Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04
ACTING
Tho Presence of Mind by Which Katie
Saved the Baby.

tnrOuSn DreakIaSG Wnen AaClc, Cnc 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
Ikea sc well. She fingered a little to
hear what MI. Hudson was saying
abort Mr.. 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 wish Teddy and Mary
Shandley.
HE saved scores of lives by his pres
ence of mind last night" she heard
Mr.. Hudson say, as she fingered a" the
door a moment.
81 wonder what's presence of mind"
thought Katie; sit must be something
grand to nave"
When breakfast was over she went to
the sittingg.room to prepare Daisy for
her morning ride. just as she entered
the room, Georgia said: mamma, papa
said the engineer showed great pres
ence of mind last night. What is pres
ence of mind?"
II can tel! YOU" replied Hal; ''it's
To illustrate, l see your clothes on fire,
and l rush upon you so, and roll you in
a rug in this way suiting the action
to the word.
"sto-o-p!' shouted George, strug-
Cling to escape, ''let me alone"
Mot until every spark of fire is
out" replied Hal, as he rolled him
over again. In the rough play that
followed, George quite forgot the sub
ject 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 a 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.
II 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 l should see the house on fire
and should snatch you out of your
little cradle all rolled up in a blanket,
and run right through the fire and
smoke to Grandma Hunts house,
they'd say Kate Donahue had presence
of mind. I'd do it, darlin'; don't you
know I'd save my precious little pct?''
Goo, co.," answered Daisy, as well
as she could, with two fingers in her
mouth.
Katie had now reached the main
street and was trundling the EAR
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 a moment
her heart seemed to stop it's bcating.
Only a few rods away, a COW, broken
loose from its owner, with a stout rope
dragging at her side, came plungine
with threatening horns directly towards
the precious baby. Katie had lived on
a 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 asunder
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 %clatter OF
hoots coming nearer, and knew that
the spreading horns of the enraped
creature were close behind her. She
could 20 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 II with ito
feet, tossed it high with its horns. tear.
ing the pretty embroidery and staining
the delicate %colors, but Katie did moi
see IL; Am hands removed the FRIGHT
ened baby from the carriage and car
rled her home, but Katie was deaf to
the cry, OF her darling. The COW was
secured while engaged with the robe
Dut hatle saw not the frantic efforts to
escape nor heard the angry mutter-
mgs' When at last she opened her
Eyes IN Mrs. Hudson's room, her first
question: was for Daisy. Safe and
sound said Mrs. Hudson, hringina
inc rosy face, still wet with tears. cInss
to .Katie's own. 'ioSe
Swhere is tho blankct?" was th.
X que stion. we" quo
nNe'er mind the carriage-robe, dear
ohild, said Mrs. Hudson; ..how co,,ld
you Think tc do such q brave h;nnp;