Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-04-11
DANA BROTHERS
New York Cash Store.
ITS PAPA WENT OUT TO SMOKE.
While f:,by Took Part In IL Comedy OF
Errors In the Car.

IT'S PAPA WEN W ~ omONE.
While E.by Took Part In Comedy Of
Errors In tie Car.
Queer as it seemed, no one laugh.
ed. The young man held the baby
as though he had been carrying
4-week- old infants all his life. He
was a transfer from North
State street car waiting with other
transfers" for n Lincoln avenue Ca
BILE going north. No woman was
with him, and he stood ON the cor.
ner, the LITTLE one snugly cuddlnd III
his arm, its head on his shoulder
and the long baby skirts tucked we'll
out of the way. Every woman in
the crowd commented favorahly up.
OH the young mans skill and apti-
tude, and the men eyed him with
secret envy and deep respect.
The Lincoln avenue Car, as usual,
was crowded, but a baby in arms al
ways has the right of way, and the
young man found seat. Before
North avenue was reached the crowd
thinnod out, and the passenger who
occupied the corner scat next to the
young man left tho car. In jiifv
the little, rod faced baby was plant
ed in the corner and in some mystic
riOus manner was securely support
ed by the end of the car and tho
back of the scat. The women smiled
and the men grinned when the young
man, leaving the baby tucked away
in the corner, stepped out Oh the
front platform, wiped tho perspira.
ton from his brow and lighted II
cigar. Every block or SO he opened
tho door, stuck his head inside and
satisfied himself that tho little ono
was safe. A young woman, accom-
panied by an elderly matron. sat
near the baby, and whenever the car
lurched she stretched out her hand
and held the baby in it's corner.
Just before the car reached the
curve at Center and North Clark
streets she moved up to the baby
and held it when the Car shot around
the bend
At tho corner of Sedgwick street
and Lincoln avenue woman of de.
termined mien and firm lips, so
years old or thereabout, entered
tho car. The only vacant seat was
between the young woman and her
elderly companion. The young wom-
an, however, moved away from
the baby, leaving that space for the
newcomer. The latter glanced at tho
lonesome baby and then at the
young woman with ludicrous eX-
preston of surprise, and, rather be-
wildered, hesitated to take the prof
fered seat. When she did take it.
she sat bolt upright on the edge of
the seat. looking first at the baby
and then at the young woman, who
apparently was serenely uncon-
scious of the suspicious scrutiny.
Tho very next corner the young
woman signuled the conductor. The
car stopped and she rose. Without
so much as. noticing the baby she
walked toward tho rear platform.
The woman next to the baby gasp.
ed. She stretched out her hand i'm.
pulsively, turned full upon the baby,
and the passengers held their breath.
She gasped again, leaned forward,
and then, suddenly rising, called out
sharply: Here, here Where are
you going? Come back and get your
baby. What under the SUM-
Then tho passengers broke in with
shout, the front door opened and
the young man appeared. Tho young
woman, her face crimson, hurried
through tho rear door; the excited
female next to the baby stood in the
aisle with her ayes swapping and her
mouth open. The young man, pick
ing up the baby, sat down and cud-
died the little one in his arms, bliss
fully unconscious that next to him
was a woman mad clear through,
searching the grinning passengers
with so glances that had the pene-
trating power Of Professor Roent-
gems ays.-Chioago Record