News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-02-19
LITTLE BABY JIM
CAUSES A GOODNESS TO SPRING UP
BETWEEN MAN AND WIFE.
The Story Ifa Tittle FoundIing's Close Call
E4Om Good Home.

Baby Jim, of the Foundlings' Home,
had very narrow escape last week,
says the Chicago Inter- Ocean. He is
red headed snd freckled, but he is lusty
enough for farm hand. When he was
about eight months old lady who had
no children took him to bring up. There
were prettier babies than Jim, but some
how she took fancy to him. In spite
of his fiery hair there was something in
his face that made him handsome. In
telligence was in his eyes and people
who looked at his head said he would be
| heard from in the world. He was heard
| from very frequently, and that is what
came very near changing the whole
course of his life.
The husband of the lady who took
Jim did not like him. Jim's voice was
not musical and his red hair did not
match the furniture in the handsome
home to which he had been taken. The
wife's attentions to him may have made
the husband jealous, too. Something
was the matter with Jim all the time,
and the man Of the house got tired of
him, though his wife enjoyed it all.
Whatever Jim did was fun to her. She
rigged him up in new clothes and fash
ioned many pretty garments for him
herself.
For time the husband, who had sub
mitted at first in silence, said little, but
after a while it became evident that
trouble was brewing in the family. The
man was ill-natured, and baby Jim's IL
Illuminated countenance and uproarious
voice aggravated him. There were some
harsh words between husband and wife,
some tears and reproaches, followed by
day of reflection on the part of the
wife. Toward evening she made up her
mind. Taking Jim in her arms she sum-
moned her carriage and drove rapidly to
the home, where, with many tears and
caresses, she left him, telling the reason
and saying that she would send his beau--
tiful little wardrobe in the morning.
That night when she was picking up
the little garments and toys and packing
them carelessly in small trunk which |
she had labeled Jim, her husband, who |
had finished his cigar, inquired:
where's Jim?"
"He's gone" she said.
s'Where ?"
81 took him back to the Foundlings'
Home, and I'm packing his things
now."
She didn't look up. In fact, her head
was bent lower than seemed necessary.
The husband looked thoughtful, turned
around on his heel, whistled a little and
walked into the library. He began to
feel that he had won great victory over
a baby and woman. but he could not
extract any comfort from the reflection.
The house seemed quiet, and he half
wished he could hear Jim yell and his
wife laugh Jim was not SO much
nuisance after all. 1t might be handy
to have him in the family.
The next morning at breakfast he told
his wife that he had no idea that she
would send Jim back to the home. He
may have expressed wish that she
WOulC. anu even ~ Dub hC |
didn't always mean what he said when
he was annoyed by business cares. If
she set so much store by Jim, she had
better go and get him. He thought he
could stand it. It is very hard for man
to own up.
That breakfast was never finished.
The horses were at the door as quick as
they could be harnessed, and as the
wife left the house she exclaimed
sob, what if he should be gone
Drive as fast as you can"
mo danger" said the husband, listen
ing TO the receeding wheels. 'He'u be
there"
And so he was. He was in line with
the others, taking his cruel and yelling,
of course. The lady explained her
errand, seized him to her breast and
made him cry still louder. Then she
drove home with him, hugging him
close all the way, and that day when the
trunk was unpacked she sang so loud
that even Jim's war-whoop, occasionally
raised in defiance, could not be heard.
1t was a close call for Baby Jim.