The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-09-05

tti buu bVoa-Oyo WIN sc"aot
and the train steamed slowly into Chi
cago.
II seemed to be the final destination
Of all humanity. Such crowds OF peo-
pie, such noise and bustlel But for.
tunately the trend OF humanity
seemed in a general direction.
"Maybe you ought TO have tele.
graphed, John, as he said to-" re-
marked Mrs. Petit, in dubious
voice. 'He would have been here to
meet u.s."
"l know the way. We've got to
take the suburban train" said Mr..
Petit, grasping the big carpetsack
with one hand, and parcels, bags and
the umbrella with the other. "You
just keep close to me, Lucy. That
suburban train doesn't wait more
than five minutes"
Through the big iron gates and up
the wide stairs, everybody meeting
and greeting everybody else, boys
shouting and cabmen crying their
fares, and at last open air. That is,
not open mir like the broad meadows
aud sunny garden plots OF Wilson's
Ferry, but open air uch like gazing
up from the bottom of a good old.
fashioned chimney. so tnll were the
buildings on either side, and SO very
little OF the blue sky visible overhead.
1t was all very new and very strange
to Mrs. Petit, yet, Notwithstanding
her bcwildcrmcnt, she faithfully fol-
lowed the guiding carpetsack, hurry.
ing onward in its wake, until they
were we'll ont on the streets and she
was quite breathless with the brisk
walk.
Then, US the carpetsncls shifted its
position for n moment TO the pave
ment, aud its owner turned 20 mop
his brow, Mrs. Petit saw, to her utter
d'smay, that. while his b air was gray,
and from the back he presented An APP
pearance not unlike that of Ephrnim,
this man she hcl been religiously fol-
lowing was, IL fact, au utter stranger,
and that she herself, Mrs. Petit, was
lost
| Quite unconscious of the mischief
he hal wrought, the stranger shortly
resumed his carpctbay aud his pace
together, and joined the great merry.
Go-iounl of people while the old lady,
| like bit OF ilot,am stayed for a mo.
mcut IN its course, clinging helplessly
/ 10 tnt brown basket, stool looking
about in bewilderment, while people
whirlod and cldied and divided about
her.
al gu2rs yer lost, nin't you?" said n
big, kindly voice Mt her side.
Mrs. Petit smiled into the honest
face of the man, who wore blue suit
with brass buttons, AMI star upon
his breast
al don't know" she sail, a little
trcmulously, "but perhaps | am that
Is, il you don't know where my son,
John Petit, lives"
"pettit--John Petit. l don't seem
to place him Just now, said the police.
man, placing his hand upon his chm,
in II thoughtful an reassurinS man
ner. "You don't happen to know his
street or number, now?"
"No," said the old lady "Ephraim
elWays directs his letters. AMI he has
lGs address on card ia his pocket.
But know they've put n new wing to
the house lately, and it's painted
brown and has bow windows"
Tho old lady waited anxiously,
while the officer in the kindness of his
heart appeared to rumiaase deeply.
81 don't seem to remember such n
place." he said presently; "but We
can find 1t. II you'll just step down
to the station with met amt far
who're lost people stay, I'll ring up
the central police" "
Mrs. Petit relinquished the brown
basket into Officer MeIlen's hands,
and walked checrlully along by hi,
side. 81 hope your family are ali
we'll, ;" she said, politely.
"Well, tol'rable, thank'oe," said the
officer, with rather new sensation
"rho baby worries some o nights.
She's only two months Old, you know,
and colchy like"
"Well, now, m so glad / brought
it, ~ said Mrs. Petit, reaching for the
basket. ".Such big bunch OF catnip,
too, Just in the bloom; twice as mucl
AS Johns baby will need It's sur,
relief for collie. And here's SON,
young verbena plants dug thi
morning with plenty OF earth arounC
them. Maybe your wife would lik,
them.
Thereupon paper bag and paste
boar box changed hands.
Il thankee kindly, ma'am,' sal,
the policeman, touching his cap
"rhe catnip we get at the drugstor,
amt much better than dust, and m
wife ain't owned flower since She
been married" A." In his secret min,
he was wondering where ho could sc
enough dirt to fill flower pot t,
plant them in.
The Detention Station was large
high-ceiled room, with rows OF long
hard benches along it, walls, littl
, window behind which sat man ut
desk, and numberless policemen pass
/, ing in and out, some accompanied