Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-04-24
POLLY PEMBROKE'S BABY.

Dear me-" said Polly Pembroke, what a
noise and confusion! I am sure I should 60
crazy if 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-a 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 echoing 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 dlen," where
Polly lived.
She was 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 scarlet silk handker-
chief twisted picturesquely around her head,
who was busting the window sash, Il am 60
ing out on the Chicago express, and 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
ute, until"
But the stewardess hastily drew back.
mo, sab, if you please" said she. 1--WE
was left wild strange children on their hands
instlnctively, Polly Pembroke held out her
arms.
LET me take the baby, sir" said she, color
ing all over with pretty eagerness. "1ll hold
it for you. Children are always good with
The stranger dotted his hat courteously.
Il am infinitely obliged to you," he said,
land IN trouble you no longer than l can
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
hands.
He WILL" said Polly, gently rocking the
little mite on her knee. "Oh, look, Miss
Jones! Isn't it pretty? declare it's laugh
ingp ~,
Whitley blue eyes skyward. "Polly Pembroke,
do believe you've taken leave of your SEN
ses! There is the bell-the gates are
closed!'
"What of t?' said Polly.
"The Chicago express has gomez
"We]l," 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.
mot he!' shifted Miss Jones. "ae has
skunk quietly in by another wav, and is
laughing in his sleeves at you and your folly
this very moment"
"Nonsense!'' said Polly.
But she looked a little disturbed, neverthe
less, and glanced! rather anxiously at the
door through which the tall gentleman with
the Spanish eyes had disappeared.
Come" said Miss Jones, jumping up
briskly, and gathering Ler parcels in her
hand. "There's the bell for our train"
"But can't go and leave the child" cried
"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.
perhaps, Miss Jones, we had better wait until
the next train"
"And not get home until nine o'clock at
night" croaked Miss Jones'"
"Idon'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, "pve no pa
tience with you for getting us into this scrape
What do YOU suppose is to be the end Of t.
all?'
Polly rose up quietly.
II am going to take the child home with
U.s." said Polly.
"Polly!"
81 ami" reiterated the girl "Poor little
helpless innocent! what else can we do?"
"Let it be sent to the house of refuge or to
the poorhouse, or some such place" screamed
Miss Jones.
"With those eyes?" said Polly looking
down into the tender, pleading orbs. 'Nev,
er! It will be all right, am quite sure, Miss
Jones. all this is only mistake: stewardness,'
to the suspicious quadroon, who had taken
care 10 keep at STE distance all the while,
"here is my address. Give it to the gentle
man when he comes back" ~
"Yes," said the woman, pursuing up her lips.
"But it's my opinion as nobody won't see hide
nor hair of him again"
So Polly Pembroke brought home not only
blue silk dress, but dark-eyed baby into the
bargain.
"Child," said Deacon Pembroke, II cam
blame you for dom e charitable action, brit
am afraid you've taken terrible charge upor
yourself" &-ss...~.-..>
Pembroke, who was CHEEKY little body, will
an invincible habit of looking on the SUM,
side of everything. ut seems nice, he althl
child enough. and I dare say it will be called
for. Besides, don't the good book say tina
Whosoever gives one Of the Lord'slit~le one
even cup Of cold water in His name, shall
not be without a reward"
And so the days passed by, and the weeks
ana even Polly Pembroke, the most trusting
of mortals, began to think that she had beer
the victim of conspiracy, and that she wa
destined to bear the whole responsibility O
this little nameless life.
Mother said she, wistfully, 1I may keeI
her, mayn't I, II I'll give up going to SCI
Cousin Sue in Boston, and not ask father for