The National tribune., 1882-09-23
IT"-THE BABY,
And How 1t Brought Love into a
Gloomy Household.

fifty contributions handed in, and of these
Alexander V. Roberts's IT, took the FIRST
prize, 800 florins. The Judges were some OF
the most enlightened men of the German
literature-BaueTnfeld Laube, Gross, and
several others.
Returning from a business trip, l entered
my wifes boudoir, and found her kneeling
before low chair, on which sat boy-baby
with large, round and wondering eyes. She
got up and came rustling III her silken robe
de chambre TO meet me. She reached out
her hand and greeted me not more heartily
nor yet more formally than we were accus-
toned to greet each other in those days
There it is" said my wife, pointing to
the child.
"What?" asked I; but she stopped down
before the little stranger held buiscuit
close to his little uptuIned face, and half
turning toward me, replied:
"Well, You know-did we not read of it
in the newspaper? nen't you remember
the day before. yesterday? And is it not
beautiful?"
Now l do recollect that few nights be-
fore she had held the Gazette under the light
Of my student-lamp, and pointing with her
finger to an advertisement, said TO me:
Please read that" 1t was the well-known
appeal, the cry of despair from bleeding
heart, addressed to good people" A child
WAS offered for adoption to persons well of.
"What would You think of our taking it?"
my wife had said, and / had returned the
paper to her with shrug of my shoul-
Gers.
But Martha, what have you done?"
cried l. in tone vibrating with anger,
"You have really ?"-
Certainly, as you see. And then it be-
longs to me- ] myself have settled every
thing with its poor mother, who is in reality
to be pitied. I have sworn to take good
care of it; and so l Will, indeed"
She took the little head, with its blonde
silk curls, between her white hands and
fondled and caressed it. as it not so, little
one-you will be loved?"
But the somewhat sickly and delicate
little face showed no signs of understanding,
excert that out Of the heart-shaped little
mouth came one of those sighs that sound
SO strangely from children.
I at once gave up all serious objection.
Had we not been accustomed for years to act
independently Of each other? Our marriage
was not happy one, although we had not
married for love. During the noise and
hustle Of the crowded exchange, our fathers
had contracted this union. She had to tear
her heart from beloved one, and in mine
glowed passion not yet outspoken. But
paternal wishes conquered; and so it hap
pened. u,u vgvf9a
AT the commencement we were to each
other silent reproach; after which followed
a declared war, until finally we came to
polite but gloomy peace.
To be sure she was beautiful; she was
good and bright and sparkling Others
called her an angel. And I? Well be-
lieve I was no monster, either. The analysis |
showed the brightest colors, still the sun
was missing. We were six years married |
and had no children. Perhaps, had Heaven |
sent Us them-well, this child belongs en-
tirely to her! I heard later that she had .
given the mother a thousand dollars, the .
price of a set of Jewels which she had sold .
"Why did you not tell me of it?" said I,
half angrily
because it would have been too late if l /
had waited for your return to the city; and .
besides l wanted to have it entirely for my
self; l want to call it my own" said she .
poutingly.
My horses, my dogs; her canaries, her gold .
l could endure; but that she .
wanted to have her child for herself alone,
that was too much for me. The thought of
it tortured me one, two days long. On the
third day, my wife having gone out in her
carriage, there came a veiled woman and
demanded entrance. 1t was the mother.
Like a shadow she glided into the room, and,
with half-suppressed sob, begged to see her
child once more. She could not part from
him forever, without imprinting one more
kiss upon his cheek: / opened my safe
quickly: Here, my good woman" said l,
take that, they have not given you enough"
Hot tears fell down her wan cheeks; she
begged me not TO judge her too harshly; she
had another child, a cripple and helpless; she
herself was sick and would not live much
longer, and what was to become of the chill
lren? Then she thought myself had
finished the sentence, which a violent fit of
coughing had interrupted. "Yes,n she had
thought, 1 viii sell the healthy one, in
order that the money may help the cripple
when l am dead and gone"
No, she must not be judged harshly; we
rich ones know but little of the trials and
temptations of the poor.
When my wife returned I gave her an ac-
count of the call / had had, adding that
lad given to the unfortunate one exactly the
same amount as she had. "And nOw," said
I, you see the child belongs 10 both OF us"
She bit her lip with her little white teeth.
1t is all the same to me-" said she, after
/ moments reflection, and with that she
pressed a tender kiss on the little boys
mouth. 1t sounded almost like a challenge
"Our child!' / scarcely ever saw it. And
he changes that were made in our house
lold for his sake were made entirely without
&c. Sometimes, after the most important
hings were decided, my consent was then
,sled. awe are obliged TO have a nurse;
hired one, Anselm u nodded silently !
We must fit up nursery; that room is
90 warm for the child" / nodded silently,
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