The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-04-09
MisCell
BLUE BUNDLES.

|
with tiny blue bundle in her arms, holding
/ it with careful tenderness which showed
what an exceedingly precious little bundle il
was.
1t was so mutfled up in its long blue cloak
| that not II particle of it was visible, but all
who saw it knew that it was baby, the baby
of ali the world to the fond, maternal heart to
which it was held so closely.
The Car was rather crowded, but near the
| further end sal a lady, who, together with her
baby and various boxes and parcels, occupied
| two seats said seats being turned so that they
| faced each other.
On perceiving Mrs. Brown looking around
with an air OF perpleXity, and taking especial
note of the animated bundle, that was the
| exact counterpart of her own, this lady,
whose name was also Brown, moved the pal
GELS on the opposite seat, so as to make room
| for her, courtesy that Mrs. Brown number
one smilingly acknowledged as she seated her
self
The two babies were evidently about the
same age, and attirtd in long cloaks of the
same color and texture.
For the purpose ofchallenging the admira-
ton of the other. and taking mental notes,
the two mothers carefully uncovered the
heads of their respective treasures.
The little creatures laughed and cooed at
| each other in the baby fashion, while each
mother looked smilngly on her own, and
then AT the other.
With this bond of sympathy between them
they two began to converse, naturally enter
ing upon tie apparently ineXhaustive field of
their maternal cares and duties
Mrs Brown number one volunteered The in
| formation that she was going on visit TO her
folks who had never seen "baby," charging
| enthusiastically on the pleasure that grand
pa" grandma" its "aunties" and "Uncle
Bob" would experience on behoding the
sweet little cherub.
In return Mrs. Brown number two remark
cd the fact that she was just returning from
a visit to "her folks" and that she expected
| her husband to meet her few stations be-
You'd.
She diated rapturously on his again seeing
baby from whom he had been separated
nearly three weeks, growing eloquent on the
| subject the marvellous changes and improve.
ments which had taken place during that time
| in that most remarkable child
In the meantime the baby fell asleep, and
| by the two ladies sitting together couch for
both was improvised on the opposite seat.
Both time and car sped swiftly, and Mrs.
| Brown number one was in the midst of an
| interesting recital Of the time that baby near,
| ly died with the Group, when the conductor
| shouted
"Sterling Centre !"
With an ejaculation of surprise she sprang
| to her feet, and taking up one of the blue
bundles, hurried out.
She found Bob ON the platform waiting for
her.
As he helped her into the cutter he offered
| to take baby" but the air was keen and fros.
| ty, and Mrs. Brown preferred to keep it I'M
| der her warm cloak
| But when she reached the house she sur
rendered the blue bundle to the happy and
laughing group that gathered eagerly around
| her.
| Chilled by her long ride, Mrs. Brown was
glad to draw near the blazing fire, upon
| which Bob had heaped fresh fuel.
Then there was the nice hot supper, for
which her long fast had given her keen ap-
petite, and which was prolonged by the num-
beress questions that had to be asked and
answered.
In the meantime, "baby" had been carried
to "grandma's room'-baby's great-grandma
to be duly admired and commented on.
1t now made its appearance in the arms of
the old lady, surrounded by bevy of ad-
miring aunts.
La, child thought you wrote twas
boy"
And so it is, grandma, said Mrs Brown,
from whom baby" was hidden by the faces
that surrounded.
"Phebe janet what air you talkin about ?"
exclaimed the indignant old lady. "Do you
think that | have raised fourteen of 'em an
never lost one, and don't know boy from
gal baby !"
Here the astonished mother caught
glimpse of the little creature who, clad in her
night dress, was staring woDderingly around
With sudden screech, she sprang to her
feet.
Mercy ON us took the wrong baby !"
1t was some time before Mrs. Browns ex.
element and agitation would allow her to
give coherent and ineligible explanation
of these mysterious words.
When she did, Bob was dispatched at once
to the depot.
The train had gone, of course; neither was
| any expected from either way until morning
So all he could do was to telegraph to the
| different stations beyond and to "baby's"
| father
AS might be expected, the poor mother was
nearly frantic, and would have been quite so
had it not been for the consoling idea, earn.
estly dwelt upon by her sympathzing friends
that the lady must have found out the mis-
take ere this, and was probably as anxious to
| get her baby back as she was to get hers"
The early morning train brought Mr.
| Brown. If less agtaled, quite as much dis
tressed at heart, as his wife.
After hasty consultation, the two deter
mined to take the baby and start out in the
same direction taken by the strange lady,
hoping TO find some cew to her name and
whereabouts.
Wien they reached the station the train
wanted some minutes of being due.
| Mrs. Brown went into the ladies Room"
but her husband remained outside walking
restlessly up and down the platform.