Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-09

COlnmenttu OIL.
1t now made its appearace In the
arms of the old lady, surrounded by
bevy of admiring aunts.
"La, child / thought you wrote
twas boy?"
"And so it is, grandma" said Mrs.
Brown, from whom "baby" was hid
den by the faces that surrounded.
"Phebe Janet what air you talkln'
about2" exclaimed the indignant old
lady. ado you think that ! have
raised fourteen of 'em an never lost
one, and don't know boy from a gal
baby"
Here the astonished mother caught
a glimpse of the little creature who.
clad in her night dress, was staring
wondcringly around.
With q sudden screech, she sprang
to her feet.
"Mcrcy on us! l took the wrong
baby"
1t was some time before Mrs Browns
excitement and agitation would allow
her to give coherent and ineligible
explanation of these mysterious words.
When she did, Bob was dispatched
at once to the depot
The train had gone, of course; neith-
CT was any expected from either way
until morning. So al he could do was
to telegraph to the different stations
beyond, and to "baby's' father.
AS might be expected, the poor
mother was nearly frantic, and would
have been quite so had it not been for
the consoling idea, earnestly dwelt
upon by her sympathi1ing friends
that the lady must have found out
the mistake ere this, and was probably
as anxious to get her baby back as she
was to get hers
The early morning train brought
Mr. Brown. if less agltated. quite as
much distressed at heart, as his wife.
After hasty consultation, the two
determined to take the baby and start
out in the same direction taken by the
strange lady, hoping to find some clew
to her name and whereabouts.
When they reached the station the
train wanted some minutes Of being
due.
Mrs. Brown went into the Ladies
ROOM" but her husband remained out
side walking rostessly up and down
the platform.
At the further end man was
standing talking 10 a lady IN u car
riagc, whose dress only was visible.
AS he regarded him more attentive
ly he sprang forward.
"Why, Cousin John. is this really
you?"
The sober face of the man addressed
frightened into smile as he turned
round.
"IIow do you do Cousin Will?' he
responded, with hearty shake of the
hand. al didn't know you lived in
Sterling2'
81 don't. My wife's people live
here; and she is here on visit.
though you lived in Boston?'
$50 [ do" replied Mr.. John Brown,
his conntenance SOLDERING, as he recol.
lectrd tho crranh that brought him
there "But the oldest, most unfort-
unate thing that has happened. We
have lost our baby! My wife lost il
on the train Yesterday"
Here the lady in the carriage, who
had a blue bundle in her arms, thrust
her head forward.
Just then Mrs Brown made her ap.
pearance on the platform. she also
hayinga blue bundle.
Th re- was Il simultaneous rrCogni-
ton The two mothers rushed to-
ward each other, and in tho twinkling
of nn eye tho blue bundles changed
hands.
This was followed by an outburst OF
joy. ejaculations and endearments
from both parties. and which was fl
nally broken upon by the two cousins,
who, joining in laugh of mingled re-
lief and merriment at the turn affairs
had taken, now stepped forward to in
troduce their respective wives.
The result was that Mr.. and Mrs
John Brown went homo with theil
newly discovered cousins, where theJ
spent the day, visit which WAS nont
the less happy because of the fright
and trouble from which it so curiously
sprang.
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The Plot TO Kidnap Lincoln.
Aftpr uiyinu the history of the first