The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1908-03-20
Expressing the Baby.
[Original.l

lOriglnal.j
During the Illness Of Mrs. Dolittle
wife of Dan Dolittle, carpenter, heE
baby was In care of her sister In Rose
field, fifty miles away. At the moth.
ers recovery, the father having q
Job In Rosefeld and not wishing to
spend the time himself on the journey
back, it occurred to him to send the
child home under care of the baggage
man of the train, whom he knew well.
He found little chest that would do
very veil for travelling crib. His Sis
ter lined it with blankets, put feather
pillow In the bottom and when all was
ready deposited the child. Dan put on
a tag as a precautiOn In case the con-
tents fell into other hands than the
baggageman addressing the chest to
Mrs. Daniel Dolittle, Birkville. This
Side Up With Care. Glass" There was
no prevarication In marking 1t glass.
| for the baby's bottle was there ready
for use. There were fat hook and a
staple to hold the lid down when
lid should be closed. Just before train
time the father carried his baby to the
station and turned 1t over to the bag
gageman, who received 1t willingly, set
1t on trunk and put the nipple on
the bottle into the youngsters mouth.
An hour later Dan Dolittle saw an
extra" announcing that bridge had
broken under the train on which he
had sent his baby and let the first two
cars into the river. He ran to the sta
ton and, getting ON a relief train, went
to the scene of the accident. The bag
gage car was partly immersed, the bag
gageman had been killed or drowned,
and there was no sign of the baby.
Dan worked all the afternoon NOV
ing trunks and hunting for his child's
body without avail. While he was at
work his wife, who knew the baby
was on the wrecked train, arrived, and
he was obliged to announce to her that
the child had doubtless been thrown
out Of the car door, which was open at
the time Of the accident, and buried un-
der the car or heavy trunks at the bot
tom of the river. The poor woman
was hysterical. Dan begged her to 60
home, but she would not till she knew
something Of the manner Of her baby's
death. So he let her stay till the
wreck had been removed, but as there
were still no indications of what had
become Of the child husband and wife
went to their desolate home broken
hearted.
A month passed without any develop
ments as to whether the baby had been
crushed or drowned This uncertainty
worked upon the mothers mind, and
there was no comfort for her. Had
her child died in its bed she would
doubtless have recovered from the
shock In time. But she brooded over
the poor little things horrible taking
Off till Dan began to fear that he would
have to send her to sanltarium.
One morning there was a heavy rat
tie OF wagon wheels on the street be-
fore the door and a sharp ring at the
bell. Mrs. Dolittle answered the call.
and an express wagon driver handed
her book and pencil to sign for a
package. She signed wonderingly, and
the man delivered an oblong box. On
1t was tag with the address: Mrs.
Daniel DOlittle, Birkville. This Side Tn
With Care. Glass" Mrs. Dolittle un
hooked the lid and opened 1t.
Mother Of heavenw she exclaimed
and forthwith tainted.
1t happened that it was noon. and
Dan was momentarily expected home
from his work. How long 1t was after
the receipt Of the package before he
arrived cannot be known, but It was
probably very soon. There in the hall
was his wife lying on the floor uncon.
scious beside the identical chest in
which he had placed her child before
sending 1t homeward. and in it was
that child, looking as ruddy as an an.
[umn apple, pulling away on a bottle.
II Ian hadn't been a man he would |
probably have tainted too. AS 1t was
he rushed for water, sprinkled It in bis
wires face and brought her to. By
mis- time her senses were ready to re-
,elve the impression that her baby was
awe and well. She snatched It from
is travelling crib and Rugged 1t to her
breast. covering 1t with kisses. Then
'he put It back and covered Dan with
Kisses Then she cried a little and
aughed little, never for a moment
how her child could come
pack to her in this strange manner
But Dan, spying a note in the chest
opened 1t and read It. It EXPLAINED
A short distance below the scene Of
he accident lived an ignorant stupid
ierman couple. Neither of them heard
u the bridge breaking down, and II
hey had they would never have con.
lected 1t with what followed. The
'erman was coming across the river
n bis punt when he saw a floating
'ox. The water was smooth, and the
'ox sailed along right side up, The
nan took 1t in. pulled out the HOOK
aised the lid and saw a baby. II was
unconscious. and he supposed 1t dead
aking 1t to his hut on the bank his
wife gave 1t some warm milk. and n
eviyed. The woman, who was cbi,d-
ass, believed the Lord had sent ber
ne baby and would not give It nm
ne Kept 1t north, when her hus.
and 49, |