Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-11-06


One of the men put his hand out
toward the handle of the hamper as she
spoke, touched it, then paused.
SIS there cat in there, maam9" he
asked.
"What?" said Aunt Jobson.
az say, got cat in rhere7" answered
the man in a stentorian below.
ga cat2" cried Aunt Jobson, ono,
of course not"
"Then what have you got in there7"
shrieked the man.
"None of your business" said Aunt
Jobson.
"But say it it," said the man. "Just
listen, Sam. There's young IN in
there, as I'm a living man. Just listen"
$50 there is" said Sam
"Why don't you take that hamper on
board?" said Aunt Jobson.
''Cause 1 won't, that's ALL" said the
man. "Cappen, say, Cappen!"
The captain, who was nearly by, turned
and advanced.
"What's the matter?"
"This old lady has got baby in that
basket thing" said the man, land Pm
not going to be hauled into thing like
that"
"There is baby in the hamper, by
Jove" said the captain.
Meanwhile everybody but Aunt Jobson
heard piteous walls proceeding from the
until, with voice he might have used
in a gale at sea, the captain demanded
| her keys.
my keys?" cried the irate old lady.
'No, indeed! I am from the country,
but you can't play such a trick as that On
me. know what city thieves are very
we'll. My keys, indeed"
s'Iy time is Short" said the captain.
81 must be off in ten minutes. I'll give
you over to policeman unless the trunk
is opened"
''Me to a policeman" cried Aunt
Jobson.
mo, I'll give you to one! Here!
Police! Policep
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
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
pile of linen was lifted a red, very tear
full, furiously indignant infant in white
dress and embroidered shawl.
Mrs. Jobsor'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 a 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 uu-
derground cell, chains and a 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, and, 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 Johson into the in
terror of the premises, and things were
looking badly for that lady, when the
door opened and a mans face, pale With
suspense and suffering, was thrust in.
"I'm here again, you see," said voice
thing been heard of the baby? 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 end.
A cry of joy completed it, and the man
rushed forward aud snatched the baby
from the policeman's arms, and stood
shaking from head to foot with his eff
forts to keep the tears back-a useless
one, for in 3 moment they battered down
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