The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-02-09
The Stolen Eaby.

well. wcll.'' said an old stork as she
stepped about the grass on her long legs.
Here's Il baby; a real baby. to be sure!
And left all alone here under the grape
arbor. too! People who can't take care
CT IL baby any better than this don't de-
serve to have one. I'll take her home
with me. l know how to treat babies"
and. catching the white dress in her
great, strong beak, she Tapped her huge
wings and few off-away and away. over
the rcd roofs of the houses out into the
open country. never stopping till she came
tc her cwn nest and her three little ones
on the roof Of an old red barn.
Hero she gently laid her burden down,
and standing on one foot to rest herself,
she watched to see how her own children
would take to the newcomer.
The three little storks had never before
seen Il baby, but they were delighted to
have a new sister. They pecked at her
dress and her white cap, while she stared
at them out Of her big blue eyes, for new
err before had she seen such strange crea-
lures She did not even put up her lips
to cry, for she was not one of the whin>
ing, crying kind.
Pretty soon the good farmer came OUT
tC feed the cows and looking up at the
stork's nest, he saw something that al
most made his hair stand on end. Was
it really Il baby? Yes. sure enough!
There was IA white cap and part of a
white dress. He could see it plainly
He called his good frau to come and see
this strange sight, while he and the hired
man got ladder and attempted to mount
to the top Of the barn to rescue the stolen
child.
But Mrs. Stork. as if guessing his in
tention, Snatched the child in her beak
rose from her nest and right before their
very eyes, flew away, sailing off into the
deep blue sky until she and her burden
were lost to sight. The good, kind-heart-
ed frau threw her apron over her head
and burst into tears: "Oh, that sweet
little baby! she. sobbed. How it's poor.
grieving for it,
Now, when the children who had taken
sthe baby with them to the orchard came
Eback from their chase after the rabbit.
sThey left her sitting under the grape
5Srbor: She couldn't nave gotten away by
self, for she wasn't a year old and
nS'n-t walk. Greta went one way and
|3lt, al :ai1other. and rta --nnothaAr
rsearchlng for the missing baby: but after
while they all came back again to the
grape arbor without her.
They Went to the house and told the
mother. On, what crying and sobbing
time there was!
,"Where, o, where was good baby sus-
chen?' was the cry. Baby Suschen.
whc never cried, but sat all day smiling
and happy. Where was she now?''
They inquired of all the neighbors, they
searched everywhere, bur no trace of her
could they find. Never again in all their
lives did they see or hear of the lost
baby. ''''
Late on the same afternoon small
salilng vessel. carrying a party Of ladies'
ana gentlemen returning from a fishing
trip. was making its way up the river.
when suddenly one Of the ladies cried:
"Oh! oh! look at that!''
Stork with baby cried another.
Oh. how dreadful!' and immediately
the captain was begged to stop the boat.
lhe stork was coming in their direction.
and perhaps she might alight on the
deck: Oh, if she only wculd, and thew
could save that precious child!
Inc good captain gave orders to reef
sails and drop the anchor. and by the
time the boat lay still on the water the
st0rk was directly overhead.
1he passengers stood watching, breath
less when suddenly the great bird let go
her, hold and the baby dropped to the
deck. striking her head on the boards
with a terrible thud that caused tho
watchers to turn sick with dread.
"A gentleman sprang forward and ten-
derry clasped the little form in his arms,
tuning it's head. he burst into a roar
CT laughter. 1t was big rag doll!
NO wonder she didn't cry when left
alone under the grape arbor. nor when
carried to the nest on the old red harm
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