The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-12-01

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,yera laid in an empty granite-work- 1
FRS shed, and left in charge OF an
old woman, called Aunt Anlce Roe,
who had made her own escape in
slightly singed. somewhat dazed con- 6
ditiOn.
Tho village burned, all save mole
tv Of its outskirts, to windward; ana
for an hour or two even the babies
were too much occupied
with their now homeless furniture,
bedding and best bonnets to go to the
shed for the babies. 1t was time OF
affection and distress. But as the nre
burned out and the smoky evening
drew on, the parental instinct re-
yived. and the mothers came fastening
to the shed.
Meanwhile poor, confused old Aunt
Anice Roe had done what she couid'
She had spread blankets on the gran
lite chips; and as the wind was Dio"
ING cold she had dressed and mu1neo
I'D each of the little crying creatures
In what she thought came WITH each
one But it is not strange that, III
dealing with the collection OF h.ue
frocks socks, blankets and Dotties,
she made mistakes; and a mistake 0,
that sort once started, went the rouhu
of the fourteen babies.
1t happened that a certain Mrs' On
bert fuckers mother, who lived le"
miles out of the village, had been can
ing ON her daughter when the nio
broke out. To this mothers care Mrs'
Tucker had consigned her two little
,,r,s hut had run, herself, with her
baby, to the shed.
rho T,,ckers owned another cottage
in the outskirts of the place ana tliS
osconed the conaagratiOn. To 1t they
carried the goods that they had peeh
able TO save from the burned HOUSE.
ond they were thus occupied Tor an
hour or two. Then they went " se'
tbo babv On their way they met d
woman who said to Mrs. Tucker that
y har mother had gone home ana taken
tho "pirls" with her till she could get
| settled again. IhiS
clear fol- Mrs. fuckers mother nau
e not on,v taken the girls" home, pu'
hod gone round by the shed and TAX
= en- the baby along, too.
X Now Mrs. Tucker naturally supposed
IL that her baby was still at the sneo
D. and Fastening thither in the fadin'
y LIGHT she misappropriated an INFANT II
mink socks and in a pink frock whlcl
III che knew very WELL having complete
d that little gown with her own mana
ie only three days before. CLAD 10 HI
l. her baby. as she thought it, SO we
I'll opd ouiet. she marched home, huggln
it to hsI heart.
II other mothers. however, did not fal
VI so well. There were three very youn
babies which their own parents cou
az not tell apart by lantern light. NIL
st takes were made which .dlstress'
~ various families. Soon efforts 10 re-
IT. tifv the blunders began. AT 1nterva
n' a puzzled father or a terrihed motn
MS came hurrying back to return a bal
and ask for another.
.Tbis isn't our baby! exclaim
len one. "Ours had a mole on his II
ew ear-or vas it his right, GeorgeT
lhu man laid his bundle down, In Sol
ich embarrassment. and said that
wife had sent him back with the pa
l'ei Aunt Anice had given him. 10
oui change 1t for their own. He was {
Vi IDENTIFY used to doing errands Tor
ing wife for he inquired, IF they
and WIZ ~ . ,,tt,a heavier. in a lie
Of soineln.n .,
er shadeT
Rpt the mothers who came W
'ne not inclined to be humorous. 1
sei' women claimed the same BABY,
ue ono of them left the shed IN te
e.ss without any baby at all. Inc
change of clothes had proven pew
., erinq. One nursemaid, who had Q
.ne deceived by the misleading apps
iO''' dared not divulge her error that III
or at least she did not. This II
''' trouble in the home of Mrs. Elia L
49,. har who soon was on the thres
, ~ of nervous prostration.
II Oh ooh where is my child?' she
=, n distracted old Aunt Anice. L
'he" isn't one that resembles my
utt,e Benz
'i'''e Amt Anice wrung her hands.
tnew nothing about 1t. The Sc
ouf'' narents had come and got their Da
.o,, She supposed they knew their
'abies chiluien. s,.u do, What
rage, Du. -. ,,rs lumbar.
!ou "I don't know! oh, l don't XII
your or,ed the sympathetic old aunty.
l. uu. less everybody who brought D
VIVA. bore fetches them back and we
them again.
This proposal, although repus
was ,.nv seemed to be the only
would 10 many, ,,a,o,,,tv. and the
; 'ne' morning there was mover papy-
a. the shed. No prize for beau
',eAn winning baby ways now temple
md, "hnie Tho hah,es themselves
:. 81, at stake!
&c VIZ All were now in calmer
uihoei However. and there was better
o burn ho"e' ,yora exchanged I
r may Inc - overv one. excep
1 luck, sa.iS,a 1Ier baby was app
] mills Elm
single ~ ms moro and worse
great ha. ~ own the child tina
boards, ciaiineu .,-or had taken ant
waste. unpei' oh,,dren were
e mill seio. o+her and had
lring fesenao,o ~ soma time