The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-11-17
lantern he had lighted. The baby held

the lantern closer, then jerked it away
as two small balls of hands made q |
clutch for it. Then he put into another
shape his exclamation, the truth con-
rained in which he so little realized.
"Well-if amt blessed!"
A look of blank bewilderment came
over his face. =, - - 81
"How did you git here?"
If baby and soap box had fallen from |
the, skies it could not have been .
greater surprise. His surprise was
none the less when he saw the string
and realized how his unexpected Wis
itor had come. What was he to do?
well, SEEM you be here, I s'pose
you can't be left out in the cold" *.
Not knowing what else to do, he
picked up sled, soap box and baby and
carried them into the house. f7
"Here. Maria" he said, setting his
burden on the kitchen floor, look
what somebody's sent you" Z
Mrs. Crofts gazed in amazement,
then in disrIeasure.
Jacob. what do you mean? You
don't mean that you've let somebody
tut something on you
no, indeed, don't. You. may get
as mad as you like wit h somebody; but,
not with me. That sled was hitched
or to the back Of the sleigh. antl;camc
all the way fom Bentley" f@~
well. i. .iec!are! 4 little mite like
that out IN the cold! But you sec how
'tis-a game of somebody's to put that
child OH us. They'll be fooled. thong h::.s,
Yes. Pll take it over to the poor.
house tomorrow. They can look for
it there if they want it,
r.They won't look for it. Well" as
small grunts and shifts arose from the
box, "seein' it's here, s'pose we can't
let it starve.'
rAnyhow. it's putty little crea-
tur'."
The baby had by this time, after
much winking and blinking, accus-
toned his eyes to the lighted room,
and was now giving signs of being rest
less. AS Mrs. Crofts approached him
with much the look with which she
would have regarded a stray kitten
(she not liking cats) he, being accus-
toned to go to everybody, held out
his hands with look of gracious readi-
ness to be pleased if we'll treated.
We'll, it's kind O. BRIGHT
cts cold day, Jacob" said Mrs.
Crofts the next morning. give got a
conscience, if I am set agen' bein' put
on, and I don't like the idee of that lit
tie creatur' takin' long ride such a
day. To-morrow'll be 1nilder, maybe"
Tomorrow was milder, but Mrs.
Crofts remarked:
"A day or two won't make no diff
ference, now he's here"
On the third day boy rushed into
1.-The house with a cry:
. "Oh, my baby! I've found you-ain t
III? How came I ever to let you git
a away from me?" -
q And the Pratt baby pulled Billy's
4 hair and poked into his eyes and
rubbed his pink cheeks against the
:freckled ones with such little crows
and squeals of delight as brought a
distinct pang of jealousy to Mrs.
Crofts' heart.
as he your'n?" she asked Billy.
eyes. Leastways-I mean-he's the
Pratt baby. He lives to my house. I've
come for him. The sled's right here.
III soon fix him up" Setting the baby
on the floor Billy made a rush to the
shed and soon brought in the soap
box.
'Stop!" cried Mrs. Crofts, as Billy
spied the small hood hanging on a nail,
IF that baby's got to ride into Bent:
ley to-day he amt go!n' in soap box
Jacob" she called into the back yard
Il want you to hitch up and drive into
Bentley. This boys come for the
baby. Says it's his'n," with slight
culver in her voice, land if he's to 20
he's got to go comfortable"
"Who'd a thought anybody'd ever
be wantin' the poor little chap!" The
farmers surprise was complete when
his wife appeared wrapped for the ride
with the baby in her arms.
I'm goln' to see him safe with them
that has the right to him." she said
firmly. Adding, with some severity:
''And that won't let him go cavortin'
over the country in a soap box on a
winter day"
Billy wilted at this, but was sus.
I: aimed by his joy in the recovery of the
baby, comforting himself by little
Pokes at the soft bundle covered up
in Mrs. Crofts' arms, to make sure it
was safe there.
The return of the baby was heralded
by triumphant shouts from Billy:
"He's back! He's back! I've found
him! We've got him."
Men came to the store doors to lis.
ten and women ran out of small houses
with shawls over their heads. A small
crowd had gathered by the time Mrs.
Garvey's door was reached.
Mrs. Garvey seized the baby and
wept over it a torrent of Irish fondling
while the other women waited their
turn for hug, as babel of tongues
arose.
I'm willin' to say I'm ready to take
that blessed baby"
"Id decided to do that myself"
''I'm able to do we'll by him and"
II was with his mother to the last,
and I've the best right"
Mrs. Crofts looked about on the
clamoring women.
(which of you is the the mother OF
this child?" she asked.
A blank silence for moment, brok.
en- by Mrs. Garvey: