The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-27
JIM'S WAIF.

Down at Long Branch on a warm sum-
mer 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
remarkably 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"
mo, guess not" said the woman.
"You can't hurt it, and the surf bathing
would help the little dear"
jim hesltated, 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 squall, said the woman. Its
not afeard."
The young man took the child caut-
iously, as though it was made OF glass and
might 60 to pieces in his hands, but it did
not. Neither did it CRY. So he waded off
with it, grasping it tightly. Atlast he re-
solved 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 proffered 1t to its mother.
'The kid seemed pleased" he said. 1T
laughed"
"Poor dear" said the woman. 9She
has been very sick. Young gentleman,
your bath has been a 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 of with the baby. This time be
Joined his companions, and amused him.
self with now dipping, no floating the
child on his hand. After a time he wear
led of this sport, and returned to the
beach to give the child to its mother. But
she was nowhere TO be found
Horrifed, the young fellow ran up and
down the beach. unmndful of his scanty
bathing suit, anxiously inquiring:
Where's the mother of this child?"
Nobody knew. Then every one began
10 81 NJ l,fs
made you PRESENT. cried one.
"a handsome legacy" aid another.
"Hello, JIM" cried his companions.
who, seeing the cOmmotion, had come
ashore, whats up?"
'That wretched woman has vanished"
"You were green, indeed, to take the
brat" said they.
'Iil drop it very soon," cried Jim, set
ting it down on the sand.
NO, You don't either" said the police
man on duty. This beach is not to be
made foundling hospital
"But l don't want this baby" remon-
strated jim.
Cant help it. Take it up. And Jim
was forced to obey. "You can take it
back to town and carry it to some charita-
bic institution" 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 little rough
ly and it began to cry.
The young man looked about him, ful
of horror.
Ladies'" cried he, approaching a group
of women" For Gods sake, ladies,
take this thing. l can't do anything with
it,
But the ladies, with one consent. re-
fused. NO, indeed, they would not touch
itW
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
town."
Certainly, but what am L to do with
his-this-thing-w l dress?"
II know" cried one kind friend; "we'll
leave it at the dressing room after you
have dressed"
Jim eagerly agreed to do this, but the
man in charge blocked that little game.
SAY, sir, said jim, ''I'll just leave this
little one here while | go in and Dress"
NO you won I, either, SAID the man.
'You take it in with you"
jim set the screaming child down on
| the floor while he made his toilet. Con
found it," He tore his wet hair with
rage.
flush, you brat" But it yelled the
louder. "Oh, my goodness! This is dread
full"
Jim - cried his friend from the next
room. Cant you make it hush? Muffle
it in wet towel"
~ wish to goodness did know how
they do stop them up Duece take that
woman Where are my shoes? Get of
my shoes" to the helpless baby. He
pulled out the shoes and rolled it on its
side. There, now! It's fallen on my
coatw
He continued to hunt up the different
articles OF attire OIL which the baby
seemed TO have special faculty of falling
while it screamed so that it made his ears
ring and his head ache.
81 declare this thing is enough to run
| one mad !"
At last he was dressed and sauntered
out
$50 back, sir. and get that child" said
| the dressing room keeper.
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