Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-05-08

Mrs. Atkinson's Baby.

over their baby. Mr.. Atkinson sent home
/ folding crib, with the Stats made in two piece
and hung down upon hinges. When thel
opened this crib and pnt the mattress in Il
MIR. Atkinson omitted TO fix securely th'
catches that held the Stats. Mr.. and Mrs
Atkinson went TO bed carly that night, ant
about eleven o'clock, while they were asleep
the baby got awake and began to Kick visco
rously.' The result was that the Stats slowly
descended aud deposited the baby upon th'
floor. The baby, being particularly wid'
awake, crawled out into the room, aud seeint
light in the entry. went through the doc
ius; as Mr. Atkinson's aunt, Miss Boe9s, wa'
coming I'D the stairs to bed. She picked th'
baby up. and finding that its father aud moth
er were asleep, she carried il TO her room II
the third story, and determined to take care
it through the night.
About an hour later Mrs. Atkinson awoke
aud thought she would glance over at the crll
TO see how the baby was getting along. M
sooner had she done SO than she jumped IRON
the bed in alarm The baby was not there
The bottom seemed to have, fallen out, OF th'
whole contrivauce. Her first thought wa
that the baby was lying under the mattress
smotherea to death. She pulled the mattress
aside, but there was no sign Of the baby
Then wild with alarm, she shook MIR. Atkin'
son, and told him to get up. Atkinson
growled out in sleepy tone
The parcsoric is III the closet 20 and se'
it yourself
:Alouzov shriekcd Mrs. Atkinson, 'yor
don't uuderstand-the baby is gone stolen
-kiduapped .-murdrfed, maybe. y, what
shall do !?
Now, be calm, julia said Atkinson. get
ting out Of bed don't get hysterical. The
child most likely, is under the be-.
No. il isn't; it's not there!' exclaimed Mrs
Atkinson, upon her hands and knees.
Possibly said Alouzo, beginning to fee
uneasy, he bas crept iuto the closet. Let III
look.
This is horrible = said Mrs. Atkinson
clasping her hands. e J
DO you think asked Mr. atkinson, that
he could have crawled into the bureau drawer
and pulled il 70 after him ?
'Certsinly not! said Mrs. Atkinson. You
know he couldu't.
i think hear him now. He has fallen
out of tie window J said Mrs. Atkinson, as
raint wall floated up from the back yard.
No; It's only Mrs Magruder's cat yawline
on the fence replied Atkinson, as he closed
the sash. Have you l. oied 10 the bath tub in
the next room? Perhaps he has gone to take
a bath
Drowned know it, I'm sure Of 1t !!
yelled Mrs. Atkinson, rushing in the back
room.
He's not here. said Atkinson. Could he
have gono down stairs and fallen into the SUI
gar backet in the pantry
We must search the whole house Tor bin,
said Mrs. Atkinson.
So they began to hunt. They looked every
where. 10 tie clothes hamper, in the kitchet
cupboard 10 the parlor, in the pantry. anc
even In the cellar. but without avail.
He couldn't have gone mp stairs, because
he couldn't climb The steps
No he must have been stolen. He ha'
been stolen by burglars ! shall never sec
him aghin-ncver!
Don't give away, Julia. he calm.
will 20 up at once for the police.
Mr.. Atkinson dressed himself hurrlediy
and dashed down stairs and out iuto the front
street. He met policeman almost at the
door, and in frantic accents laid the case be-
fore him. The policeman sounded an alarm
and soon bad six oibs. policeman at hand
They entered the house, aud proceeded to ex
anime the fastenings Everything was right
aud one Of the policemen said
ln my opiuiou the burglar IS In The hous
yet
wen 20 for him, said another. So draw
inc revolyers. they proceeded TO search th'
building. Presently Mr. Atkinson heard th'
report of pistol III the kitchen. lie rushe'
down.
Think I've killed him, said policeman
Jones. Bring the light quick
Ard killed the baby, too ! shrieSed Mrs
Atkinson. -,
q BY George, l forgot tho baby said th
ofice5
Then the light came end they found tia
policeman Jones had shot his doe, which ha'
followed lin iuto the house. Then policeman
Smiths pistol vert of accidentally. aud tb
! bullet hit the kitchen clock, Which at oDc
struck niue hundred aud cighty-one. and th
confusion aud rncket So unstrung Mrs. AtkIn
sons nerves that she vent into Mysteries an'
emitted successive yels of terrific character
This brought Miss Boggs down from the thr'
ST, a in great alarm. r,-t
What on earth is the matter 2 sbc called
Natter said Atkinson. Don't yo'
know that burglars have broken ipto th
house aud stolen the baby? Why we've beer
having the awfuest time ycu ever heard OF 10
the last two hours.
WHY, I've 60. the baby upstairs with me,
said Miss Boggs I've he'd him all night.
You have? exclaimed the party IN
breath
Certainly
DO you mean 20 tell me- said Atkinson
with supernatural calmness, that baby wa
quietly sleeping 10 your room all this time 7
Yes.
Atkinson simply looked at her. lie fel
language was unequal TO The expression OF bi
feelings. Mrs, Atkinson flew upstairs, tw'
steps at time The policemen laughed an
Gled out, Jones pulling bis dog by the tail
atkinson went to bed with raging anger II
bis soul and The next morning he put sbee
iron bottom, fastened with rvets. under tina
| folding crib.