The Lamar register., 1891-08-01
..Den tome here, and I teach YOU

one, !" she commanded.
Bob slowly, and with very red
face, came around on the other side.
She made him kneel, and saw that his
hands were properly clasped and his
eyes shut She had almost left off her
baby lisp. but this prayer had been
learned SO long ago that she said 1t
now just us she learned TO say 1t first.
Now I'm gay me downer s'eep,"
dictated the little teacher, perched up
on the side OF the bed.
'.Now l lay me down to sleep"
murmured the brown and bearded
giant kneeling before her.
All, Engineer Bob, how many years
since YOU said that laste And where
is the little mother that bent over you
while you said it?
When the lesson was finished and
Bob had tucked the baby in again he
went back TO his place with curious
moisture in his eyes, and was half i'm
patient with himself about it.
And then began n strange era in
Bobs life-a time when this child was
always in his thoughts and seldom
away from his side. She grew 10 be
the "train baby " and every man was
her obedient slave Bob was still de-
batting with himself what he would do
with her and in the meantime he did
nothing but keep her with him.
When an entire week had passed and
the prayer had still to be dictated,
Baby expressed her sentiments with
all the candor of candid babyhood.
Bob. you is awful dull, )" she said,
you ought to be as'amed OF your
self"
Torn by conflicting feelings, knowing
that he was daily in danger of dis
charge, Bob was leading a miserable
life enough; and yet the light that
never was on sea or land was shining
upon his life and transforming it.
When he walked about town could
he go into saloons or gambling dens
with that little figure beside him?
Like the angels OF the old stories she
hoycred about him and kept him from
harm Bob. the most profane of rail-
road men. could utter no oaths now.
because the baby would hear, and the
one or two that made use of language
more forcible than elegant in the pres
euce OF the baby found themselves in
serious trouble. The little white soul
had been given over to Bob's keeping,
and II made an atmosphere of purity
around it Engineer Bob began to
wish that he were different man.
A very few weeks had passed when
Bob. going to the mail car one night
after Baby, found her feverish and
little inclined TO wander in what she
said 7 itra ono df..,,c.ad h.. ,,,abod
to his room with her and sent for a
doctor. Wild with anguish he sat be-
side her all night and gave medicines.
but tho next morning she was no bet
ter.
Somebody else took out Bob's train;
he neither knew nor cared who.
Wholly forgetting all the rest of
tho world. wholly absorbed in
the child that was more to him than
life itself he sat thero and watched
her own faint little life slowly ebb
away. The railroad men came. one
after another. and bent over Baby
and pressed Bob's hand. telling him
to cheer up. and went away wipinF
their eyes. The superintendent came
and sat down by the bed. smoothing
tho pretty, tangled hair and chatting
her little hands as tenderly as a
woman. These things were hard to
bear. he said. and he was not good at
consolation.
But suddenly. at last Baby clasped
her tiny hands and began to murmur:
- Now I'm zay me downer Sleep
Tome say your payers, Bob"
''Oh. yes. Baby. I'm here" !" cried
Bob, falling on his knees beside the
bed.
Il payer Zord my soul to teep;
il / S ould die before l waite
"Is You sayin' your prayer Bob?
Il pay Zord my soul-to-tate."
''Oh, take mine. too. Lord; take
mine. tooT' was the helpless cry
wrung from the strong heart of En-
gineer Bob ...Hf --h ..r.IIs
And then as night had come. and
the evening prayer was said. the baby
went to sleep.
A little withered old woman stepped
down from the cars n month later and
into the arms of strong. grave man.
''Oh, Bob, " she cried, tremblingly,
with her arms about his neck. Just
sto see you once again. after eighteen
years! And you really sent for your
poor old mother, after all?"
Mother. said Engineer Bob, with
a quavering voice 1--we got home
ready for you. an'-h you can forgive
what's past-Tll make you good son
yetn
An out under the shadows of lonely
trees in the cemetery the little one
slept with the marble shaft above her
bearing no other name than The
Baby" and the simple inscription be-