Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-06-17
THINKING AND ACTING.
The Presence OF Mind by Which Katie
Saved the Baby.

The Presence OF Mind by Which Katie
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 Mr.. Hudson was saying
about Mr.. Shandley, who lived next
door to her moticr. She knew he was
engineer on the night express that
often awOkc her with its shrill wh!s-
tic, and when Mr.. Hudson called him
a brave man she felt pride In her ac-
quaintance with Teddy and Mary
Shandley.
ale saved scores of lives by his pres
ence of mind last night" she heard
Mr.. Hudson say, as she fingered at the
door q moment.
al 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. George said: Mamma, papa
said the engineer showed great pres
encc OF mind last night What is pres
ence OF mindp"
I can tell you," replied Hal; "it's
thinking quick, and acting in hurry.
To illustrate, | see your clothes on fire,
and rush upon you so, and roll you in
q rug in this way" suiting the action
TO the word.
"Sto-o-pr' shouted George, strug-
Cling to escape, "let mo 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
feet 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 u 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.
al know what 1t is, Daisy" she said,
rs 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, II l should sec 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 Donahuc had presence
of mind. I'd do 1t, darlin'; don't you
know I'd save my precious little petP"
"Coo, co.," answered Daisy, as we'll
as she could. with two fingers in her
mouth.
Katie had now reached the main
street and was trundling the car
riage sedatoly 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 a few rods away, a COW. broken
loose from its ownOr. with stout rope
dragging at her side. came plunging
with threatening horns directly towards
the precious baby. Katie had lived on
farm and. knowing something OF tho
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 robel As quick as thought Katie
seized 1t, and, waving 1t 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
hoofs coming nearer, and know that
the spreading horns Of tho enraged
creature were close behind her. She
could 10 no farther, and, throwing the
yobs Z. tas tsqm hs y possible 1au