The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-02-17
Selett gtnrp.
THE BABY'S VICTORY.
Henry l. sabin in woman's Home Companion

The west bound atlantic Express
was running toward Chicago-rattling over
bridges, roaring through cuts and dashing
contemptuously past the small, unimpor-
tant stations The afternoon was drab and
dreary, the landscape traversed by the
road never had great claims to attractive
ness, and today the absence of contrasting
light and shade completely stripped it Of
its even mediocre interest. \ drlzzly fog
had settled upon the world, cloaking with
gray the fields and woods and buildings and
brushing the car windows with a provoking
mist
With one exception the passengers were
dull and disgruntled Nothing was to be
seen outside, and little inside Even the
train boy had subsidized into gloomy despair
recognizing the futility of trying to dispose
of his wares to such an unresponsiye com
pany.
The only trace Of animation in evidence
adown the aisle Of the whole train was
found in the coach behind the smoker
Here baby Justify protested against good
ness knows what, and here group OF sym
pathizing kin endeayored to comfort hun.
Certainly he could not rightly complain Of
ueglec: He was being RECALLED with at
teutions the most solicitouS e>pec-
ally from his custodian a girl Of hf-
teen, who patted him and danced him and
tempted him with an endless variety of
| distractions But her wiles were IN vain.
{ II l. l. ,a,1.. . b.
shrill recital Of his woes, real or imaginary.
Occupying a double seat opposite, Hor-
ace Kilroy, general superintendent Of the
western division Of the road. fumed and
demonstrated under his breath. He re
rented having cume into one Of the orii-
nary coaches. but. on the other hand how
otherwise was he to pursue his pet method
Of keeping posted on ali the workings o
bis departments? He argued that unless
be sometimes doffcd his official privilege Of
private car and pass, and rode on a ticket
| ike everybody else, he could not gain the
complete knowledge which he vas after
| He was thus brought into close contact
with patrons and employees. and ii be was
! enabled To remain incosnito ~o much the
better
In truth, the iudulsenc,-s Of his hobby
| bad i,s Disadvantages also. and sas nov
putting the finishing polish on what be
considered to be the most di,agrerablg trip
he ever had taken over bis bue. Bat he
uas determined to stick tt OUT. He had
encountered nuabcr Of oticriiug matters
| in both management and manaers, and be
was headed homer With hi notebook
| full Of memoranda which bo,ici III Cor his
sabAlterns.
In the Chicago Office the forcc al clerk,
vas waiting in fear and trembling the ar
rival Of the executive From = single
curt decisive message addressed To the
chief clerk all aPprchended thar trouble
vas in store for somebody, Whenever
the general superintendent; came back erus~
ard nervous his immediate subjects paid
the penalty fer being present.
Superintendent kil'oy saEs,i "a the baby
A. On an intclerable nuisance lie made
a resolve that be would propose to she
management Of the system the iatrudac.
ton. n an experiment, II special coach
noJs. proof, for the oOnyeyaHce of babies
and party Nc doubt the travelling public
wuuld hail this - a blessed Innovation.
| Perhaps be xoald favor the prohibiting
the carrying Of children wthoa, an adult
esoort. Here vas case in point sorcss
the aisle Reclining half at lcngth in hi,
corner. from beneath his hat tipped over
bis eyes be wrafhfally scruiiasEe-i the
case Five children uaatiendei--on,
baby. and the eldest one a mere chit
Outrageous. Had a mother or csher una
ture person been with them Of course that
baby would NJ, he acting ~, il would be
quiet somehow The superintendent pos
>.-sed vague ideas concerning babies. hs
being a bachelor
The little family ob,raded itself up5u
the superintendent observation rather
more than be desired lie could shut il
ont from neither sight nor hearing The
fact was very irritating He was Of the
| opinion that at least two Of the children
badly needed washing Ye, conscientious,
IL he could not blame the busy young boiy
in charge
She herself was dsheyeled. but wa,
doing her bes, She had worried. moth.
erly way about her that was quite at van.
anoe with the two slender aaxen braid,
hanging down her back Her face wa.
round and pink, aud her eyes were j clear
gray. blue. She wore a plain, sober col
ored frock, with none Of those pretty nib,
bons aud dainty tucks so dear to the heart
Of any girl. However she bore an air Of
neatness. as much neatness As was compat
ible with the intimate supervision of iouI
| active Juniors miss Of eight, a miss Of
six, rogue Of three, and regular rasca
assuredly, no more than ten months With
these to right and to left and in front, and
huge telescope bag threatening her from
the rack above-ah, what a plight. even
were not the baby crying incessautly?-
Imbued with the firm conviction that
not only infants, but all children, should
be restricted to that ear which he had in
project, finally the superintendent desper-
ately appealed TO what few winks he simply
must have despite the undiminished Shrieks
He had just succeeded in skirting the
threshold of Nod when light touch on
his hand lying on the cushioned seat dis
turbed him again. He opened his eyes
and saw one of the smaller of his neighbor,
standing at his knee, and looking with awe
at his kid gloves. He impatiently drew
in his hand (the boy : hands were sticky)
and his visitor retreated, alarmed
''Ah! All! A-a-a-ahr' the baby wa,
shouting.
The superintendent, now wide awake,
knew that sleep would not approach him
again with these conditions prevailing
He had lost his opportunity, and he grum-
bled and kicked his feet with impotent
wrath
Although one after another of her band
with the exception of the infant, was con
stantly at the ice water tank, and each
time brought back, as in duty bound the
tin cup for her use, it was a question
whether the head of the flock derived
much benefit from these efforts. The
passage of the cup was hazardous with SO
man, al ill.,,