Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-26
THE FOUNDING.

tall good looking man who assisted the
station agent in little village on one
of the great Western roads.
BY thunder! it is baby, as I'm
alivel Who in the world has sent me
thisY" asked the station agent, Ash
ton, disgustedly. He held the basket
off at arms length and looked Curl
ously at the now waking baby, who
seemed to take the strange situation
az a matter of course. She opened her
brown eyes and put out her little
dimpled hands in the manner of conde-
scending Invitation to be taken and
coddled.
II can't say who left her; l only
know that after | had put the last
trunk on and the train commenced to
pull out saw this basket on the plat
form. | thought perhaps some one had
forgotten 1t, so | ran to pick it up and
found it addressed to you" Archie
Brown awkwardly took the little white
hand OF the stranger in his big brown
one
"well, III have none Of it, that's
certain" said Ashton. wife and |
have been married now 10 years with
out any children of our own and it's
little late to begin on waits. y
you can't refuse her. See how pretty
She is and loving, too,'' as the 6aby's
little fingers clung closer to his. "Little
Muriel. What sweet name! I'm
glad it's written on the card
Refuse her? Just sec if l can't. l
am not to be taken in in this way. If
you are so in love with her why don't
you take herP 1t is different with you;
of course. in your position you can
afford the luxury of baby. am too
poor myself. "
Brown, Needless of the irony Of the
agents remarks regarding ailluence and
poverty, took the little one up in his
arms caressingly and gently, as strong
mon often do.
Very well, sir: il you really mean
it III be very glad to take the little
lady"
Little lady, indeed No such luck
She is waif il there ever was one and
probably the lucky owners are whizzing
away on the express, laughing In their
sleeves to think how easily they got
rid of her and took me in. But not
much I'm too smart to get mixed up
in an affair of this kind. -
well, I'll go right nome with little
Muriel and let my wife take care of
her. | won't be needed till the l. 80,
will I?'
"Oh, no, you won't be needed; go
right along and good luck with you.
hope Mrs. Brown won't make it too
hot for you; it's warm enough day
alreadyr' So saying, tho burly old agent
went into the station house and Brown,
holding the baby in his strong right
arm, picked up the basket and marched
off toward the little cottage where no
and his wife dwelt
"Anne! Anne! I've brought you
something" he cried, as he reached
the cottage door. sweet-faced young
woman appeared smiling in answer to
| her husbands CHEEKY voice, but when
she saw the burden in his arms she
stopped aghast, though her eyes bright
ened at the sight Of the little one
nestled so snugly against Archie's
breast
Good gracious! Where did you get
the baby? 1t isn't for me, is it,
Archie?"
Why, Anne, are you not pleased with
herY L thought you would enjoy
mothering this friendless little girl, :"
said her husband, somewhat crestfallen
at her attitude.
so / will, bless her little heart |!
| But it took my breath away to see you
standing there at the door with that
| child in your arms, saying you had
brought me something. Give her to
me; know how TO hold her. Poor
little dear she must be hungry. You
run right over to Mrs. Berry's for some
nice frosh milk, and then come home
and tell me all about her. - Kissing
the baby softly on the forehead, Mrs
Brown assumed immediate MANAGE
ment of the whole affair.
| Mr.. Brown soon came back with the
milk and as they sat at their MONDAY
meal he told what little he knew Of
Baby Muriel. Mrs. Brown held her
on her lap and fed her in such a sweet,
motherly fashion that Archie rose
from the table and kissed his wife.
"Anne, dear, you don't know what
a pretty mother you make" he said.
II felt that our means were so small
we could hardly afford to take her, you
have to plan So carefully to make both
ends meet. but now l SEQ you two
together, know it must be for the
best. "
keep her? Why, love her already.
Did you ever see such dear? She has
scarcely cried once. | guess we can
manage to make her comfortable
home, il we are poor. -
II knew you would feel that way,
dear, and now l must be off. It's
nearly train time and Mr. Ashton is
rather cranky, as you know He
kissed Anne good-by, including the
baby in his carese, and went back to
his work.
In the course of the afternoon old
lady Berry, who had gained some
knowledge Of the affair from Archie
when he went for the milk, came over
to see the baby.
My goodness, Mrs. Brown; it does
seem AS il troubles never came alone.
Here you are, Just well month from
the typhoid with doctors bills and
medicine to pay for, and now baby
ON your hands. She is a sweet thing,
though. | suppose you will send her
to some institution.
Indeed, I'll do no such thing; she
is mine to bring up and love all | want
to, f" answered Mrs Brown, taking the
little one up in her arms as if to pro
feet her from the bare suggestion of an
Institution.
49, Well, depend upon it, there will be
no good coming from adopting waif
like this There must have been some
powerful good reason for casting her
off; probably the curse will follow
her. - With which doleful prophecy,
the old lady took herself off in high
dudgeon at the spirit in which her re-
marks had been received. But she left
Anne Brown no less happy, for with
love in her heart for the baby and a
high sense Of duty, she gladly accepted