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

peenp
She shook her fist at him. and Jim re-
treated.
No sooner was he on the boat than Jim
deposited his charge on sofa in the
cabin and hid himself in a remote part OF
the steamer But one of the boat officials
soon hunted him up.
"How dare you. you unnatural fellow,
desert your baby?"
ats not my baby" cried the badgered
Jim.
"How not yours, when yon brought it
on the boatr
Don't its me. Go this Instant and get
il, or I'll have you arrested when we
reach town" -
The wretched Jim was forced to obey,
and resume his hated load amid the jeers
and jokes OF the passengers who had been
his fellow bathers on the beach.
By this time the enraged baby had be-
come unmanagesble. II screamed with
rage, and, refusing to sit down, stifened
itself so that it slid off his knee. The
wretched young man was ready by this
time to throw it overheard.
Ladies" said he, turning to group of
feminines hear him, ''for Gods sake take
this child and make it hush, for 1 can't"
''Sir!" cried one haughtily; the others
answered with a stony snare.
Turning from this stiff upper crust, he
appealed to a motherly looking Irish
woman.
Faith an be jabbere, no, she answered
promptly. Don't play of your tricks on
me, young man."
Then the hapless Jim addressed stout
Dutch woman, but her husband replied
before she could.
"Donner an blitz," he growled "Be-
gone from mine vrow!" and he menaced
him with his stout fist
While Jim had been absent on his beg
ging tour some one had appropriated his
about, every one whom he approached
stunning or jeering him.
Suddenly some one touched his arm,
and turning he saw young lady in deep
mourning
Here. let me hold your baby for you, .
said she.
''Oh, thank you, madam, God bless you,
cried the wretched Jim.
She made room for him on the seat be.
side her.
Mind, Gertrude" said a lady on the
side OF her, che may run off and leave you
in the lurch."
mo, expect not, said the ladv, hal
smiling. She took the helpless baby. and
! as she set il on her lap, to Jim's astonish-
ment, it ceased CRYING. Poor little
creature said she, wiping its tear stained
face with her handkerchief Then she
tried to straghten out its clothes. "Whv
it's wringing wet"
Jim hurriedly explained the situation
"How shameful? l heard those men
laughing about it" motioning toward q
group watching them.
"Yes, the wretches 1 feel like fighting
the whole lot.
This child is hungry" and opening
her lunch basket the lady took out piece
of soft bread and fed it to the baby with
| the remainder of bottle of cold tea
Thus comforted the waif began to look
about, and its JOY was complete when it,
benefactress gave it a chicken bone to
suck, after getting Jim to scrape it clean
with his pocket knife. In its rapture il
began to COO, and its new friendireplied
TO its remarks in baby talk.
"You certainly know all about babies,
said the delighted Jim.
give lost mine, and the remembrance
of my darling makes my heart go out tC
all other babies" she said.
"Oh y cried Jim eagerly, '..then wouldn't
| you like TO take this one?"
No, indeed !" cried she pushing it Off
"No one can ever take my Armies
place."
mo, to be sure, madam" said the
young man hastily. "Of course not; il
was brutal of me to suggest it. But please
help me with this one till we get to
| town."
When the boatIlanded at the wharf the
baby was fast asleep. Wrapping it well
in the old shawl, she laid it in his arms
He held it gingerly, and then took his
way over the Rangway to the elevated
| road.
After some thought he determined to &c
home and let bis mother arrange with
some charitable institute for its reception
the next day.
The horror of his parents when the
young man came on them with his strange
burden language fails to depict.
"Why, JIM" exclaimed his mother.
you young dog" muttered his father
"Poor boy" cried his mother as he
hurriedly told his tale.
"Well, who would have thought YOU
such fool?" said his father.
Don't speak of il" said jim. "Bui
this is lesson to me. I'll never touch
another baby as long as l live"
Come, come" cried his mother, "make
no rash promises"
She now took the waif in hand and fixed
it off comfortably for the night. The
next day a rich and child!ess friend call
ing and hearing the story determined t.
adopt the baby. She has done good
part by it. .--r
This was years ago. This waif is now 9
tall girl in her teens and very pretty
Jim is still unmarried, is still called q
young man. And he now takes livel.
| interest in the waif