Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-07-14
A LITTLE BLUE CAP.I


A LITTLE BLUE CAPlI
Twas paying a visit to my friends, the
Durands. They were a simple, honest
couple, who lived near the banks of the
river, in a tiny house, a mere birds nest,
almost hidden by wistaria and Virginia
creeper. Durand's hands bore the marks
of honest toll, for he had been lock-
smith in-his youth, and had by industry
and economy raised himself steadily un-
I'll he became the proprietor of a large
business and secured competency for
his old age. His wife, quiet, gentle
creature, worshiped her husband and
both of them wore on their faces an ex-
preston of serenity which betokened
ease of conscience and life of peace.
Durand was past sixty years of age and
his wife must have been fifty, yet in
spite of their wrinkles and gray hairs
these two treated each other with an
affectionate Difference which was pleas
ure to behold. They were Philemon and
Baucis resuscitated.
While we were engaged in converse
ton Just before dinner Durand rose and
opened drawer to take out some trife
which he wished to show me. While
he was turning over the contents of the
drawer it CHANGED that little cap, such
as might have been worn by a doll or an
infant, fell to the floor. picked it up
and noticed that it was made of coarse
blue linen, with two bits of twine in
stead of ribbons. AS l handed it to him
/ said gayly:
care you preparing baby basket,
Papa Durand"
| had no sooner spoken than regret
ted it, for | recollected at that moment
having heard that the only shadow on
my friends lives was the fact of their
union beinga childless, one. For mo-
ment Durand made no reply, but looked
at the little cap affectionately; then, as
he laid it carefully away again, he said
in tone of seriousness:
"That is a souvenir"
Then we all three sat down to dinner
and talked of other matters, but as soon
as the repast was finished and the little
maid of all work had put cigars and
liquors upon the table my friend said
suddenly:
"How much that baby cap reminds
me Off 1t was evident that he wanted
to explain his remark, and begged him
to do so.
1t was great many years ago, he
said after slight panse, for l was
about twelve years old. l was working
in large factory, and i had compan
ion of the same age as myself whom OF
account of his ugly features we nick
named Zizi Monkeyface.
He was sly, thieving, mischievouI
urchin, very much given to filchine
tarts from the pastry cooks counter, bu
jolly little chap and full Of pluck. HI
, was so lazy that he would have beel
turned out of the factory had it no
been for the indulgence of the oversee1
who had, been friend of his father, an
who teok an interest in,the boy for tn
sake of his dead comrade. Monkeyfac
was aRforphan, and the only relative h
. had ever known was the woman VIII
brought him up, cousin of his moth
:. er. This woman was a fish peddler,'
brawling, brutal creature, whose affee
! ton fer her young charge was mani
= tested only by blows. Perhaps if h
had known a parents dove he woul
have been less perverse.
One afternoon the lad.took it into hi
= head to run away from the factory an
. go wagabonding about with gang c
y young ruffians like himself. AS the
; We're >oaming slowly home after nigh
fall they heard, to their 4astonishmen
the -cryof an infant The sound SCENE
!, to issuesfrom long, narrew, dirty ale
!, which opened ON the street, and at til
}, other END of which hunga dimly f1icl
ering lamp. After short consultatio
the street boys ventured softly into til
passage sand one of hemlespied benin
E: the door "a little bundle Of rags whic
u struggled lard walled. He seized hol
" of it, and the whole partyra into I'll
e street triumphant, stopping under
o lamp to examine their capture.
Z. proved to be baby girl ,afew weel
II old wrapped up in series of dirt
a. cloths-a poor little innocent whom
ID wretched, perhaps desperate motht
ID had abandoned to the charity of stral
gers.
A council was held to decide VIII;
should be- done with the booty, and tt
W young captors gave free play to the
q mischieHous, imaginations. One said
II put the baby back where they found
n. another, to hide it in half empty pru1
" box which stood at a groear's door;
lie third proposed to climb up to,a secor
II story balcony and leave the yonngst'
e. there, and .haw astonished the .peop
s. would be next day! But Zizi Monke
u. =. face secuted all these ideas and declare
~ that the baby must be given to Il
n gypsies. Thereywas band of these tpe
Ig Pile near by, who practiced jugglery al
% fortune telling, and instances OF kidna
i'd ing were by no means rare.
ii Monkeyfaee's, decision was hailedwit
OF enthusiasm, and he claimed the right
X carry the t-easure-trove in considerable
= Of his having made the plan.
T. r. "Giye us the kid" he said. The Bat
had all this time been screaming pit
ously, but it stopped suddenly whe
Monkeyface took hold of it, and wh1
ty he walked along with an air of triuml
W it fixed its great blue eyes upon his ug
IN face and smiled, at the same tin
IN stretching its tiny hands out as if to c
le rass him.
le ~She is laughing!" cried the boy
by delight; ''see how she looks at me-.
ly Then new impulse seized him.
es II will not give her away" he sal