The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-12-25


most fell into the room and dropped tile
bundle he carried into his mothers lap.
"What in the world !" was Mrs. Stoves
surprised ejaculation.
"Ir's our Christmas Goose, mamma.
She came up behind me just as | was put
ting away my brushes, and when asked
her where she was going she said she
wasn't going, she'd just come, and her
papa cal her his Goose and her mamma
calls her Pet, and can't find out who she
is but she belongs somewhere, and 1 guess
somebody'll be around after her pretty
soon.''
"Prettv baby; she looks like-don't she,
Martini" leaving out the loved name lest
she hurt his heart afresh.
"I'll PIT her right in the cradle, soon as
I take off her things. How nice they are!
She is somebody's darling. How pity her
mother'
The baby walked when they pulled off the
cloak, and they piled her with questions;
but she only knew that she WIS Dapa's
Goose and mammals Pet, and sometimes
the nurse called her naughty.
Jack only waited to snatch a slice OF
bread, and then hurried back to Main
street and down to police headquarters,
and as he stepped in he inquired if any one
had lost baby? Instantly the man sprang
to the office door.
"Here, John, chase that man who was
here minute ago and bring him back"
| "Mr Beals was here a minute ago, half
distracted, because his baby had climbed
out of the carriage and wandered away.
His wife was almost crazy. and he has
been tc every place he can think of and has
offered large reward to anyone who will
bring her back"
| Just then man came in, followed by the
office boy, all out of breath with his haste,
and rushing up to Jack he grasped his
hand.
Have you found my baby? Where is
she? Is she hurt? Have you brought herr"
"She's all right down in my little sisters
cradle, and mammal tend to her; she's all
right, only p'raps faint your baby; she's
got on a brown coat and bonnet and q
muff, and says she is papa's Goose, his
Trismas Doose. We couldn't find out any
other name"
Mr.. Beals was shaking Jacks hand as if
he could hardly believe what he was say
ing; his face was twitching, and at last he
dropped all sem lauce Of control and drop
ped into the chair some one had set for him,
and buried his face in his handkerchief.
But she's all right, sir; she's all right
Jack kept repeating, hardly knowing what
he was saying in his efforts to reassure Mr..
Beals.
Eyes. yes, my boy, I know, but I have
been so anxious, and my wife is not strong.
So you have baby at your house?''
''Our baby died"-a sob came to Jacks
voice, and he turned away.
There was intense sympathy in the voice
that said, my boy, I'm sorry. will tele-
phone my wife and then you will so up
home with me, and we'll come right down
and get her.
| Half an hour later a pretty, frail little
woman knelt by Baby's cradle and laughed
/ and cried over the dainty fare with the soft
| curls surrounding it. Papa's Goose sleep.
| ing just as peacefully in strange cradle
| as in her own lttle crib at home.
''Its too bad to disturb her, said Mrs.
Stowe.
Eyes, it is. Jack said it was his little
sisters cradle. am SO sorry for you; how
do you lear it? have know the anguish
of losing mine for short time. but forever