Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-01-30

arms there"
"Why, Eve rot the baby" sals he;
nd as he said it the tears come up into
his eyes.
"Your own baby, Bllll' says l.
"Yes," SEE he. "NeIllc took sick uy
the janders Il fortnight agc, 'nd-'nd
she died, md I'm talsin' her body up to
Texalkany TO bury. She lived there,
you know, nd I'm goin' to leave the
baby there with It's gran'ma.'
Poor Bin it WIZ his wife that the
men were carryin' in that pine box to
the baggage car
Likely lookin' baby, Bill,' says l.,
cheerfullke. "pcrfect plctur ny It's
MOTHER kind Nv favors yon round the
lower part NV the face, tho"
said this to make Bin feel happier
If I'd told the truth, I'd We said the
baby wuz u siclsly, yalcr-lool,n' little
thing, for so it wuz, looked hat'
starved, too. Couldn't help comparn
1t with that big, fat baby in It's moth
cr's arms over the way.
"Bil," says /, "here is Il ten-dollar
note for the baby, nd God bless youl'
"Thank ye, MIR. Goodhne," soys he,
nd he cbokcd all up us lie moved of
with that yallcr little baby in hsarms.
1t warn't very fur up the road he WIZ
goin', nd he found Il seat in one Nv
the front ears.
But along about IN hour after that
back came Bill, moscyin' through the
cur like be wuz huntin' for somebody.
Seemed like he wuz in trubble and WIZ
huntin' for friend.
Anything ! kin do for you, BillY
says |, but he didn't make 10 answer.
All Of Il suddlnt he sot his eyes on the
prutty lady that had the fat baby
slcepin' in her arms, md he made a
break for her like he wul crazy. He
took off his hat nd bent down over her
nd said somcthin' none Nv the rest nv
us could hear, The lady kind nv start
ed like she wuz frightened, md then
she looked up ut Bill nd looked him
right square in the countenancc She
saw tall, ganglin', awkward man,
with long yaller hair md froWzy beard,
nd she saw that he WIZ trembIm' nd |
he'd tears IN bis eyes. She looked down
Mt the fat baby in her arms, nd then
she looked out'n the winder Mt the
great stretch Nv prairie land, nd
seemed like she WIZ lookin' of further |
n the rest Nv US could soc. Then, at |
last she turned around nd said; Dyes
to Bill, nd Bin went oil into the front
car ag'in.
None Nv the rest Nv IA knew what
all this meant, but in n mlnnlt Bill |
come back with his little yaller baby
In his arms, nd you never hecrd baby
squat md carry on like that baby wlla
squalin' nd cafryin' on. Fact rs. The
little yolcr baby was hungry, hungricr
n wolf, md there wuz its mother
dead in the car up ahead nd It's gran
ma a good piece up the road What
did the lady over the way do but lay
her own sleepn' baby down on the seal
beside her nd take Bits little yaller
baby nd hold II on one arm nd cover
up It's head nd her shoulder with n
shawl, fist like she had done with the
fat baby not long afore. Bill never
looked at her; he took or his hat and
held II in his hand, nd turn around
nd stood guard over that mother, md
reckon that ef any man he'd dnrst to
look that way iist then BIZ would We
cut his heart out.
The little yaller baby didn't cry very
ong. Seemed like 1t knowed there wuz
mother holdn' il-not It's own moth.
n, but woman whose life he'd been
iallowed by Gods blessin' with thu
owe nd the purity nd the sanctity
~ motherhood.
Why. wouldn't hev snapped that
sight Nv Bill an them two babies nd /
hat sweet woman for all the cattle
n Texas! II Jest made me know that
what I'd allus thought Nv wimmin was
Gospel truth. God bless that ladyl |
iay. wherever she is to-day. nd bless
III wimmin folks. for they're all allie
n their unselhshness nd gentllnes'
nd loycl
Bill said God bless YET too. when
The handed him back bis poor It'll
inller baby. The little creeter wnz fasl
sleep, nd Bill daisent speak very loud
or fear he'd wake il up. But hii heart