Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-06-12
JIM'S WAIF,
BY PAUL GRANT.

Bl PAUL GRANT.
Down at Long Branch on warm
summer day, young man was enjoy
ing himself in the surf, together with
two or three companions. They had
all come down from New York on Il
little clark Jim swan remarkably
well and delighted his friends and the
company at large by some of his per
formanccs.
lie was good-"aturcd, too. lie
took out several girls lie knew and
helped them to float, and SO made
himself very popular.
Among others who watched him
from the beach was a poor woman
with a baby. AT last, as he brought
one girl back whom he had been teach
ing to swim, she beckoned to him.
"Young man." said she, could you
not kindly take my little baby OUT and
give her dip in the surf? She j,
puny and il would help her"
But Jim shook his head as lie looked
at the child.
"1'm afraid of Labics," 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, aud the surf-bath-
ing would help the little dear"
Jim hesita ed, then he looked at the
small, peaked face "Give me the
llltle DEAR" said he. "But don't you
bulge, for if the young one should
squalI, ! am going TO bring it back to
you"
at won't squall," said the woman.
"Its net afeared."
The young man took the child cau-
tiously, as though it was made of
glass and might 90 to pieces in his
hands; but 1t did not. Neither did il
cry. So lie waded off with it, grasp
ing it tightly. At last he resolved to
give it gentle immersion. Far from
being frightened, the baby seemed
pleased, and even ventured on mild
laugh. Jim now returned TO the beach
and proffcred it to its mother.
"The kid seemed pleased" !" he said.
at laughed
"PoOr DEAR said the woman. "She
has been very sick. Young gentleman,
your bath has been God-send 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 wcaried of this sport.
and returned to the beach to give the
child to its mother But she was no.
where to be found
Horrified, the young fellow ran up
and down the beach, unmin1ful of
his scanty bathing suit, amxiously in
quiring:
where's the mother of this child?"
Nobody knew. Then everyone be-
gan to make merry at his expense.
"Nfade you PRESENT." cried one.
"a handsome legacy" sa d another.
"llcllo, Jim," cried his companions,
who, seeing the commotion, had come
ashore, "what's up?"
''-.'"~''ffhe wretcIied woman has van
ished."
"You were green, indeed, to take
the brat" said they.
"Pil drop it very soon," said jim,
setting it down on the sand.
"No, you don't. either" said the
policeman on duty. 'This beach is
not 10 oe made founding hospital"
"But I don't want this baby" re-
monstrated Jim.
"Can't help it. Take it up" And
Jim WAS forced TO obey. e.Yo ou c@n
take it back to town and carry it to
some charitable institution" the official
deigned to suggest
"What could have become of the
woman?' cried Jim, in wild despair.
Nobody knew; no one had seen her
walk away. Everybody thought it a
fine joke, and everybody laughed
except the baby. Jim had taken it up
a little roughly, and it began to cry.
The young man looked about him,
full of horror.
"Ladies," cried he, approaching n
group of women. "For Gods sake,
ladies, take this thing! l can't do
anything with it!''
But the ladies, with one consent,
refused. "No, indeed, they would
not touch i'll"
Wildly the young man ran up and