Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1900-02-22
rAE PARSONS BABY,
The Only One In Town.
s BY Jay Benson Hamilton, d. d. {


lunch with him during the session of
the Methodist Conference which l was
visiting. He was proud of the enter
prise and beauty of the city and had
much TO say of its early history.
imagined from the zest OF has recitals
that he had been principal character
in many of the stirring scenes he por-
trayed. He never tired talking of the
Methodist minister who founded the
first church. The bravery and elo-
quence of this first parson were the
subjects of amending eulogy. trhe
beauty, sweetness and courage of the
parsons young wife were topics con
corning which the old gentleman
spoke with deep and affectionate feel
ing. He was in the midst of a loving
panegyric of the little woman when
interrupted him little banteringly:
You speak as if you had loved the
parson, but had worshiped the par
sons wife,
Il have the best reason In the world
for worshiping her." he replied earnest
ly. II owe everything / have in this
world and everything l hope TO have
in the next world to her. / was IA
wicked wretch who had only escaped
the gallows which | richly deserved by
streak of good luck. | was on the
road to eternal ruin and was dragging
down with me scores of others, when
her little white hand stopped me and
turned me about face" He was COM
pletely overwhelmed with emotion for
a moment. After a short silence he
fervently but softly said: God bless
her little heart"
Tell me something about the par
sons wife, | said.
After few moments thought he be-
gan to smile and then laughed softly
to himself.
How would you like to hear the
story of the parsons baby, when it
was the only one in town.
AS my silence gave consent, he pro-
ceeded:
''The parsons baby was the first
baby born in our town. 1t received a
welcome equal TO the Fourth of July.
Every bell was rung, and every shop
and store was decorated in honor of
the arrival Of the new citizen. 1t seems
childish now, but it seemed very prop
er and fitting then. The whole town
was Illuminated, and torchlight pro-
cessiOn marched through all of the
principal streets. The Fourth Of July
was nowhere. AS soon as the parsons
wife was able to sit up, she was placed
in the front room and sat there for
hours, singing to her baby. She was
a cunning little woman. She knew
the boys were wild TO see the baby and
she sat by the window, where all who
walked by could look in. One of the
fellows who had been hanging around
for several days hoping to get the first
peep ut the baby was rewarded that
morning by seeing the little woman
carried close to the window and seated
in chair.
81 was the fellow Like great fool
l stopped and looked in. She just
smiled and shook her finger ut me, and
then held IN the .aby for me to see.
j bowed and threw the baby kiss ana
was off like Il shot. / told a hundred
fellows what l had seen. Would you
believe 1t? Hundreds had an errand
that day that took them by the par
sonage. Ill be blessed if it didn't set
the town almost crazy. If you have
ever seen Il pack of school children
run TO see an elephant you can imagine
how the boys hustled to see that baby.
The happy little mother knew how
hungry we rough men were for the
sight of baby's sweet face. She did
not resent our curiosity, but took pains
to let every one have a good peep at
the chubby little creature.
You would have laughed to have
seen the presents that poured in for
that youngster. The boys got to speak
ing of it as our baby All began to
wonder when it would make its first
appearance in public. We dubbed to-
gether and sent off for baby carriage.
/ was appointed rs the one to present
1t. About twenty fellows went along
with me. AS we wheeled the empty
carriage through the streets we had
cheers from every corner. went into
the parsonage. The other stood on the
sidewalk and looked in the window.
The parsons wife accepted the car
riage with smiles and tears and made
me kiss the baby as my reward. She
promised that should wheel IL out for
It's first ride in the new carriage.
1T was several days before / re.
ceived word that the baby reeded q
ride in the open air. / put on my bess
clothes and told everybody / met thas
IL they would be on the lookout they
could see our baby Before the little
woman gave me her baby she asked
me IL / was safe company for her lit
tie one. / knew she was not Joking
i felt hot all over. I knew / was moi
fit company for anything good or pure
and | started for the door as said:
Madame. l am not worthy to h,
trusted with your baby. / am wick
ed man and ought to be ashs ,aed to
even look you In the face
"Her blue eyes were swimming IN
tears and her lips trembled as she said
Jack. you were once pyre bSh,
yourself. Your good, sweet mother
loved you as love my child. 1t would
have broken her heart to have known
that you wopjd grow up and become