The San Francisco call., 1897-04-12

afternoon be reported that there was
nothing in the action of the old people
which warranted their detention.
In the meantime at the City Prison the
little one was being tenderly cared for by
the matron. 1t is such wee DIT Of hu-
manity that the doctors of the hospital
guessed its age at one week. Its grand
father, however, says four weeks is nearer
the ugure, as the child was born March 10.
The case is but another phase of the sad
story OF woman's weakness and mans au-
plicity. Had the grief-5tricken pair, in
tent upon hiding The shame of an erring
daughter, been more worldly wise or
harder of heart their plans need not have
miscarried. To-day the little waif would
be tenderly cared for by the sisters OF st.
Joseph's Asylum. and the repentant
mother would be looking forward TO the
time when her child. the adopted daugh-
ter of widowed sister, could be ever near
her and would be the object of no ones
scorn.
The plan as originally outlined was for
the old folks to leave their country home
with the child. and upon arrival in this
City, take 1t at once to st. Joseph 3
Asylum. There, the Sisters have provided
a recep eptacle at the door for just such un-
fortunates. In this the child was to be
deposited, the bell was to be rung bv the
old man, and ere the Sisters arrived the
sorrowing pair would depart. Later, a
mem Der OF the family would adopt the
child, and later, the parents. who are
soon to be wed, would take the little one
to their home.
On the arrival of the grandparents in
this City they were told that at 218 Meal
lister street was such an institution as
they desired. In fact the secretary of an
IL AfN
there for business purposes only.
At 10 o'clock Saturday night they sur
reptitiously approached this place and de-
posted their precious charge. Reluctantly
they started away, but within block or
two the heart of the grandmother failed
her. Perhaps she had maternal misgiv-
ings that the little one had managed to
kick away some of its loose coverings. She
suggested that they return to the spot and
look at the child. Her husband. nothing g
loath, ted. There it lay snug and
quiet just as they had left it.
Hiram" said the only lady, II am GO
ing to take it away. 1t might lie there all
night"
Take it away goes" said Hiram, and
he reached for the little one. Two young
men were approaching, and he hastily set
1t down To let them pass They saw him
and demanded ii it was his bundle. He
said it was, and that it contained a child
Then one held him while the other went
for the police.
That is the story of the abandoned
founding as told by he aged grandfather.
Leave that child on a doorstep all
night?' he calculated as tears came to his
eyes, why, l would sooner died than
have done it. intended to wait until /
saw it was TAKEN
Then be spoke of the child's mother,
who had always been respected in the
neighborhood for her goodness. He won.
dered arxiously if they would let him
take the child home with him. and in
quired more an1iously if his wife was
all right. They had kept them in remote
cells.
tomorrow" be said, 1--WE will return
at once TO-" and he named the town
where be is known as a hard-working,
respectable man.
''lf the names could only be kept from
the papers," said the old man eagerly,
part of the scandal might be averted." ;"
And after all, the names and place don't
matter much-not SO much as refraining
from adding one straw to the burdens OF
that unfortunate old couple.