Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-10-03
THE FOUNDING.

diuucr. Collins was not home, for he
had gone To Milwaukee and would not
return until the next morning. and Bar
low knew that the major was inpatient
" tapping the table with his fingers and
Watching the door.
For sc-en years the five men had lived
together. and the whist game before
dinner was one Of the household habits
which had fastened itself upon the lit
tie community rs vital element of its
placid existence The men were all past
middle age, and any depression from
the routine Jared the entire domestic
machinery for the time. Dinner was al
ways served at : o'clock, and Barlow
felt more than guilty. for it was not
only nearly O'Clock. but the afternoon
was the Saturday half holiday, and he
should have been home several hours
earlier.
He increased his pace when he turned
into the street which for three blocks
WIS the bottom of an architectural
canyon, its sides formed of solid rows
of houses each exactly like the other. As
he approached the center house of the
middle block he felt for his latchkcy
and drew it from his pocket when he
turned to ascend the steps The key
dropped from his hand and he fell back
Il pace. for cooling at him from the cor
ncr of the little porch a baby stretched
its chubby arms toward him and smiled
when the key jingled on the stone step.
Barlow first thought was that he
had taken the wrong steps, and he stead
lily stared II the number painted on the
trau<om. The number was right, and he
rapidly checked it off with the familiar
window curtains and the doormat. The
majors lurly form came into view
through the window, and then Barlow
conc, utratcd his attention on the baby.
1t Cnoed gently and made an effort to
crawl down the steps.
Hold al; you'll hurt yourself, >"
cried Barlow aS the baby leaned peril
ou>Iy over the edge of the doorstep. The
little one looked up and smiled again,
and then for the first time in his MEM
CRY Barlow held baby i'll his arms.
For scvt r;ll minutes he stood looking
up and down the street, but no one
came to help him He pressed the baby
u him a. i" stopped for his key, and
opening the door walked into the sitting
room with the baby under his arm Is
thoaCh it We're laundry bundle.
Hello, You re here 1T last" said the
major, luos,uin- the belt of his dress
ing gown and reaching for deck OF
cards What kept Bless my soul,
what have You got there"
The baby kicked its lie, Is and struck
out with its arms as though swimming,
for EarlJw's hand was unilt its stomach
Is lie held ii against his hip. Simpson
dropped thc evening paper and stared 1T
! the baby with his mouth open. Granger
forgot the blazing match which ho wa,
holding over his pipo bowl. and it burn
ed to his fingers IS he gazed blankly al
Barlow and the kicking infant.
The oppressive silence was broken by
a sudden cry from the baby, and the
major caught it by ono leg just in time
to save ii from striking the floor, FOL
Barlow dropped it when the cry came
| For a second the major held the baby
| by its Lex while 4 soriCs OF muffled OK
ploSions came from under the clothing
which had fallen over the baby's head
Then he gently lowered the little on
to tic floor and all silently watche,
the strange creature squirm and strug
gle its way cut Of the maze Of linen AM
flannel and finally sit up, rcd faced
tcarfU!, screaming baby.
Barlow : explanation was incOhcrcnt
for lie, like the major, Granger an
Simpson, was i'll state Of mCnta
chaos. The baby screams brought Bob
/ the co!UrUs! cook and all around servant
from the dining room. and his blac
face increased the vigor of the infantil
yclIs and dcorCnc,l the scarlet hue of il
face to purpliSh tinge.
y twisted wire brooch which he'll
the little sack at the neck gave til
baby's name rs Joey" The major Wa
seized with an inspiration. Snappin
his fingers, he said, Here, joey. here
here, here" is he used to speak to tn
only dog he ever owned.
The other men felt an immense &C
miration for the major, for joey sue
, denly stopped crying. The minute of ;
lence seemed an hour to the anxious oil
bachelors looking down at the tin
- stranger.
joey was strangely quiet. His mout
was wide open, his eyes bulged. and
rattling sound in his throat alarme
, Barlow.
For heavens sake, get some waite
Thump it ON the back. Open all Il
r. windows The baby is choking
death. " And he dropped ON his kne
and began beating the baby's back al
chest with his palm. A pitcher al
n glass of water We're brought The vii
= dows and doors We're thrown open. al
1 the major, wildly excited, swished
| k., 10,
Z it frantically Simpson dashed gla
of water into Joey's eyes and moutl
and the baby, after several gasps. bur
out crying and wailing again
: "JinGje some keys at himv" believe
the major, bobbing his watch up al
down six inches from the baby's fac
Talk to him; talk to him. Don't y
"a know some baby talk: Here, Joey, hc1
" here" And the major stopped his roc
ing and whistled, swapping his finger
His efforts were futile. Joey cried {
louder, and the men left him in t
middle of the floor and sat down t.
49, solemn consultation
! We've got to stop that crying first
said Simpson. Now, l remember
picked up a woman's paper once il
:. doctors Office. 1t had a dozen colun
to ON the care of babies I'll go to the C
ner and get some papers and mal
zines" And Simpson hurried to I
corner news store. He returned with
= arms full of weekly and monthly lit
\ allure and found Joey crying at the I
j. of his voice. With nervous haste
men pored over the papers until b
lows triumphant Here it isl brouG
the others to him.
Hints to Young Mothers. read b
low, peering through his spectacles.
e. IF the baby cries without appar'
reason. the cause will probably be {
= of three thing-a pin sticking its T.