Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-03-09
A LITTLE BLUE CAP.

OF honest tOll, lOT uc ndu DtSi ~ LUCK
smith in his youth, and had by industry
and economy raised himself steadily un-
til he became the proprietor Of large
business and secured a competency for
his old age. His wife,.a 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
urc 10 behold. They were Philemon and
Baucis resuscitated.
While we were engaged IN converse
tion Just before dinner Durand rose and
opened drawer to take ont somo trifie
which he wished to show me. While
no was turning over the contents Of the
drawer it Glanced that little cap. such
as might have been worn by 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 handed 1t TO him
said gayly:
"Are you preparing baby basket,
Papa Durand?
had no sooner spoken than regret
ted IL, for | recollected at that moment
having heard that the only shadow on
my friends lives was the fact of their
union being 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 rs 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:
GLOW much that baby cap reminds
mo off, II was evident that he wanted
to explain his remark, and begged him
TO do 80.
II was great many years ago. he
said after q slight pause. for ! was
about twelve years old. was working
in largo factory. and had a compan-
ion of the same age as myself whom on
account of his ugly features we nick
named Zizi Monkeyface.
He was q sly, thieving. mischievous
urchin, very much given to flching
tarts from the pastry cooks csanter, but
o jolly little chap and full Of pluck. He
was SO lazy that he would have been
turned out Of the factory had it not
been for tho indulgence of the overseer.
who had been friend of his father. and
who took an interest in the boy for the
sake of his dead comrade. Monkeyface
was M orphan, and the only relative he
had ever known was the woman who
brought him up. a cousin of his moth
CT. This woman was fish peddler, q
brawling, brutal creature, whose affec-
tion for her young charge was mani
tested only by blows. Perhaps if he
had known parents love he would
have been less perverse.
Ono afternoon the lad took it into his
head TO run away from the factory and
go vagabonding about with gang of
young ruffians like himself. AS they
were coming slowly home after night
the cry of an infant. The sound seemed
TO issue from long, narrow, dirty alley
which opened on the street, and at the
other end of which hung dimly flick
ering lamp. After short consultation
the street boys venturcd softly into the
passage and one Of them espied behind
the door little bundle Of rags which
struggled and walled. Ho seized hold
Of it, and the whole party ran into tho
street triumphant, stopping under n
lamp 10 examine their capture. 1t
proved to bo n baby girl few weeks
old wrapped up in series Of dirty
cloths-a poor little innocent whom a
wretched, perhaps desperate mother
had abandoned to the charity of stran-
gers.
A council was held to decide what
should be done with tho booty, and o
young captors gave free play to their
mischievous imaginations. One said to
| put the baby back where they found IL;
another, to hide it in q half empty prune
| box which stood at a grocers door; q
| third proposed to climb up to second
story balcony and leave the youngster
there, and how astonished the people
would be next day! But Zizi Monkey
face secuted all these ideas and declared
that tho baby must bo given TO tho
gypsies. There was band OF these peo.
pie near by, who practiced jugglery and
fortune telling, and instances OF kidnap
ing were by no means rare.
Monkeyface's decision was hailed with
enthusiasm, and he claimed the right to
carry the treasure-trove in consideration
| Of lis having made the plan.
| Give us the kid" he said. The baby
bad all this time been screaming pite-
Cusly, but il stopped suddenly when
Moukeyfacc took hold of it, and while
he walked along with an air of triumph
II fixed its great blue eyes upon his ugly
face and smiled, ut the same time
stretching its tiny hands ont as If to ca
ross him.
"She is laughingr cried the boy in
delight; "seo bow sho looks at me-
Then new impulse seized him.
II will not give her away" he said;
IL will keep her myself"
His companions protested Indignantly,
out In vain, for 10 they well knew Zizi
Monkeyface had at tho end Of each arm
IN argument so strong that II would be
useless as we'll as ur-af' 70 oppose his
wishes.
a l.