Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-10-04
THE FOUNDING.

Barlow was somewhat late, for an
annoying error in posting by an under
bookkeeper had detained him at the Of
flee. He walked rather more rapidly
than usual, for he knew that the major,
Simpson and Granger were waiting for
him to make the fourth hand in the
game of whist which always preceded
dinner. 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 impatient
ly tapping the table with his fingers and
watching tho door.
For seven 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 as a 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 6 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
was 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 latchkey
and drew it from his pocket when he
turned to ascend the steps, The key
dropped from his hand, and he fell back
a pace, for cooling at him from the cor
ner Of the little porch baby stretched
its chubby arms toward him and smiled
when the key jingled on the stone step.
Barlow's first thought was that he
had taken the wrong steps, and he stead
lily stared at the number painted on the
transom. The number was right, and he
rapidly checked it off with the familiar
window curtains and the doormat. The
majors burly form came into view
through the window, and then Barlow
concentrated his attention on the baby.
1t cooed gently and made an effort to
crawl down the steps.
Hold on; you'll hurt yourself, :"
cried Barlow as the baby leaned peril
ously over the edge Of the doorstep. The
little one looked up and smiled again,
and then for the first time in his mem
ory Barlow held baby in his arms.
For several minutes he stood looking
up and down the street, but no one
came to help him. He pressed the Aaby
to him as he stopped for his key, and
opening the door walked into The sitting
room with the baby under his arm as
though it were laundry bundle.
Hello, you're here at last" said the
major, loosening 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 it's heels and struck
out with its arms as though swimming,
for Barlow S hand was under its stomach
as he held it against his hip. Simpson
dropped the evening paper and stared at
the baby with his mouth open. Granger
forgot the blazing match which he was
holding over his pipe bowl, and it burn
ed to his fingers as. he gazed blankly at
Barlow and the kicking infant.
The oppressive silence was broken by
sudden cry from the baby, and the
major caught it by one leg just in time
to save it from striking the floor, for
Barlow dropped it when the cry came
For second the major held the baby
by its leg, while series of muffied ex-
plosions came from under the clothing,
which had fallen over the baby's head
Then he gently lowered the little one
to the floor, and all silently watched
the strange creature squirn and strug.
gle its way out of the maze of linen and
flannel and finally sit up, red faced,
fearful, screaming baby.
Barlow's explanation was incoherent,
for he, like the major, Granger and
Simpson, was in a state of mental
chaos. The baby's screams brought Bob,
the colored cook and all around servant,
from the dining room, and his black
face increased the vigor of the infantile
yells and deepened the scarlet hue of its
face to purplish tinge.
A twisted wire brooch which held
the little sack at the neck gave the
baby's name as Joey" The major was
seized with an inspiration. Swapping
his fingers, he said, Here, Joey, here,
here, here," as ne used to speak to the
only dog he ever owned.
The other men felt an immense ad.
miration for the major, for Joey sud-
denly stopped crying. The minute of ST.
lence seemed an hour to the anxious old
bachelors looking down at the tiny
stranger.
Joey was strangely quiet. His mouth
was wide open, his eyes bulged, and a
rattling sound in his throat alarmed
Barlow.
"For heavens sake, get some water.
Thump it on the back. Open all the
windows. The baby is choking to
death. u And he dropped on his knees
and began beating the baby's back and
chest with his palm. A pitcher and
glass of water were brought. The win
dows and doors were thrown open, and
the major, wildly excited, swished a
newspaper in the baby's face, tanning
it frantically. Simpson dashed glass
of water into Joey's eyes and mouth,
and the baby, after several gasps, burst
out crying and wailing again.
"Jingle some keys at himP' beloved
the major, bobbing his watch up and
down six inches from the baby's face.
"Talk to him; talk to him. Don't you
know some baby talk? Here, Joey. here,
here" And the major stopped his roar
ing and whistled, swapping his fingers.
His efforts were futile. Joey cried the
louder, and the men left him in the
middle Of the floor and sat down to a