The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-11-18
MWhat2n said Aunt Jobson.

OF course not.
"Then what have you got in there9"
shrieked the man.
"Nono Of your business" said Aunt
Jobson.
"But say 1t it, F" said the man. "Just
listen, Sam. There's young un in
there, as I'm a living man. just listen. 1"
$50 there Isl" said Sam.
"Why don't you take that hamper on
board1" said Aunt Jobson.
"Cause won't, that's all," said the
man. "Cappen, say, Cappenl'
The captain, who was nearly by, turned
and advanced.
"What's the matter7"
"This old lady has got baby In that
basket thing" said the man, land I'm
not going TO be hauled into a thing like
that"
"Tbere is q baby in the hamper, by
Jove" said the captain.
Meanwhile everybody but Aunt Jobson
heard piteous walls proceeding from the
hamper She for her part heard nothing
until, with a voice he might have used
in gale at sea, the captain demanded
her KEYS.
"AIy keys9" cried the irate old lady.
"No, indeed l am from the country,
but you can't play such trick as that on
me. know what city thieves are very
well. My keys, indeed"
"My time is short" said the captain.
'I must be off in ten minutes. I'll give
you over to policeman unless the trunk
is opened"
"Me to policeman" cried Aunt
Jobson.
"No, I'll give you to ouel Here
Policel Policel"
But not only the captain of the boat
and the bystanders, but the three guar
dians of the peace who just then ap-
peared on the scene, heard the shrieks
that came from the hamper. Public
opinion was divided, but only as to
whether Aunt Jobson intended to steal
the child or murder it. That there was
a child in the hamper every one knew
but the old lady herself, and despite her
prayers, entreaties, two of the police
took the hamper between them.
One of the policemen offered his arm
to poor Mrs. Jobson and they proceeded
in procession to the station house.
There Mrs. Jobson, having been de-
spoiled of her keys, the hamper was
opened and from its nest on the top of a
pile of linen was lifted red, very tear
full, furiously indignant infant in white
dress and embroidered shawl.
Mrs. Jobson's ears were dull, but her
eyes were as sharp as ever. She gazed,
uttered one awful shrek, then another,
and finally went off into Mysteries, which
would have been narrowing to the souls
in private life but which produced no
effect whatever at station house.
Mrs. Jobson did not hear what was
said, but she knew herself under arrest.
She had seen a mysterious infant removed
from the Luggage, and she felt that for
some reason that she was in danger of
Imprisonment. Never having been in a
station house before, visions OF an un-
derground cell, chains and midnight
execution rushed through her mind.
Probably, the real picture-of a dirty
room, destitute of chairs, and already oc.
cupied by some inebriated female-would
not have consoled her greatly, aud, with
a wilder shrek than she had yet uttered,
she threw herself on the floor and be-
came spasmodic. Nobody was in the
least affected but the baby, who believ-
ing the performance to have been ar
ranged for its amusement stopped crying
and began to crow as it sat upright in
the arms of the very tallest and broadest
policeman.
Meanwhile preparations were being
made to convey Mrs Jobsou into the in-
terror of the premises, and things were
looking badly Tor that lady, when the
door opened and mans face, pale with
suspense and suffering, was thrust in.
"I'm here again, you see," said voice
quite fattened by misery. "Has any
thing been heard of the babyl Her
mother begged me to mention that she
had been vaccinated ON the left arm
high-so that she can wear short sleeves.
hope"
But there the speech came to an enl.
A cry of joy completed it, and the man
rushed forward and snatched the baby
from the policeman's arms, and stood
shaking from head to foot with his ef-
forts to keep the tears back-a useless
one, for in moment they pattered down
hot and heavy on the little, round, bald
head of that cOmical, useless, precious
thing that he pressed against his breast.
The man was Jones-the child was
Jones's missing baby.
Then he explained to all present how
the clothes hamper, with the cover up,
had been standing in the nursery. How
baby's great gIandpapa, not being used
to the care of infants, had laid the sleep
ing child in what he supposed to be a
new fashioned cradle. How, afterward,
tie lid had fallen to. How Aunt job
son had locked it without looking in.
How being deaf, she had not heard the
infants cries when it had awakened, aud
he explained to Aunt Jobson that this
was the baby she had so often said was
the image of its papa, though she had
not recognized it when produced from
her hamper.
Nobody believed him. The clerk at
the desk said he had miud to send
them both to court, but that, though
this was all very suspicious, that they
might go this time
They were only too glad to go. Jones
knew what agonies of suspense those at
home were enduring, aud bewildered
Aunt Jobson fled as from the presence
of the plague. .-NeO York Telegram.