St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-11-29
That BABY.

There was baby in the railway car the
other day. 1t was not an unusual child,
but it had a decidedly bright face and
pretty ways. For the first few miles she
was very quiet, and her blue eyes looked
around In wonderment, for evidently 1t
was the little ones first ride on the cars:
Then as she became used to the roar and
rumble, the baby proclivities asserted
themselves, and she began to play with
her fathers :oustache. At first the father
and mother were the only parties inter-
ested, but soon young lady in an al accent
seat nudged her escort and directed MS
attention to the laughing child. He looked
up, remarked that it was pretty baoy aud
tried to look unconcerned but 1t was
noticed that his eyes wandered back to the
spot occupied by the happy family, and ne
commenced to smile. The baby pulled the
hair of an old lady in front, who turned
around savagely and glared at the father
with look that plainly said, "Nuisances
should be left at home" But she caught
sight of the laughing eyes of the baby, and
when she turned back she seemed pleased
about something. Several others had be-
come interested in the child by this time
business men and clerks, old ladies and
giris-and when the baby hands grasped
the large silk hat of her father and placed
it on her own head, it made such comicai
picture that an old gentleman across the
wsy. unable to restrain himself, burst out
into loud guffaw, and then looked sheep
ish)v out of the window, as if ashamed TO
be caught doing such an unnanly thing.
| Before another five minutes he was play
| ing peek a. boo across the aisle win
| the baby. and every one was envylng him
The ubiquitous young man, ever on the
! move. passed through, and was at loss
to account for the trowns of every body
He had failed to notice the baby. The
brakeman looked in from his post On the
platform and smiled The paper boy
| found no custom till he had spoken to the
b by and iiugled his pocket of change for
| her edi6cation. The conductor caught the
fever and chucked the little ore under the
| chin, while the old gentleman across the
aisle forgot to pass up his ticket, SO In
terested was he playing peek-a- boo. The
old lady in front relaxed, snd diving into
her reticule unearthed brilliant red pip
pin and presented it bashfully to the little
one, who, in response, put her chubby
arms around the doner's neck and press ed
her rosy little mouth to the old lady S
cheek. 1t brought back tiood of remem
brances to that withered heart, and
handkerchief was seen to brush first this
way and then that as if to catch a falling
| tear.
The train sped on and pulled into the
station where the baby, with her parents,
was to leave the car. A look of regret
came over every face. The old gentleman
asked if he couldn't kiss it jast once the
old lady returned the caress she had re-
ceived, and the baby moved toward the
door, shaking by-by over the shoulder
of her papa, to which every one responded
including the newsboy, who emphasiz- ID
his farewell with a wave of his hat The
passengers rushed to the side where the
baby got off and watched till she turne
OUT f sight at the other end of the station
shaking by-bys al the time. Then the!
lapsed inlo silence. They missed tina
baby, and not one of them would be IN
willing to acknowledge it. The little one
presence had let rift of sunshine int
every heart. warm or cold, in that car
Orphans Fiead, House Of angel CUR
| diHn