Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-07-24

"Run home quick and tell your
+ mother about it,"
Meg took Katic's advice. She ran
fast, for she was frightened. Mrs.
Saekett heard her story, and gave her
a severe scolding for carclessness.
"Some boy took it to scare you. 1t
must be about the neighLorhood. Go
and look!" she ordered. She was
hard-wofking woman, and treated
things in a matter f-fuct way.
But when Meg came back to report
that no ono had seen baby or carriage
anywhere, Mrs. Sackett became
alarmed She forgot to scold this
time. She put on her bonnet and
searched the street thoroughly. She
inquired at all the stores, and even
went TO The police station.
Coming back from her fruilless ex-
petition she dropped weariIy into a
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 a lively
tune and Lou French's little sisters
were dancing 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 breathless
state for several blocks, and happened
10 pause for breath just where there
sat, on a doorstep, a boy about twelve
years old, with a woebegone and tear
stained face.
Meg looked at him and asked alb
ruptly, "Whats the matter? Have
you lost baby?"
"Lost a baby!" shouted the boy, in
ignantly. "You clear out of thisl"
lie seemed to look as if 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, sur
veying abscntly the windows she
passed. She wondered if all the
babies who lived in those houses were
safe, or # 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, a small
women:
81 told her, says ], Mrs. Smith,
you'd better report it at the station
house. 1t belongs 10 somebody that's
looking for it, of coursep says l."
"She wouldn't take the trouble.
She's too elcgant.' remarked a stout
woman, sarcaslically.
"That's So" replied the first speak
er. She said: "Let them that lost it
look for it, Jimmie brought it home,
and he'll have to amuse it till the
mother comes" at serves Jimmie
right, though" the ste ut woman added,
decidedly. GA pretty trick to wheel
home the wrong baby!"
Meg felt faint. She leaned against
the railing. Whose baby were they
talking about?
"'Where was his own?" asked the
third woman, who didn't seem to
understand the circumstances.
'Why, you know he left it beside
store while lie played marbles, and his
mother came along and took it home
to frighten him!"
"Ha! ha! ha!"
"YOu may depend she was mad,
though, when he brought home a
strange baby"
"1faI La! Ed'y E
Could two babies be lost in one day?
Meg stood in doubt few minutes,
while the two women discussed the
story. She remembered the little boy
whom she had seen up the street and
stepped boldly up to the takers.
'Will you please tell me who's found
a baby?" she asked
The eyes and tongues of all three
were directed at her at once.
"Why" "Well-havc you lost
onc?' ''Mescy on Us! do you know
whose it is?"
Meg colored, but stood her ground.
"Somebody wheeled our baby away
while went into a store on an crrand."
she explained. "We've been looking
for her all the morning"
The three women were delighted.
They all insisted Oh escorting Meg
down the street and into the right
house. The mOurnful little boy sat on
the front steps, his attitude showing
bis thorough disgust with life...
"You'd better get up and take care
of your twins, Jimmic!" (" laughed the
sarcastic woman.
Jimmie looked at her, his counten-
ance expressing unutterable things.
"Come, Jimmie, come" cried the
sharp little woman; ''take us upstairs,
we want 10 see your mother"
"This young lady has lost her baby,
Jimmie" said the tall woman kindly.
"Perhaps it's the one you've found"
Jimmic's face frightened. lie stole
a glance at Meg, remembering she had
spoken to him. He turned into the
house and led the way upstairs.
"Here's somebody come for that