The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-06-04
ACTING QUICKLY.
The Preseiios of Mind by Which Katie
Saved the Baby.

Jno freBeuc6 OI mluO Dy WHICH haUlo
Saved the Baby.
The Hudson family were nearly
through breakfast when Katie, the lits |
tie nurse girl, brought baby Daisy,
fresh and rosy, and placed her in her
high chair by mammals side. She tied
the bib securely; filed the silver mug
with milk, and brought ffom the
kitchen the dish of oat meal that baby
liked so well. She fingered little to
hear what Mr.. Hudson was saying
about 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
brave man she felt pride in her ac-
quaintance with Teddy and Mary
6handley.
'.He saved scores of lives by his pres
ente of mind last night" she heard
MIR: Hudson say, as she fingered at the
door a moment.
II wonder what's prisence of mind"
thought Katie; sit 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, George said: Mamma, papa
said the engineer showed great pres
ence of mind last night What is press
ence of mindP"
~ can tell you," replied Hal; ''it's
thinking quick, and acting in hurry.
To illustrate, l see your clothes on fire,
and rush upon you so, and roll you in
rug in this way" suiting the action
to the word.
"sto-o-pI' 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 moment
been interested, and Mrs. Hudson
found no opportunity to add to Hal s
explanation. Katie heard Georgle's 9
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.
81 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. 81
know what it is, pet; it's just as Hal
says, if 1 should ee the house on fire
and should snatch you out of your
little cradle all rolled up in blanket,
and FUN 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 petp''
''Coo, 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 car
riage sedately along, talking to baby
in the cheerful way that brought smile.
and d1mples to the sweet face.
No, no, pet; you mustn't put grand
mas blanket in your little MOUTH" she
said, stopping the carriage to tuck 1t ii
more securely. A wild shout caused
her to look around, and for a moment
her heart seemed to stop its beating
Only few rods away, a COW, broker
loose from its owner, with stout rop,
dragging at her side, came plunginS
with threatening horns directly towards
the precious baby. Katie had lived OF
farm and, knowing something of tn
habits of animals, recognized at one
the point of attack. The red carriage
robe had caught the attention of tn
excited animal, and the baby was unde
the robe! As quick as thought Kati
seized it, and, waving it above he
head, ran to the other side of the street
Only once she looked back and say
that the course of the animal ha
changed; then she heard the clatter o
hoofs coming nearer, and knew tina
the spreading horns of the enrage
creature were close behind her. Sh
could 60 no farther, and, throwing th
robe as far from her as possible, fe
fainting to the ground. The anims
caught it as it fell, trampled it with il
feet, tossed it high with its horns, teal
ing the pretty embroidery and stainin
the delicate colors, but Katie did nt
see it. Kind hands removed the frigh
ened baby from the carriage and ca
ried her home, but Katie was deaf
the cry of her darling. The cow W;
secured while engaged with the rob
but Katie saw not the frantic efforts
escape, nor heard the angry mute
ings When at last she opened h,
eyes in Mrs Hudson's room, her fir
question was for Daisy. ''Safe ar
!, sound" said Mrs. Hudson, bringir
! the rosy face, still wet with tears, clio
, to Katie's own.
"Where is the blanketp" was q