Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-06-18

| WHO nau DeeH ollS ildilY engaged arrived
Just as Sarah was well on her way + the
studio. so that Aunt Patty gave Up the
idea of employing another.
Late in the afternoon young married
couple, Of the name OF Raymond, came
to look over the house with a view tc
renting it. After exploring the greater
part of the cottage they took look into
the bathroom; the womanly curiosity of
the lady was moved to take closer view
of some mats and pieces of carp'ting that
were in one corner. when suddenly she
startled her husband by succession of
shrill screams which soon changed into
peals of nervous laughter.
my dear, what is it?" inquired her
husband.
"What is it?" Why, baby, and its
ali-i-i-ve!"
1t was Uncle Jacks baby, of course.
When Aunt Patty decided to go before
Sarah returned, the child was quietly
sleeping; so she deposited it, all ready
for the journey, on a soft rug on the
floor in the sitting room. Then she went
softly out and carefully locked the door,
thinking that when Sarah returned she
would. of co lrSe, take the baby to Joe
| North's.
Unfortunately, the baby woke mp al
most AS soon as her back was turned,
and. although considerably imprslrd by
his clothing, began its continual creeping.
| by the time Sarah returned he WAS
out of sight and hearing and when, af-
ter hasty glance about, she left for
Joe N"rth's. the baby kept on until he
had explored every room on that fiat,
and as Sarah had left the sitting room
door open, crept into the hall, m"rci-
fully escaped the stairs, and entering
the bathroom, wearicd with locomotion
Mt such a disadvantage, cllrled down to
sleep in the corner where Mrs. Raymond
a!trrward found him.
Mr.. Raymond, though somewhat
shaken by the screams of his wife, was
ono of those men who rarely lose the
opportunity for Il joke, and now he only
mutt r'l that if it was SO affecting to
find Il child, i! was no wonder that when
the loss of one occurred
"O;,, you horri,I man." interrupted
| his wife LET us look after this poor
baby. Well take it home NTH us, and
| then we can consider what is best to be
| done"
Home, for the RaymonIs. l:,l been.
| fer Il few weeks past, a modest tlrt in an
| alHrrtinent hotel near by. Thit!i"r the
| i!ii,nt was at once takcn. What they
had seen of the cottage pleased them SC
we'll that, after a short consultation,
tl,.,,- ,,,,,l,IInl 70 .,p
about the house before placing any infor-
nation conc 'rning the baby either with
the police or the newspapers. Mr.. Ray
mond slylv suggested to his wife that it
would be prudent idea to take a nerve
| tonic before starting, for fear a chill
should be discovered in the pantry, OF
unearthed in the cellar.
a long delay occurred at the packet in
| getting everything arranged, as the cap
tain had gone on shore; it was nearly
dark before Aunt Patty and Uncle Jack
arrived at Joe North's.
rs the baby asleep, Sairy?" were tho
first words Aunt Patty uttered
1.-The baby!" gasped Sarah. "Why.
Aunt Patty, thought-what did you do
with him?"
what did do with him? / locked
him up in the sitting room. and s'posed
YOU would have sense enough to take
him with you when you got back.
But the baby wasn't anywhere to be
seen, and Mrs. Wyman, across the street,
said you had him in your arms when you
drove off, sobbed the now thoroughly
frightened Sarah.
Aunt Patty was startled too, but she
paused long enough to give vent to her
temper by denouncing the neighbor, Mrs
Wyman, as stupid old nearsghted jill" F."
that couldn't tell the difference between
n baby and big parcel wrapped" up i'll
brown paper. Sarah at once owned to
leaving the sitting room door open, so
Aunt Patty felt sure as could be that the
baby had fallen downstairs, and as the
house was only few blocks away not
many minutes were spent in getting back
t. it and admitting themselves with the
latchkey. But here, of course, they
found no baby from cellar to
attic, and from hall to bedroom
All sorts of despairing theories were
advanced as to his whereabouts.
and also as to the best means of finding
him, when, as they were all in the hall,
the front door opened, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Raymond entered to complete their in
spection of the cottage.
OF course mutual introductions and
explanations and the recovery of the
child soon followed. Aunt Patty, how.
ever, never forgave Mr.. and Mrs. Ray
mond for contemplating even a look
through the house before taking steps to
advertise the baby, totally unmindful OF
the fact that their course had resulted in
the speediest possible righting of mat,
tcrs Probably her quick ears caught a
few worls of Mr.. Raymond's remarks
to his wife, concerning the propriety OF
providing poodle collar and chain fo,
infants with propensity to wander.
Certain it is that Aunt Patty Jack ever
aftcrward spoke of "tlnt iurrible Ray,
mond" with as much severity as if ho
had, with malicious intent. abducted ili
baby.-Aicl Clarke, in Waverly.