The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-07-18
THE DISCARED BABY
CLARA AUGUSTA

remain -.
He had a horror Of women- and
douIJe horror Of babies The very
SIGHT of one Of the little darlings gave
him the ag,ie. with symptoms oi a
usin in his stomach
one memorable day, Mr. Weed start
ed for New York, on the $50 train
He wa a country merchant, and MADE
a seini-annual journey 10 the metroPo-
liz Ia purchase goods
He was IN fine spirits and new suit
of clothes
The first stopping place after leaving
Winford. Mr.. Needs residence, was
Axteil. and al Axtell quite large
number Of persons entered the cars
Among them a pretty young wonian
in a mourning bonnet, and with stl@-
piriou- bundle Of white flannel i'm her
arm, that the initiated al once strnis-
ed to he baby.
She looked over the car at once for a
seal. There was none except that by
ihe side Of Mr. Weed
She advanced with well-bred ease,
seated herself Close by the side Of the
amazed bachelor, and commenced tax
inc the bundle in her arms apart
The operation was something like
husking an ear of corn, ia a season
when an infinite number Of husks
prognos..e.-e cold winter; bat the la
DIV was per-everiag, and bye and bye
there emerged from the wrappers lit
tie rei-faced, pug-nosed edition Of hu-
manity. with string Of eorals around
II, neck and it, little sweet fist in its
sweet little mouth.
The proud mother held him aloft in
triumph, and all the lady passengers
smiled. and showed their approval 10y
sundry mods
Weed grew bearish and stuck his
head out Of the window. The mother
very sweetly requested him to put that
window down-the air made the baby's
ewes red. He slammed it down, and
buried his hands in his pockets, and
hi chin in his cravat-
But the pretty lady in the black bon
net was not afraid of Weed
She unceremoniously piled the fan
nels and embroidery into his lap, and
at Hassls,-from which place the train
was expr,Ss, and where there was a
halt OF ten minutes for refreshments-
she pumped the baby on the pile of
garments in Needs lap, saying sweet
ly:
my head aches, and / must have a
cup Of tea viii leave the baby with
YOU till / return.
And before the mortified bachelor
could utter d single word, she was
gone. The ladies Uttered, the gentle
men smiled at each other behind their
newspaper, and the baby began
swinging backward and forward in a
way that babies have before they get
any hack bone.
Thump went it, little head against
the side Of the ear, and Weed, sure
that il must have broken i'm his skull,
seized the hack Of it, frock and held on
with desperation.
The minutes passed slowly. Weed
sras in a cold sweat. The bell began to
ring.
Where was that dreadful wOman2
He looked around 70 see If he was OBJ
served, for a terrible temptation had
seized him 10 toss the baby out Of the
window, and be rid Of il
The last bell sounded. The conduct
or jumped ahoard-the brakes were
unwound. the train was of,
Weed dropped the baby among it,
wrappings, and ran after the conduct
or.
s'Look here, sirr' he cried frantical-
". there's woman left drinking Il
cup Of tea. deuce take itr'
Let her drink il, and much good
may il do her" returned the official
'.Let 20 OF my arm am in a hurry"'
a.NYhat do you think ] shall do. sir?'''
cried Weed, growing redder and red
der in the face; "here's this baby, and
NO mother for itr'
You must find mothers for your
own children yourself It's none OF
my bread and butterr' cried the con-
siuctor, striding away.
Weed returned 10 his seat, and pick
ed up the baby bolstered il up on tht
cushion beside him.
4 pale woman in green veil and
spectacies came 10 his side.
you've met with an irrepsrabie loss
sir?' asked she, ia voice whose tone
OF sympathy and interest was unnlis
taxable
"A devil Of a losSr' cried Weed
thinking Of his own predieament, aud
forgetting that ladies never tolerat,
SWEARING.
''Iou dreadful manr' cried the lad,
-.'it is wicked 10 indulge in profan'
language: how hong has she been de
parted from this sutlunary sphere
About ten minutes ago; she wen
after cup Of tea
Good heavens, then she i not dead
Unnatural monster 10 forsske her swee
ehildr
.'Amen, that's 80. truth, every wor'
Of IT, calculated Weed
my dear sir" said the lady. insinu
atingiy-ayou are left in a very un
pleasant situation. VERY, indeed. L.
lovely child. Resembles il fatbe
strongly. l. il a boy or giris''
"Deueed if ! know or carer' growle,
Weed
4.Why, what a man, But, my des,
sir, il Is 80 extremely disagreeable for
gentleman 10 travel with the care Of
child, thai really my tender heart syn
pAthizes 80 deeply with you that Ia
me. We women haze to pay 80 niue
regard TO appearances. And | sOui
not overstep the strictest bonds Of mod
sesty."
Need caught Al what was implied ;