The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-05-20

aiouu, III no IL! TIL give one of those
poor things a hom' ,, and guess l can be
akind of a mothe to it, if am an old
maidp
ITS surpris' ng how much company
just the thouP ,bt Of having little girl
around has / cen. for made up nv mind.
OF course, ~ should be a girl. Since
then I've oeen kind of getting ready
and-we 4, here | ami"
by IT, is time little Miss Dilloway was
wipln' the perspiration from her face.
she had talked an unusually long time
for her.
"My friend" said the matron, who
} Iad been listening with interest to her
STORY, al am sure you will be blessed in
sharing your home with one of Gods I'm,
fortunate ones. Come with me and let
me show you my family"
She led the way up broad fight OF
stairs. Miss Dilloway soon found herself
in a large room, which contained So
many children that the first sight OF
them almost took her breath away. She
had expected to see dozen or twenty,
perhaps, but here were surely hun
dred. How could she choose from
amongso many.
Over in the corner one of the older
girls was trotting baby. Miss Dillo-
way was very fond of babies, and she
stopped instinctively to speak to this
| one,
It looked up into her sweet face con-
fYdingly, and then held out her small
+ arm toward her. She took it eagerly,
and pressed the little form close.
''I do love babies sop she said half
IRpologetically, to the matron, who was
! looking on with smile. 81 often say to
the folks at home that don't envy them
their husbands, their big houses, or their
rick-rack, as they call their ornaments
nowadays; but l do envyv them their
babies. They seem TO think ,ueer,
1 don't see why old maids '1n't
love babies as wells married folks"
"Why not adopt baby"
Miss Dilloway had intended to adopt
an older child, and the suggestion that
| the should take an infant took her so
much by surprise that she hastily re-
turned the baby to its young nurse, and
sat down in a chair. Then a strange
thing happened; the baby's lip began to
quiver; tears gathered in its eyes, and
its arms were held out again appealingly
to Miss Dilloway.
She took it instantly, and asked the
matron:
"She amt more'n six months old, is
she2"
"He was just seven months old yester-
day."
"He! Is it a boy9" she almost
screamed, looking at the child as if he
were to blame for not being a girl.
The baby seemed to realize that an
important moment in his young life had
arrived. He patted Miss Dilloway's
cheek with his fat palm and then snuggled
close to her side.
Miss Dilloway cleared her throat.
"Wcll, never liked boys very much
after they're grown up, but if should
take this one, guess should get used
to his ways before that time. Do you
anything about his parents2"
'Yes. They were very nice people.
The father died only eight months ago,
and the mother was so affected by his
death that she never rallied after the baby
came. The little fellow seems to be
wholly alone in the world"
Miss Dilloway's mind was made up
from that moment, and early in the al
noon Mr.. McQnestion, for the first time
in his life, lost his voice as little Miss
Dilloway got off the train with baby in
her arms.
OF course the people of Rentham were
surprised. 1t seems very amusing thing
to some of them that Miss Dilloway
should adopt a baby, but those who
knew her we'll and loved her, commend
ed her worthy act and rejoiced in her
new happlness-for happy she certainly
I'was.
1t was certainly beautiful sight to
see Miss Dilloway with the baby in her
arms. The child crowed, cooed and
was unmistakably very fond of his foster
parent.
Donations of slips, stockings and
sacks for baby's wear came in almost
daily. One thoughtful neighbor sent
cradle. Children came in with toys iu-
Vulnerable.
Miss Dilloway held council with the
mothers in the neighborhooa as TO the
merits of anise and the demerits of
soothing syrup. Advice was freely
given, but often of such contradictory
nature that poor Miss Dilloway was
puzzled. Nevertheless, baby grew and
! prospered, aud made sunshine in the lit
tie old lady's heart.
One day, about three months after
baby's advent in Rentham, very un.
usual sound rang through Miss Dillo-
ways dwelling. There were one, two,
three clangs of the brass lSuooker on the
seldom used front door,
When, with baby in her arms, she
opened the door, she faced a tall, wcn
built man OF substantial appearance in
more senses than one, with streaks of
gray in his hair.
The man glanced at the baby and
\ said, without ceremony:
81 guess I've struck the light place.
This is Miss Dilloway, amt itl"
Tremulously, holding the baby very
tight, and with an awful foreboding at
her heart, she answered. "Ye-es. Will
you walk in2n
"Well, yes, l reckon l will, seeing
I've come all this distance to see the lit
tie fellow. There, now, don't get
scared I've no notion of taking him
from you. / shouldn't know what to do
with him if l had bim.'
Miss Dilloway's face continued to ex-
nrpss astonishmpnt