The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-12

BE SURE TO GET RAILWAYS.
And there was no paper or no money,
Nothing at ALL"
"Jarrold's going into the town" observ-
ed the mother of the seven. and If YOU
ike, he'll say word to the police for
you or give notice at the workhouse."
But here Harry, who had been standing
by, interfered Indignantly. Indeed. we
are not going to send the baby to the
Workhouse," he said 1T is our very own
Christmas present sent to Katie and me
and we mean to keep it," y
Il am sure l wish we could" said Mrs
Derrick, family. ttBut l don't see how
She stopped short, not liking to make
any sort of complaint of her poverty in
the presence of the prosperous stonefna-
sons wife. Poor as she was, Mrs. Derrick
was almost unGuly proud, and could not
bear to be pitied. Her girlhood had been
spent amid very different surroundings
from those in which she now found her
self. She had been the daughter of a
country clergyman, and knew too well for
her own happiness what education and re-
hnement meant. 1t was this flavor of
aloofness which had caused some resent
ment against her in the minds of Mrs
Jarrold and her neighbor, Miss Binks
But Mrs. Jarrold forgot her ill-feeliug as
her eyes rested on the scanty furniture
and the remains of the poor meal, which
still fingered on the table. For the baby
proved such an engrossing source of oc-
cupation that Mrs. Derrick had not yet
reduced the kitchen to it's normal state of
tidiness.
"Wellg to be sure" Mrs. Jarrod said to
herself-but she had the wit not to say
it aloud-"to think ofethat being All they
had for breakfast this Christmas morn
ing; and no preparations for dinner that
l can see. Well, l must be off" she said
abruptly. 81 have got a good piece of
beef and plum pudding to see to. Your
time will be a good bit taken up if you're
going to look after that baby, Mrs. Der
rick. Suppose you send your children in
to ms d let them have their dinners
along With us. You're kindly welcome
yourself, too, if you like to come. But 1
know that you're bit high, and perhaps
you would not like TO sit down with Jar
rold and me and the children. However,
1 don't bear any malice. so you send in
your two about / O'Clock, and let them
have their share of what's going on and
a game with the children afterwards. 1t
win do them good"
Mrs. Derrick hesitated, but finally ac-
cepted the invitation for the children. The
temptation was too great; she could not
deprive Harry and Katie of their one
chance of a little Christmas jollity. But
Harry refused to go. Katie might 60 he
said, but he should stay with his mother
and the Christmas baby f}
Later in the day Miss Binks also took
the opportunity of calling to know the
true state of affairs. She was exceedingly
indignant with Mrs. Derrick for taking
in strange child.
''Who knows what diseases it may not
bring nto the houses" she said. "Scarlet
fever, measles whooping cough-you don't
know what may be upon it. There's deal
of smallpox at Bowden. hear. 1 should
get rid of the child as soon as possible if
1 were YOU"
Indeed, l never saw a healthier, finer
baby" said Mrs. Derrick, with answering
indignation. There's nothing the matter
with it, and no tramp's child would have
such beautiful clothes" A
'Stolen, most likely" said Miss Binks
with a sniff. But she was not so unamia-
BILE as she looked. for in a little time she
returned with two covered dishes in her
hands
81 don't suppose, with all this upset, you
had time to get yourself much of a din
ner." she said ungraciously. "And / have
cooked a deal more than l want for one;
50 If you won't be offended l will take the
liberty of bringing you bit of turkey 1
have had sent up from my old place where
! was housekeeper so long, and some mince
pies from the same place. They'll just go
mouldy on my shelves, and / daresay your
cry" And Miss Binks whisked out Of the
house so quickly that Mrs. Derrick had no
time to decline the offered dainties
After all, She was very glad of them for
Harry's sake. 1t was something for the
boy to get good dinner once in way
She had a peaceful sense of the real kind
illness of her neighbors-the neighbors on
whom she had hitherto looked down-and
she resolved to be more neighborly herself
for the future. After all, Harry and Katie
would have to earn their own living, and
1t was no use to bring them up as she her
self had been brought up, without endur-
ing any hardness or roughness of the out
er world. The strange baby had brought
kindness and even happiness in it's train
She had an unexpected visitor In the
course of the afternoon. Mr.. Jarrold, who
with his children had tramped into the
town to go to church, considered 1t his
duty to notify at the police station the fact
that a child had been found that morning
in Mrs. Derrick's porch. and much to Har-
rvs terror, a burly constable made his ap-
pearance to inquire into the matter
But you shan't take him away" said
Harry, with clenched fists and burning
cheeks. ut is our baby, and we are going
to keep it because it came as a Christmas
present on Christmas morning"
'Ah, well, that's for your mother to say,
isn't it?" said the officer, and he looked at
Mrs. Derrick with quizzical smile.
81 don't mind keeping the baby for day
or two" said Mrs. Derrick reluctantly
but il nobody turns up to claim it,
don't know what am to do"
Better let 1t go to the workhouse," said
the constable. at will be looked after
there better than you can look after 1t.
will take it myself If you like; or you can
go along with me, and bring It,"
mo, no." cried Harry, shrilly. you
won't let it go, will you, mother? You will
keep IL for Katie and me?'
Il viii keep 1t for a day or two" said
Mrs. Derrick; but she would not say more.
and avoided the glance Of Harry's pleading
eyes.
The constable departed, having noted
down various particulars as to the finding
of the baby, and Mrs. Derrick soothed
Harry's fears and devoted herself to the
child who was indeed so rosy and content