Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-10

self and ths sleeping child the only tenants Of
the compartment, he saw that, after all, he
was primarily concerned In the matter. In
spite Of his warning the mother had been left
behind, and he was I'm the unenviable position
Of having child thrown upon his hands until
the next stoppage.
Although he was bachelor and one who
knew nothing Of the ways Of children, he
scarcely felt justified In pulling the emer.
gency cord. Swindon would be reached In
less than an hour-there he would be re-
lieved. So he could do no moro than an
alternative the careless mother, and pray that
the childs slumbers might be unbroken.
Whatever effect the objurgation may have
had, he soon saw that his prayer was not to
be granted. The child. no doubt missing its
protectors embrace, opened its eyes and be.
gan to struggle. IL would have rolled of the
seat had not its enforced guardian, who was
q good-natured, hnd-hearted young fellow,
picked II up and transferred Il to his knee.
He meant well, although he did not handle
IL very skillfully. A man must go through a
course Of painful experiences before he learns
how to dandle a child properly. Our friend
did his best, but 30 clumsily that the woolen
shawl fell from the child, and disclosed
large ticket sewn on to the dress beneath. On
II was written, III. Talbert Esq, Hazlewood
House, Oakbury, near Blacktown." The
young man applauded the good sense which
had provided for contingency which had
really come to pass. Then he settled down to
do the best he could towards supplying the
place Of the missing woman until the stoppage
at Swindon might bring deliverance.
Swindon at last. Here the ill-used traveller
called the guard, and, as that official is Of
course paid to undertake all sorts Of delicate
fus,
shifted all further responsibility on to his
shoulders resumed the per,isal Of his book,
and troubled no more about the matter.
The guard, without disputing his position
Of guardian to all unprotected travellers,
hardly knew what to do in the present emer-
gency. The hope that the foolish mother had
managed to get into another carriage was
dispelled by her not making her appearance
He was also puzzled by the careful way In
which the child was labeled. This guard had
seen some curious things in his time and, as
the missing woman had left not a scrap Of
luggage behind, thought It not improbable
that the desertion Of the child was due to in
tention, not accident. At first he thought of
leaving the tiny derelict at Swindon, on the
chance that the mother would arrive by the
next train from Didcot. But the more he
thought the matter over the more convinced
he felt that no mother would arrive by the
next or any following train. Being himself
family man, and feeling most kindly disposed
towards the little golden head which nestled
in the most confiding way against his great
brown beard, he decided to take the child on
to Blacktown, and thence forward IL as ad-
dressed. He pulled couple Of cushions out
Of first-class carriage, put them in one
corner Of his van, and tucked up little Golden
head as snngly as any mother could have
done; SO snugly and comfortably that the
child at once closed its blue eyes and slept un-
til the tain reached Blacktown.
There the guard carried the little fellow
into the refreshInent room, and leaving him
in charge Of the pleasant young ladies, went
to look for sober yet speculative man who
would take the child to Oakbury on the
chance Of being paid for his trouble He even
gave this man half crown--to he repaid out
Of his prospective reward-for cab hire.
Then, after another look at the little waif,
who was drinking milk, munching biscuit,
and being made very much Of by the refresh
ment room young ladies, our guard rushed
hack to his somewhat neglected duties, and
was soon spinning down west at the rate Of
thirty five miles an hour.