The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-12-15
M. QUAD TENDS THE BABY,
An Experience with a Lively Youngster
in a Station--What the Pas
sengers Thought of the
Spectacle.

in a Station--What the Pas
sengers Thought of the
Spectacle.
1t was in one Of the waiting-rooms at
the Grand Central depot. 1 was sit
ting beside an honest-faced, motherly
woman of thirty five who had a baby
about eight month old asleep in her
lap. She had asked about the train up
the river, when she suddenly cried out
that she had los5 her porte monaie.
She felt in the pocket Of her dress, and
IN the pockets of her cloak, and she
shook out the baby's clothes, and by
and by she said:
Il remember nov. I left it at my
sisters in East Thirty sixth street. My
ticket and all my money is in it,"
MADAM" said I, you have fifty
minutes before train time. You a
easily go back and get you purse"
But the baby"
He's asleep, and if you dare trust
him with me I'll take care of him"
IL don't know. They wouldn't
give you the purse, and I'm not rich
enough to take q carriage. Have you
-yOu-T
"Have I had any experience? Ger
tainly, ma'am. I've got half a dozen
kicking around the house at this very
moment. Just drop him into my lap,
and I'll warrant you he'll open
an eye while you're gone"
i've most a mind to do So"
Come on with him, and you needn't
hurry a bit on my account. Well
both be all right here when you get
back. Is it a boy or girl9"
boy, sir"
"AH right-T've got him. Boy babies
always chum with me He's sleeping
like a top"
She gave me a long, lingering look,
so as to be able to swear to me in
court, and hurried out, and she was
scarcely out of sight when a
"ROCK-A-BY, BABY"
woman about four seats away, who
had heard and seen all and was no
doubt jealous, got up and walked
around and said:
THAT shows how much mothers
think of their offspring3 Do you sup
pose Id ever left one of my children
that way! Not much!"
She was still walking around with
her nose still in the air when an old
man with a cane and satchel came
along and stopped to yell at me:
do you know if this is the New
Haven depot or note
mo, sir, it isn't" I replied as l held
up my hand warningly.
"Young'en asleep, chr he shouted
in still louder tones.
I nodded and cautioned him again.
oh! amt goin' to wake him up?'
he yelled. I'm the father of ten of
EN-, and I guess 1 know all about
young'uns. Whar' is the New Haven
depotG"
At that moment the baby's eyes
opened. I rocked him to and fro and
crooned to him, and he'd have slept
again but for a woman who came up
and loudly inquired:
Did you notice a handbag on that
seat when you sat downi"
The child's eyes opened very wide
and were at first fixed on my hat. I
don't know what sort of a hat his
father wears, but in about a minute
the youngster made out that it was a
strange tile.
mol I didn't see no handbag, and
you woke this baby up!' I shouted at
the "OhI Ihave! State prison
offense, I supposep she sneered as she
made off.
But this time the baby's eyes had
got below my hat, and they began
to betray a great deal Of anxiety. l
had sung about a rod Of 1.-The Old
Oaken Bucket" which l have always
found to havea soothing effect, and
he was looking at me with great
curiosity, when g fat woman came
sailing along and stopped to exclaim:
"Cichee! What a sweet little baby!
Is it boy Oc girl?'
Go away. woman! Don't you see
that you scare him!'
Scare him-humph! I never heard
of such a thing!'
go away"
"Well I declare, if he isn't crazyT
she muttered as she SHE'D off.
That youngster was now not only
very wide-awake, but bound to investi-
gate and solve the problem. Was l