The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-04-04

U ASSkEeeA1IIS ance, chagri1,
tWMZz5r--=S~tISES perhaps, at tho
GSYN.WSS outcome. Yes,
it was enough
to make man swear!
And the cause of it all was Baby
Mouse, hapless Baby Mouse! But,
before you, dear reader, will under
stand why Baby Mouse should be to
blame you will want to know who he
is. It's strange story, and yet sweet
and tender withal. And it ends we'll
that's its best part.
Three months ago / was coming
home with the evening shades. 1t
was bitter cold, and I rejoiced in
anticipation of my cosy, warm home
and the simple, dainty meal which
my old housekeeper, Johanna, know
how to prepare 50 well. 1 was lost
i'll just such comfortable bachelor
reverie, when ] descended from the
l. road to wend my way toward my
little Washington Heights home. I
walked rapidly and soon reached
there. Opening the iron cato that
led into the tiny garden patch in front
of the house, L saw small package
lying on the frozen snow.
"a present from somebody" 4 said
half aloud, stopped and picked up nv
find. My hands, bit numb with
cold, despite my feece-lined gloves,
had scarcely grasped the bundle when
it began to kick and squirm. Nor
was that all. 1t raised such lusty howls
that my neighbors' windows flew up,
and they stuck out their heads to see
what it meant
1t would have done me good to see
my face just then in a convenient
mirror.
All the nursery tales of cry babies
and bewitched castaways came to my
mind with rush. felt like depos-
iting the lively packet in the place
where l had found it, but that would
have been worse than murder to leave
such little mite out in the open with
the thermometer at ten above zero.
had no desire to make the acuuaint-
ance of the State attorney.
But, better than all, great pity
owelled my heart for the unfortunate
creature whom loneliness had cast
away, and as fast as L could run with
my burden / ran into the house.
Johanna met me in the door.
See what 1 have brought YOU" l
said, with laugh.
The good woman gazed with horror
on the squirming, shaking babe and
held ont her hands.
Doctor, what does it mean?" she
gasped.
cit means, Johanna, that for the
next few days you are going to battle
and feed and fonde this little waif,
just as you did me once upon time. ="
And then l told her the story of
how l had found Baby Mouse.
In the lamplight L examined the
little founding, and Johanna, too.
looked him over with critical eyes. He
was a jolly little youngster, eight
months old; perhaps, with chubby
face, eyes as blue as n summer sky
and lips that soon took on cherry hue,
rs their blue, pinched look died away
in the genial warmth of the room and
Johanna's embraces that alternated
with mine.
Johanna brought out fresh linen.
arranged bed and bathed and washed
the fOundling Tucking him com
fortably away in an improvised crib,
she gave him bottle filed with milk,
and when he had appeased his hunger
he fell into n peaceful slumber I
kissed tho baby's brow and said to
Johanna:
II am going 60 report that case TO
tho police i'm the morning, and I'll ask
them to let me keep the little one un-
til his relations are heard from"
johanna gave me an amazed look.
My Ire is 80 lonely" / continued.
'he may bring some color into it," !
may have sighed as ! walked away.
You haven't forgotten, doctor. q"
answered the good woman, "no matter
how hard you've tried"
Next day ] went Co the Chief of Po.
lice. lie recorded the case and had
no objection Co my keeping the baby.
This is Tho way 7 came into posses
sion OF n lovely aud beautiful child.
Johanna and ] decided 10 call him
Robert. but his pet name-Baby
Mouse was older than that, and It
Cluug 90 him
And now you know who Mouse ia.
Nobody over came 10 claim him, and
my heart opened TO the tender waif as
1t had never opened before.
Mouse, Of couse, was treated like n
king. Vow and thon Johanna wouId
Say, You are spelling the child. doc.
tor" But she was as weak AZ / with
regard TO Mouse.
He grew and prospered like flower