Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-08-19
JIMMIE'S PAIR OF TWINS.

her up with rugs, RlSnans anu sna"ls'
Meg often wondered how the baby
could breathe; but Julia was fat and
hearty, and Meg knew that she grew
heavier. So it must have agreed with
her.
Keep where it's pleasant and sunny.
and take good care of her," said Mrs,
Sackett.
She said this every day. Me, took
as much care of Julia as any we'll
meaning but careless girl of fourteen
does of baby. At the crossing she
thumped the carriage down into one
gutter and banged it up out of the
other. The baby was used to this, and
only opened her eyes wide and gasped
on arriving at the opposite side
Meg was just turning the corner
when she heard her mothers voice
"Megl''
"Yes'ml'
Stop at Hurd's and send home three
pounds of brown sugar and half
pound of teal ssSsH ssasss@
"Yes'm." ~ S's'|'S
Meg thrust her elbows through the
handle of the baby carriage and GRO
cheted as she walked. Crocheting
tides was Meg's favorite pastime. She
always had tidy under way.
Hurd's was corner grocery store with
door opening on each end of the two
streets. Meg wheeled the carriage close
to the show window and fastened the
wheel with stone SO that it couldn't
roll off.
Julia sat still. gazed with attention at
the resplendent advertisements of Jenk's
soap and Tompkin's ginger, although
she must have known these placards
by heart. Babies have to endure so
much which they do not understand that
it is not surprising that they become
philosophers.
Hurd's was crowded, as it always was
in the morning, but Meg did not OBJ
ject to waiting. She chatted with Katie
Allen and Lou French. and even drew
out her tidy and did two rows before
the salesman had time to attend to her.
Then she ordered sugar and tea
with as grand an air as that worn by
Mrs. Ponsonby. who resided in q
four story brown stone house on q stv-
lish avenue, while Meg lived in third
fiat
wait for me" said Katie Allen. I've
got to 60 to the butchers"
"All right" answered Meg
She waited, and when Katie started
she walked with her, talking briskly,
down the street almost block before
she suddenly cried, "Oh! I forgot the
baby!"
"What baby?" asked Katie.
why, I had our baby with me, and
I've gone and left the carriage outside
the 'store!
There wasn't any baby at the door
when we came out, replied Katie.
Sure enough" said Meg. there
wasn't"
She gazed in bewilderment at Kate's
round eyes, and then cried:
"Oh, know, I came in at the other
door-that's it. She's round on Har-
rison street."
The girls ran laughing1y back, and
turned the corner. There was no baby
or carriage there.
They stared at each other, and Katie
would have laughed, but that Meg
looked so solemn.
Perhaps you didn't bring her9"
"Yes, I didl left her Just here. I
know didl"
Gould the carriage have rolled down
the street?"
Meg looked up and down the street
in vain. No carriage was in sight.
Perhaps policeman thought she
was lost and took her to the station
house." suggested Kate.
Meg began to cry. Kate's words
seemed cruel.
Run home quick and tell your mother
about it!'
Meg took Kate's advice. She ran
fast. for she was frightened. Mrs.
Sackett heard her story, and gave her
severe scolding for her carelessness.
Some boy took it to scare you. It
must be about the neighborhood. Go
and look!" she ordered. She was q
hard-working woman, and treated
things in matter. of fact way.
But when Meg came back to report
that no one had seen baby or carriage
anywhere. Mrs. Sackett became alarmed.
She forgot to scold this time. She put
on her bonnet and searched the streets
thoroughly. She inquired at all the
stores and even went to the police sta
tion. Coming back from her fruitless
expedition, she dropped wearily into a
chair by the door. Meg could not bear
to see her mothers white face. She
picked up her hat and crept down
stairs.
An organ was playing lively tune,
and Lou French's little sisters were
dancing to the music. They came up
to ask Meg IF the baby was found
and Meg without looking at them,
choked and rushed down the street.
She walked on in breathless state for
several blocks, and happened to pause
for breath just where there sat on a
doorstep boy about twelve years old,
with woebegone and tear stained face
Meg looked at him and asked abruptly
What's the matter? Have you lost q
baby?'
Lost babyl" shouted the boy in
dignantly. You clear out of this!"
He seemed to look as IL she thought
she was making sport of him. Meg
was glad to "clear." She had only
spoken out of the abundance of her
thoughts. She walked along, survey
ing absently the windows she passed
She wondered if all the babies who
lived in those houses were safe, or if
| L F.. 4