The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-26
JIMS WAIF.

1ner day young man was enjoying him.
self in the surf, together with two or three
companions. They had all come down from
New York on clark" Jim swan re-
markably well, and delighted his friends
and the company at large by some of his
performances.
He was good natured, too. He took out
several girls, some he knew and some he
did not know, and helped them to float,
and so made himself very popular.
Among others who watched him from
the beach was poor woman with baby.
At last, as he brought one girl back whom
he had been teaching TO swim, she beck
oned to him.
young man." said she, could you not
kindly take my little baby out and give
her dip in the surf? She is puny, and it
would help her,"
But Jim shook his head as he looked at
the child.
"Pm afraid of babies" he said. Never
held one in my life. 1t might slip out of
my hands and drown"
'No, | guess not" said the woman.
"You can't hurt it, and the surf bathing
would help the little dear"
Jim hesitated, then he looked at the
small, peaked face. "Give me the little
dear" said he "But don't you bulge,
for if the young one should squall l am
going to bring it back TO you"
1T won't scuall," said the woman. Its
not afeard."
The young man took the child cautiously,
rs though it was made of glass and might
go to pieces in his hands, but it did not.
Neither did it cry. So he waded off with
Il :, ~ L. /, Il. -
to give it a gentle immersion. Far from
being frightened, the baby seemed pleased,
and even ventured on a mild laugh. jim
now returned to the beach and proifered it
TO its mother.
1.-The kid seemed pleased" he said. at
laughed"
"Poor DEAR" said the woman. "She has
been very sick. Young gentleman, your
bath has been godsend to her. Now you
see you can't hurt her, couldn't you give
her another dip?"
After little persuasion Jim agreed, and
went off with the baby. This time he
Joined his companions, and amused himself
with now dipping, now floating the child
on his hand. After time he weared of
this sport, and returned to the beach 30
| give the child to its mother. But she was
nowhere to be foundl
Horrified, the young fellow ran up and
down the beach, unmindful of his scanty
bathing suit, anxiously inquiring:
where's the mother of this child?"
Nobody knew. Then every one began to
make merry at his expense.
!. "Made you PRESENT." cried one.
"a handsome legacy" said another.
'Hello, Jim," cried his companions,
Nrho Saaipo he hoH ooroa
ashore, whats up?'
THAT wretched woman has vanished"
'You were green, indeed, to take the
brat" said they.
I'll drop it very soon," cried Jim, set
ting it down on the sand.
mo. you don't, either" said the police
man on duty. This beach is not to be
made founding hospital"
"But l don't want this baby" remon-
etrated Jim.
Cant helpit. Take it up" And Jim
was forced to obey you can take it back
to town and carry it to some charitable in
stitution," the official deigned to suggest.
''What could have become of the cursed
woman?" cried Jim in wild despair
Nobody knew; nobody had seen her walk
away. Everybody thought it fine joke
and everybody laughed-except the baby.
Jim had taken it up a little roughly and it
began cry.
The young man looked about him, full
of horror.
Ladies'" cried he approaching a group
Of women. For Gods sake, ladies, take
this thingl 1 can't do anything with itp'
But the ladies, with one consent, re-
fused. NO, indeed. they would not touch
ftp
Wildly the young man ran up and down
the beach. The strange woman was no.
where to be seen.
''Come, Jim," cried his companions.
time we were dressing to go back to
own"
Certainly, but what am Ito do with this
-this-thing--while dress?"
81 know" cried one kind friend; well
cave it at the dressing room after you have
ressed"
Jim eagerly agreed to this, but the man
b charge blocked that little game
"Say. sir" said Jim, I'm just leave this
title one out here while so in and dress"
mo you won't, either" said the man.
You take it in with you"
Jim set the screaming child down on the
DOR while he made his toilet "Confound
tr' He tore his wet hair with rage.
"Hush, you bratr' But it yelled the
puder. 'Oh, my goodness This is dread
nlr'
'Jim!'' cried his friend from the next
pom. Cant you make it hGshs Muffe
in a wet towel"
Il wish to goodness did know how they
stop them up! Deuce take that woman!
Fhere are my shoes? Get of my shoes"' to
be helpless baby. he pulled out the shoes
hd rolled it on its side. There nowl It's
Hen on nay coat!'
DE continued to hunt up the different
rticles OF attire On which the baby seemed
have special faculty of falling, while it
Freamed SO that it made his ears ring and
Is head ache.
81 declare this thing is enough to run
he madr'
AT last he was dressed and sauntered out.
GO back, sir, and get that child" said
he dressing room keeper.
81 won't" said Jim. I'm not going to
e it to town."
Yeen Baby was si,>S Ne rave her Casto-ta