The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-08-14
That, Baby.

There wRs q baby in the railway car the
other day. it 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 it
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 mustache. At first the father
and mother were the only parties inter-
ested, but soon young lady in au ada
cent seat rudged her escort and directed
his attention to the laughing child. He
looked up, remarked that it was pretty
baby aud tried to look unconcerned, but
it was noticed that his eyes wandered
back to the spot occupied by the happy
family, and he commenced to smile. The
baby pulled the hair of an old lady in
front, who turned around sayagely and
glared at the father with look that
plainly said, "Nuisances should be left at
home" Eut she caught sight of the
laughing eyes of the baby, and when she
turned back she seemed pleased about
something. Several others had become
interested in the child by this time
business men and young clerks-old
ladies and girls-snd when the baby
hands grasped the large silk hat of her
father and placed it on her own head, it
made suct comical picture that an old
gentleman across the way, unable 10 re-
strain himself, burst out into loud guf-
faw, aud tllen looked sheepishly out the
window, az if ashamed to be caught doing
such an unmanly thing. Before another
FIVE minutes he was playing peek-a.bo
across the aisle with the baby, and every
one was enyying him.
The ubiquitous young man, ever on tue
move, passed through, and was at a. loss
to account for the frowns of everybody.
He had failed to notice the baby. The
brakeman looked in from his pest on the
platform and smiled. The paper boy
found no custom till he had spoken to the
baby and jingled his pocket of change for
her edifca!ion. The conductor caught the
fever and chuckled the little one under
the chin, while the old gentleman across
the aisle forgot to pass up his ticket, 30
interested was he playing peek-a boo.
The old lady in front relaxed, and diving
into her reticule unearthed brilliant
red pippin and presented it bashfully to
the little one, who, in response, put her
chubby arms around the donors neck and
pressed her rosy little mouth 10 the old
lady's check. 1t brought back food Of
remembrances to that withered heart, and
q handkerchief was seen to brush first
this way and then that, as if to catch
falling tear.
The train sped OIL 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 Just once;
the old lady returned the caress she had
received, and the baby moved toN ard the
door, shaking by by over the shoulder
of her papa, to which every one respond
ed, including the newsboy, who empha.
sized his farewell with wave Of his hat.
The passengers rushed to the side where
the baby got of aud watched till she
turned out of sight at the other end of the
atation, shaking by bys all the time.
Then they lapsed into silence. They
missed tha. baby, and not one of them
would be unwilling to acknowledge it.
The little ones presence had let rift OF
sunshine into every heart. warm or cold,
in that car.--O,phan's Friend, House Of
Angel tfHaWidn.