The Forrest City times., 1891-06-19
HOW MEG LOST TUE BABY.

One morning Mrs. Sackett put Julia carefully into her carriage. She tuck ed her up with rugs, afshans and shawls Meg often wondered how the baby could breathe; but Julia was fat and hearty, and Meg knew that she grew heavier. So it must have agreed with her.
 Keep where it's pleasant and sun ny, and take good care of her, said Mrs. Saekett.
 She said this every day. Meg took as much care of Julia as any we'll meaning but careless girl of fourteen does baby. At the crossing she thumped the carriage down into one gutter, and banged 1t up out of the other The baby was used to this, and only opened her eyes wide and gasped on arriving on the other side
 Meg was just turning the corner when she heard her mothers voice.
 "Me-e-egl"
 "Yes ml"
 "Stop at Hurd's and send home three pounds of brown sugar and a half-pound of tea''
 "Ies m"
 Meg thrust her elbows through the handle ol the baby carriage, and crocheted as she walked Crocheting tidies was Meg's favorlte pastime. She always had a tidy under way.
 Hurd's was q corner grocery store, with a door opening on each of the two streets Meg wheeled the car riage close to the show window, and fastened the wheel with q stone so that it couldn't roll of.
 Julia sat still, and gazed with at tention at the resplendent advertise ments of Jenk's soap and Tompkln $ ginger, although she must have known these placards by heart. Babies have to endure so much which they do not understand that 1t IS not surprising that they become philosophers,
 Hurd's was crowded, as 1t always was in the morning but Meg did not object to waiting. She chatted with Katie Allen and Lou French. and even drew out her tidy and did two rows before the salesman had time to attend to her.
 Then she ordered sugar and tea with as grand an air as that worn by Mrs. Ponsonby, who resided" in a four story brown-stone house on a stylish avenue, while Meg lived in a third flat"
 Wait for mel" said Katie Allen. 'I've got to go to the butcher s"
 "All right" answered Meg.
 She waited and when Katie started. she walked with her, talking brisKly, down the street almost block before she suddenly cried: "Oh l forgot the baby"
 "What baby?" asked Katie.
 "Why, had our baby with me and | I've gone and left the carriage out Sue the storel
 "There wasn't any baby at the door when we came out, '" replied Kate.
 Sure enough" said Meg, "thert wasn't.
 She gazed in bewilderment at katie's round yes, and then cried
 "Oh, know I came in at the other door; that't itl She's round on liar rison Street."
 The girls ran laughingly back anc turned the corner, There was no baby nor carriage there? They stared at each other, ant Katie would have laughed but that Meg looked so solemn.
 "Perhaps you didn't bring her!''
 "Yes, did! l left her just here. know didp'
 "Could the ecarriage have rolled dowr the street2"
 Meg looked up and down the street in vain. No carriage was in sight.
 "Perhaps policeman thought sh' was lost, and took her to the station house." suggested Katie.
 Meg began to cry. Katie's word seemed cruel.
 Run home quick, and tell you mother about itl" l Meg took Katie's advice. She ral fast, for she was frightened. Mrs Sackett heard her story, and gay her a severe scolding for earelessness
 Some boy took it to scare you. l must bu about the neighborhood. G,