The Arizona sentinel., 1886-06-05
ACTING QUICKLY.
The Presence of Mind by Which Katie
 Saved the Baby.


 Saved the Baby. The Hudson family were nearly through breakfast when Katie, the lit- tie nurse girl, brought baby Daisy, fresh and rosy, and placed her in her high chair by mammals side. She tied the bib securely, filled the silver mug with milk, and brought from the kitchen the dish of oat meal that baby liked so well. She fingered little to hear what MT. Hudson was saying about MT. Shandley, who lived next door to her mother. She knew he was engineer on the night express that often awoke her with its shrill whis- tie, and when Mr. Hudson called him a brave man she felt pride in her ac- quaintance with Teddy and Mary Shandley.
 He saved scores of lives by his pres ence of mlnd last night" she heard MT. Hudson say, as she fingered at the door moment.
 ''I wonder what's prisence of mind, :" thought Katie; ''it must be something grand to nave"
 When breakfast was over she went to the sitting room to prepare Daisy for her morning ride. Just as she entered the room, Georgie said: Mamma, papa said the engineer showed great pres ence of mind last night. What is pres ence of mind?"
 '1 can tell you," replied Hal; tits thinking quick, and acting in hurry. To illustrate, I see your clothes on fire, and 1 rush upon you SO, and roll you in a rug in this way" suiting the action to the word.
 'Sto-o-pr' shouted Georgie, strug- gling to escape, ''let me alone.
 Not until every spark of fire is out" replied Hal, as he rolled him over again. In the rough play that followed, Georgie quite forgot the sub- iect in which he had for a moment been interested, and Mrs. Hudson found no opportunity to add to Halls explanation. Katie heard Georgie' s question and Halls reply. She watched the boys for moment in their noisy frolic, and then fastened Daisy's plush cloak under the dimpled chin, tied on the delicate lace cap, held up the rosy face for mammals goodbye kiss, and carried her little charge to the dainty carriage at the side door, thinking all the time of the engineers presence of mind, and of Halls definition.
 Il know what it is, Daisy,'' she said, as she tucked in the scarlet afghan that Grandma Hunt had made so beau tiful with embroidery and fringe. II know what it is, pet; it's just as Hal says, if I should see the house on fire and should snatch you out of your little cradle all rolled up in blanket, and run right through the fire and smoke to Grandma Hunts house, they d say Kate Donahue had prlsence of mind. I'd do it, darlin'; don't you know I'd save my precious little pet?"
 'Coo, coo" answered Daisy, as well as she could, with two fingers in her mouth.
 Katie had now reached the main street and was trundling the car riage sedately along, talking to baby in the cheerful way that brought smiles and dimples to the sweet face.
 ''No, no, pet; you mustn' tput grand mas blanket in your little mouth, she said, stopping the carriage to tuck it in more securely. A wild shout caused her to look around, and for moment her heart seemed to stop its beating. Only few rods away, a COW, broken loose from its owner, with stout rope dragging at her side, came plunging with threatening horns directly towards |. l. bod farm and, knowing something of the habits of animals, recognized at once the point of attack The red carriage robe had caught the attention of the excited animal, and the baby was under the robe! As quick as thought Katie seized it, and, waving it above her head, ran to the other side of the street. Only once she looked back and saw that the course of the animal had changed; then she heard the chatter Ot hoofs coming nearer, and knew that the spreading horns of the enraged creature were close behind her. She could go no farther, and, throwing the robe as far from her as possible, fell fainting to the ground. The animal caught it as it fell. trampled it with its feet, tossed it high with its horns, tear ing the pretty embroidery and staining the delicate colors, but Katie did not see it. Kind hands removed the fright ened baby from the carriage and car ried her home, but Katie was deaf to the cry of her darling. The COW was secured while engaged with the robe, but Katie saw not the frantic efforts to escape, nor heard the angry mutter- ings. When at last she opened her eyes in Mrs. Hudson's room, her first question was for Daisy. ''Safe and sound," said Mrs. Hudson, bringing the rosy face, still wet with tears, close to Katie's own.
 "Where is the blanketP" was the next question.