The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-07
HOW MEG LOST THE BABY

Camilla Crosiand IN chambers Journal
HOW MEG LOST THE BABY
One morning Mrs. Sackett put julia
carefully into her carriage. She tucked
her up with rugs, afghans and shawls.
Meg often wondered how the baby could
breathe; but Julia was fat and hearty. and
Meg knew that she grew heavier. So Ii
must have agreed with her.
keep where it's pleasant and sunny,
and take good care Of her." said Mrs.
Sackett.
She said this every day. Meg took as
much care of Julia as any well meaning but
careless girl of fourteen does Of baby. At
the crossing she thumped the carriage
down into one gutter and banged it up out
of the other. The baby was used to this,
and only opened her eyes wide and gasped
on arriving at the opposite side.
Meg was just turning the corner when
she heard her mothers voice.
'M-e-gp
"Yes'mw
"Stop at Hurd's and send home three
pounds of brown sugar and half pound OF
teal''
''Yes'mln
Meg thrust her elbows through the ham
die of the baby carriage, and crocheted as
she walked. Crecheting tides was Meg's
favorite pastime. She always had tidy
under way
Hurd's was corner grocery store, with
door opening on each of the two streets.
Meg wheeled the carriage close to the show
window and fastened the wheel with a
stone so that it couldn't roll eff.
Julia sat still, gazed with attention at
the Respondent advertisements of Jenk' 8
soap and Tompkins' ginger, although she
must have known these placards by heart.
Babies have to endure so much which they
do not understand that it is not surprising
that they become philosophers.
Hurd's was crowded, as it 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 Ponson-
by, who resided" in a four story brown
stone house on a stylish avenue, while
Meg lived in third fat"
"Wait for metz said Katie Allen. 1--WE
got to go to the butchers"
"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, "OhI forgot the baby"
''What babys" asked Katie
"Why, had our baby with me, and I've
gone and left the carriage outside the
storel"
"There wasn't any baby at the door when
we came out" replied Katie.
"Sure enough" said Meg, there wasn't"
She gazed in bewilderment at Kate's
round eyes, and then cried:
"Oh, knowi | came in at the other
door-that's it. She's round on Harrison
street."
The girls ran laughingly back and turned
the corner. There was no baby nor car
riage there.
They stared at each other, and Katie
would have laughed, but that Meg looked
so solemn.
perhaps you didn't bring herr
Eyes, didl left here just here. know
didr'
Gould the carriage have rolled down the
street,"
Meg looked up and down the street in
vain. No carriage was in sight.
perhaps a policeman thought she was
lost and took her to the station house."
suggested Kate.
Meg began to cry. Kate's words seemed
cruel.
run home quick and tell your mother
about itp'
Meg took Katie's advice She ran fast,
for she was frightened. Mrs. Sackett heard
her story, and gave her severe scolding
for carelessness.
"Some boy took it to scare you. 1t must
be about the neighborhood. Go and lookr'
she ordered. She was hard working
woman, and treated things in a matter of
fact way.
But when Meg came back to report that
no one had seen baby or carriage any
where, Mrs. Sackett became alarmed. She
forgot to scold this time. She put on her
bonnet and searched the street thorough
~. She inquired at all the stores, and
even went to the police station.
Coming back from her fruitless expedi
ton she dropped YEARLY into chair by
the door. Meg could not bear TO see her
mothers white face. She picked up her
hat and crept down stairs.
An organ man was playing lively tune,
and Lou French's little sisters were dane
ing to the music. They came up to ask
Meg IF the baby was found" and Meg,
without looking at them, choked and
rushed down the street She walked on in
a breathless state for several blocks, and
happened to pause for breath just where
there sat, on a doorstep, a boy about twelve
years old, with woebegone and tear stain
ed face.
Meg looked at him and asked abruptly,
What's the matter' Have you lost a
baby?"
Lost babyI' shouted the boy indig-
nantly. You clear out of this"
He seemed TO look as II he thought she
was making sport of him
Meg was glad to clear" She had only
spoken out of the abundance OF her
thoughts She walked along, surveying
absently the windows she passed. She
wondered If all the babies who lived in
those houses were safe, or if their parents
were hunting for any Of them in grocery
stores and police stations.
At the next corner she stopped again.
Three women stood there talking. Said
one of them, small woman:
Il told her, says /, Mrs. Smith, you'd
better report it Sc the station house. L
belongs 10 somebody that's looking for it,
OF courseP says /"
'-She wouldn't take the trouble. She's
too elegant remarked stout woman.
sarcastically.
That's So" replied the first speaker
''She said: Let them that los, IL look for
&. Jimmie brought il home, and he'll