Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-06-16

ashamed OF yourself, Mr.. Hardiwick,
wife an the precious baby; carryin' on
SOP" SAYS l.
"That's it," SAYS he. Brought
frien's home t'see baby. Trot i'm out,
nurse. ring i'm down, say
What could do? Tipsy folks must
be humored, SO Two heard ard con-
cluded to humor them. "Sit down,
now, and behave yourselves and I'll
bring it down." says l. Up stairs ]
went.
The house cot was lynn on the rug
efore the fire fast asleep, and an idee
come to me to fool 'em. 50 took i'm
up, slipped one of baby's frocks over
is fore paws, tied blanket tight over
is head, wrapped i'm up nice in a
small shawl, and down | went with i'm
in my arms:
They was tipsier than ever. Hardi-
wick had got bottle of brandy from
the sideboard, and they was all settin'
around with their dirty boots on the
table, drinkin' and laughin' like MAD!
"Hcre," says !. "llere is the little
darling. He looks like is papa reg
lar chip o the old block, says |, smil-
in to myself
81 gave it to Mr. Seymour, who took
it very awkward; then | went up stairs
and locked the door to our room. |
could hear down the chimb,ey, though,
jest as plain, and you may be sure /
listened.
as fine looking boy, Hardiwick, "
says Seymour.
Course e is! answered Hardiwick.
Does look like you, too" says Har-
ris.
"l do me too mnch honor" answered
Hardiwick.
"Wh-whats this? Confound it he
bit me-" says Seymour. Here! take
iml"
Then he must of give him to Jerks,
for l heard him yell. Then Harris
took him, and l could hear him curse
dreadful. Then Mr.. Hardiwick yelled
three or four times, and after that the
street-door banged, and the three went
roaring down the steps. The cat was
screaming like fury all the time, and
bimeby l heard Hardiwick come STUN
bling up the stairs to the door of our
room, and he says, says he: Here,
nurse, baby's got convulshuns or some
thing. Come an take I'm"
"Oh, no., says | abe amt and /
opened the door Jest little ways and
looked out. Res jest playful, sir,
and loves TO be with his pa. All babies
is like that, sir.
The old cat squalled and scratched,
and it was sight to see Hardiwick
holdin' i'm. The sweat was runnin'
down often his face fine.
Wish you'd take i'm, nurse" said
he, kinder Respondent "l'm so tired
an sleepy"
Better take i'm to bed with you,
SIR" says l. ".!est keep i'm for one
night, that's dear, good, kind gentle
man. I'm sure he will be good and not
make you any trouble"
Then he started for his room and |
locked the door and iammed pillow
in my mouth, SOS wouldn't laugh out
loud, and l listened.
f course / couldn't keep awake all
night, but | believe I'm kerect when |
says Hardiwick walked the floor the
best part of the night with that cat.
And how it did squat! Hardiwick
swore dreadful. My sakes alive! 1t
wasn't until most mornin' that that cat
got the best of him. | heard it yell
three or four times, terrible, and then
Hardiwick yelled, too, and screamed
out:
"Oh, good Lord, it's changeling!'
Then l heard him roll around in the
bed and kick agin the wall and curse
awful.
| was up early. and when | looked
out / see all the boys on the street, and
some men, too, starin' at somethin' on
the wall back of the yard. 1t was that
cat dressed in long frock, and it was
yowlin' and irwin to paw it off. Bime-
bv Hardiwick come down to breakfast,
all mass of scratches, lookin' very
sad He didn't say nothin' at all,
but was white and quiet, as if he'd seen
a ghost.
| kinder guess he thought he had
committed murder, or arson, or some
thin, for he looked relieved and aston
ished when he see the baby in its era
die, suckin' is thumb as happy and
contented as you please; but he didn't
say word. P'raps the cat on the wall
may have given i'm an idee.
He was sd not to mention it,
though, and You may be sure I'd not
tell any one, for I'm no gossip, as you
very we'll know. Things what happens
at places where | works is kinder
sacred like, and | never tells them to
any one, leastwise to any one who
would tell EN- ag'in; but Of course this
is all in strick confidence.