Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-09-19

She reused up and ate SUPPER with
him, and was quite merry when bed
time Game. Bob hal Just uHdrsssed
her, his big, awkward fingers making
slow work OF it, and had tucked her
under the cover but when he was
shout to follow her example, she sud
denly struggled up.
Bob she cried imperiously
tome say your payersm
u don't know any prayers. baby"
said Bob, after moments astopished
silence.
Den tome here, and | teach you
one. she commanded.
Bob slowly, and with very red
face, came around on the other side.
She made him kueel and saw that his
hands We're properly clasped and his
eyes shut She had almost left off her
baby lisp, but this prayer had been
learned so long ago that she said it
now just as she learned to say it first
'Now I'm gay me downer seep "
dictated the little teacher perched up
on the side OF the bed.
'Now | lay me down to sleep"
murmured the brown and bearded
giant kneeling before her.
All, Engineer Bob, how many years
since you said that last? And where
is the little mother that bent over you
while you said it?
When the lesson was finished and
Bob had tucked the baby in again he
went back to his place with a curious
moisture in his eyes, and was half i'm
patient with himself about it,
And then began strange era In
Bob's lile--a time when this child was
always in his thoughts and seldom
away from his side She grew to be
the train baby. and every man was
her obedient slave Bob was still de-
batting with himself what he would do
with her, and in the meantime he did
nothing but keep her with him,
When an entire week had passed and
the prayer had still to be dictated.
Baby expressed her sentiments with
all the candor Of candid babyhood.
'Bob, you is awful dull, She said,
'you ought to be ASHAMED of your
sell.
Torn by conflicting feelings, knowing
that he was daily in danger of dis
charge, Bob was leading a miserable
life enough; and yet the light that
never was on sea or land was shining
upon his life and Transforming it.
When he walked about town could
he go into saloons or gambling dens
/ with that little figure beside him?
Like the angels Of the old stories she
lowered about him and kept him from
harm. Bob. the most profane OF rail-
road men, could utter no oaths now,
because the baby would hear. and the
one or two that made use of language
more forcible than elegant in the pres
ence OF the baby found themselves in
serious trouble The little white soul
had been given over to Bob's keeping.
and II made an atmosphere Of purity
around il. Engineer Bob began to
wish that he were different man.
A very few weeks had passed when
Bob, going to the mail car one night
after Baby, found her feverish and a
little inclined to wander in what she
said Like one distracted. he rushed
10 his room with her and sent for a
doctor Wild with anguish he sat be-
side her all night and gave medicines,
but the next morning she was 20 bet
ter.
Somebody else took out Bob's train;
he neither knew nor cared who.
Wholly forgetting all the rest ~
the world, wholly absorbed in
the child that was mora TO him than
lie itself. he sat there and watched
her own faint little life slowly ebb
away The railroad men came, one
after anoshe' and bent over Baby
and pressed bob's hand, telling him
70 cheer up, and went away wiping
their eyes. The superiui dent came
and sat down by the bed smoothing
the pretty, tangled hair and chatting
hey little hands as tenderly as q
womau These things were hard to
bear he said. and he was not good at
consolation.
But suddenly, at last Baby clasped
her tiny hands and began to murmur;
:" Now I'm gay me downer sleep
Tome say your Players, Bob.
ooh, yes Baby I'm here cried
Bob. falling on his knees beside the
bed.
u payer Ford my soul to teep;
If I s'ould die before waite
us you sayin' your prayer Bob2
II pay Ford my soul-t o-tate .
"Oh. take mine, too Lord take
mine too" was the helpless cry
wrung from the strong heart Of En-
gineer Bob
And then as night had come and
the evening prayer was said the baby
went to sleep
A little witherad old woman stepped
down from The cars a month later and
into the arms OF a strong grave man.
ooh, Bob, . she cried trembiinglS.
with her arms about his neck just
to see you once again, after eighteen
years. And you really sent for your
poor old mother after amp"
Mother. said Engineer Bob, with
quayering voice, I've got a home
ready for you an IF you can forgive
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