San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-04
JIMS WAIF.

| DOWN at Long Branch on 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 a clark" Jim swan re-
| markedly 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 ard 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 a baby.
At last as he brought one girl back whom
he had been teaching to swim, she beck
oned to him.
Young man." sail she, "corld you not
kindly take my little baby out and give
her a 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"
"No, | guess not said the woman.
You can't hurt it, and the surf bathing
would help the little dear"
Jim hesitated, 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 sGuall," said the woman. Its
not afeard."
The young man took the child cautiously,
as though it was made of glass and might
go to pieces in his hands, but it did not.
Neither did it cry. So he waded off with
it, grasping it tightly. At last he resolved
to give it gentle immersion. Far from
being frightened, the baby seemed pleased,
and even veutured on a mild laugh. Jim
now returned to the beach and proffered it
to its mother
The kid seemed pleased" he said. 1T
laughed"
Poor DEAR" said the woman. "She 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 off with the baby. This time he
joined his companions, and amused himself
with now dipping, now floating the child
on his hand. After time he weared of
this sport, and returned to the beach to
give the child to its mother. But she was
nowhere TO be found!
Horried, the young fellow ran up and
down the beach, unmindful of his scanty
bathing suit, anxiOusly inquiring:
where's the mother of this child?"
Nobody knew. Then every one began to
make merry at his expense.
Made you PRESENT." cried one.
"A handsome legacy" said another.
Hello, Jim," cried his companions,
who, seeing the commotion, had come
ashore, what's up?"
THAT wretched woman has vanished"
you were green, indeed, to take the
brat" said they.
'Ill drop it very soon," cried Jim, set,
ting it down on the sand.
mo, you don't, either" said the police
man OH duty. This beach is not to be
made a founding hospital"
out | 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 charitable in.
stitution," 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 roughly and it
began to cry.
The young man looked about him, full
of horror
Ladies" cried he, approaching group
of women. For Gods sake. ladies, take
this thing! can't do anything with itp
But the ladies, with one consent, re-
fused. mo, indeed, they would not touch
itr'
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 60 back to
town"
Certainly, but what am to do with this
-this-thing-wh dress?"
Il know" cried one kind FRIEND well
leave it at the dressing room after you have
dressed"
Jim eagerly agreed 10 this, but the man
in charge blocked that little game.
Say. SIR" said Jim, "Ill Just leave this
little one out here while go in and dress"
mo You won't, either" said the man.
You take it in with you"
Jim set the screaming child down on the
floor while he made his toilet "Confound
itr' He tore his wet hair with rage.
Hush, you bratr' But it yelled the
louder "Oh, my goodnessl This is dread.
fulr
Jim cried his friend from the next
room. Can't you make it hush? MUffle
it in a wet towel"
IL wish to gOodnes did know how they
do stop them up! Deuce take that woman!
Where are my shoes? Get off my shoes!" to
the helpless baby. He pulled out the shoes
and rolled it On it's side. There now! It's
fallen on my coat"
He continued TO hunt up the different