The Cecil Whig., 1882-12-30
MRS. ATKINSON'S BABY.

NufNSs "A nIANSS1N Did
The Atkinsons have had terrible time
over their baby. Mr.. Atkinson sent
home folding or b, with Stats made in
two pieces and hung down upon hinges.
When they opened this crib and put the
mattress in it. Mrs. Atkinson omitted
to fix securely the catches that held the
Stats. Mr.. and Mrs. Atkinson went to
bed early that night, and about eleven
O'Clock, while they were asleep. the baby
got awake and began to kick vigorously.
The result was that the Stats SLOWLY de-
scended aud deposited the baby upon the
floor. The baby, being particularly wide
awake. crawled out into the room, and
seeing "A light in the entry. went through
Miss Bnggs. was coming up the stairs t"
bed. She picked the baby up and find
ing that its father and mother we've
asleep. she carried it to her room in the
third story. and determined to take cale
Of it through the night.
About an hour later Mrs. Atkinson
awoke. and thought she wnnld CLAN
over at the crib tn see how the baby Wa
getting along. No sooner had she done
81 than she jumped from the bed in
alarm. The baby was not there! The
bottom seemed to have fallen out Of the
wh"le contrivance. Her first thought
was that the baby was lying under the
mattress smothered to death. She pull
ed the mattress aside, but there was no
ST m of the baby.
Then with wild alarm she shook Mr.
Atkinson. and told him to get up. At
kinson growled cur in sleepy tome
"The pareg"ric is in the closet, go and
get it yourself"
"Alonzn!" shrieked Mrs Atkinson.
"you don't understand-the baby is gone
apped-murdered. may be!
o.. what shall do?"
"Now be calm. john" said Atkinson
getting out O bed. don't get hysterical.
The child, most likely, is under the
bed
No it isn't, it s not there exclaimed
Mrs. Atkinson, upon her hands and
knees.
Possibly" said Alonxo "beginning
to feel uneasy. che has crept into the
closet. Let us look
This is horrible, said Mrs Atkinson.
clasping her hands.
Do you think" said Mr.. Atkinson.
that be could have crawled into the
bureau drawer and pulled it in after
hima"
Certainly not" said Mrs. Atkinson
"1ou know he couldn't"
~ think hear him now. II. has fall
m ont of the windo :" said Mrs. Atkin-
san. faint wall iloated up from the
back ward
Ma. it's only Mrs. Magrnders cat
vawing on the fence. replied Atkinson.
As he closed the sash. Have v"u look. Il
in the bath tub in the rrxt room? Per
!aps he has gone to take a bath
| ~ it'. KUN" Ii. l w sure ~ ".
Yelled Mrs. Atkinson, rushing in the
hath room.
q" He's not here. said Atkinson. "cnuli
h. have gone done stairs aud fallen into
ftir Sns.r hnrkrt il. the pantr. >"
We mus. search the whole hou C inr
hin" said Mrs Atkinson.
81, he hp.yan tn Inut Tbay l,aE n
| every where. IL the clothes hamper it,
the kitchen cupboard. in the pantry. in
| the p,rlnr and even in the cellar. hut
without avail.
g. He couldn't have gone up stairs, be-.
cause he cnuldnt climb the steps,
No; he must have been st-lrn. He
has been stolen by burglars. shall
never see him again-never.
- D mt give way, Julia. Be cain. I
will go at once for the prlice.'
Mr.. Atkinson dressed himself hurried
ly, and dashed down stairs AID ont into
the front street. He met policeman
almost at the door. and in frantic accents
laid the case before him. The policeman
| sounded an alarm. and soon had six other
policemen at hand. They entered the
house and proceeded to srIi;h ,;ah, an',
fastenings. ErerXt,;s
=, 'iien SAID:
one of !e y. t.piniou the burglar is in the
mouse vet
We'll 90 for him" said another. So
drawing revolsers, they proceeded te
search the building. Presently Mr. At
kinson heard the report of pistol in tie
kitchen. He rushed down.
81 think I've killed him." said police
man Jones. Bring the light qnick.''
" And killed the baby, too, " shriekt d
Mrs. Atkinson.
L" BY George, l forgot the baby" said
the officer.
Then the light came and they found
that policeman Jones had shot his dog.
which had followed him into the house.
Then policeman Smiths pistol went off
accidentally. and the bullet hit the kitch-
en clock, which at once struck hundred
'''' -'ilt. anu inc CONFUSION ana |
racket so unstrung Mrs. Atkiuson's
nerves that she went into Mysteries and |
emrteo successive yells of terrible
'aracter. This brought Mi.s Boggs
down from the third story in great alarm.
What on earth is the mat.era" she
called.
Natter said Atkinson. "don't Won
kno" that burglars have broken into the
house and stolen the bab,? Why we've
been havimg the awfulest time YOU ever
'e"rd of for the last two hours"
Why, I've got the baby up stairs
With me. said Mss B>ggs. I've had
u night
You havn?" exclaimed the party in :,
breath.
" G rtai"ly.'
" Do You mean tn tell .,ar' laid \
'lns"'' with >nrr!nanrl c-l,nlr,,S. ..tirar