare but few min
utes to his patient, and advised our call
ing a carriage for her. She was on her
way. to visit her mother, who lived in a
suburb two or three miles out. =
It appeared that my listener had en-
gagged carriage when he went after the
water, showing a thoughtfulness in his
character which greatly increased my
respect. - 1 ,-...,,..t -. .s : d
u He carried the little Quakeress to her
carriage, and arranged her in it; then he
returned and relieved me Of the baby
though I could see that she was far
heavier weight to him than her, mother
had been-whilc I gathered up the scat
tered travelling bags and shawl 44.s.
ut seems to me- he said, hesitatingly,
s'that one of us ought to see her safe to
her journeys end, but / have spent SO
much time here already .,......-y.
T. i, 20, l can go perfectly we'll; l shall
loose nothing but q painting lessor"
"Thank you; you have saved me great
Inconvenience. hope when I meet with
an accident on the cars, il may happen
on one Of your days for going into
town." .:se@ .=S5 z...1 Il
The words were not much, but he held
out his hand and shook mine so warmly
that he brought the baby into imminent
peril Of falling, and I used her to hide my
face, which would 1edden without any
reason. -.