The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-11-15
THAT CRYING BABY.
am THE spring of 1867" saia an old Mis-

haH
y na "a Sndersons band and other guerrillas
tsJ torn up nearly all the ties on the road.
WI when the war was over there was
w, much left of it except the rails and
rolling stock
"Wel, when | got in / went into the
.leeping car right away, for it was already
dark and | was very tired anyway. There
ras but one berth unoccupied and !
vailed myself of it. The porter said to me
Seiore leaving I hev to tell you, boss, not
to snore tonight.
"Why, | asked, in surprise. Haven't
maid for the privilege of sleeping in this car!
"Yes, boss, the porter said, but Col.
Elijah Gates, the richest man in Marion
county and one of the directors of the road
d isaboard, and the company don't want any
thing done to disturb him for fear he'll sell
his stock. You know the 'gorilas' tore up
nearly everything during the war, and 1t
hasn't been fixed up much yet.
ut was about eight o'clock when the
,olone said that he was going to bed. He
mlled oil his boots and coat, took huge
chew of tobacco, bade us all goodnight and
sot into his berth 1t was not long before
those in the car heard him snoring and we
all turned in.
about so miles up the road from Palmyra
A woman with baby came into the coach.
There was no berth for her, so the porter
told her that size might sit up near the
stove in the end of the car, for the baby
appeared sckly and the woman's face indi-
Gated that she had been crying. Hardly had
the train left the town where she got on
when the baby began to fret and cry. The
porter went asailing back and excitedly tod
The woman that she would have to make
the baby hush for Col. Elijah Gates was
aboard and his slumbers must not be dis
turbed. The woman, mother-like, caught
M the child and did dozen little things to
ouiet it, but TO no avail and the colonel
awoke with a snort. The first thing saw
was the colonels biue socks poking through
the curtain, then his long legs and body
came in sight. Poking his head out of the
curtains he looked at the woman scrutiniz-
inCy but not angrily. Walking down to
where the woman was seated, he said:
My dear madam, you must do something
to keep that child quiet. These here people
have all paid for their hunks and are enti-
tied to a first class nights rest. Having
raised IL children | know that they will cry,
but as director of the Hannibal q st. Jo
I've got to protect the rights of these
other folks. So you will please keep the
baby as quiet as You can.
"The colonel didn't talk at all cross, but
the young woman was very nervous and
after the colonel went back to his berth she
shifted and tears dripped down on her
cheeks and the baby kept crying harder
than ever
"There wasn't much sleeping done that
i -. Al =. al 1,l. bout ,,.,s
the woman sobbed aud said %, dear and
oh, my and the porter was excited to
death. Sleep was entirely out OF the ques'
tion. People poked their heads cut as an
gry as ever. The colonel stood il for awhile,
then again climbed out of his berth and
said:
Now, my dear woman, as | said afore
| haven't any complaint to make myself, fol
I'm accustomed to such things, having
raised family of 'leven children, and
know all about them. But these other
folks, as | said before have paid for q
nights sleep and it's my plain duty as di
rector of this road to see that they get what
they pay for. Seems to me like that there
is some way to keep that baby quiet. There
no use for child carryin' on so. Somethin
is hurtin' that child and | know it. Now
you look and see if there's not pin stickin
it. Having raised a famly OF leven chill
dren, know that pins often stick children
and make them cry that way.
THE colonel went back to his berth ap
parenty satisfied. But the woman coulc
hnd no pin about the baby's wardrobe, anc
the baby cried worse than ever. | nevel
heard child scream and take on 80. Th'
woman cried softly, too.
I'VE all knew, or at least thought, thai
the colonel would lose his patience aftel
awhile, and when he got out OF his bertl
once more all of us expected trouble.
was getting on toward morning by this time
and We expected the colonel to storm
around.
Look here, my woman he said, 'as wa
saying awhile ago, you must do somethin
to keep that child quiet. The people her
have paid for a nights lodging and the!
must get some sleep at least. As director o
TINS road I've got to protest. I've raised I
family of 'leven children and it don't mat
ter so much to me; but know as well as
Know anything that child is hungry o
somethin'. No child every cries that wa.
except when it is downright hungry. There
lore, insist on your nursing 1t and giving
peace and quiet
Then the young woman turned red IN tn
face and began to cry. Law me, sir, SAT-
she, 1 amt the baby's mother. I'm JUS
tending it,
Where is that baby's mother? said tn
colonel, somewhat sharply. why amt sh
here attending to her business and takln
care of the hungry and crying baby as sh
ought to be?
She's in the front car, sir-in box
Dead the woman said, sobbngly, and we'r
taking the body and baby back home.
The colonel started back in surprise
then his eyes moistened, and he tenderly eS
Tended his arms, and with his long, bon
hngers opened wide, said:
Young woman, give me that baby. Tn
colonel took the child in his arms, rocked
and talked to it as tenderly as would tn
mother We're she alive, And the baby SCENE
TO know that in the old man she had foun
friend. The old mans smiling face an
soothing voice had the right effect; for
Was not long before the baby was sleepln
sonndly, with a smile on its face, in the oil
colonel's arms.
The baby did not cry again that nigh