The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-02-01
DAILY SHORT STORY
Il THE PARSONS BABY.
By John Henry Neuhauser.

ran up the steps briskiy and rang
the bell.
"Who's there?" inquired voice
from the window above.
cts l." he replied; "open the
door. I've got baby, Martial"
"a BABY!"
Eyes, I've got a baby! But
don't ask any more questions. Let
US in, will your"
The door opened, and there
stood her husband with a sleep
ing baby IN his arms.
well, David!" she said. What
are you going to bring home next?
Last week you brought tramp,
yesterday a dog, and tonight a
baby!"
"Well, let us come in, will you?
1t is cold out here, and my boy
may get chilled"
my boy" she said. $50 you
took special pains to get a boy,
did you? Where did you get him?
Give him to me. He IS cold. I'll
take him to the fire and warm
him." and she unconsciously kiss
ed the baby several times. as she
walked toward the stove, while
her husband regarded her kindly.
where did you get this baby?"
she asked again.
ION the street car" replied her
husband with twinkle in his
eye. "a lady sat on the opposite
seat holding him. She was pale,
very pale. Several times she
fclosed her eyes and seemed about
to let the baby drop. She saw me
watching her. She came to me
and asked me to hold her boy.
She was i'll. She wanted to get
some fresh air.
81 took the baby while she went
out on the platform. That was
at Both st. At 50th st. grew
anxious and beckoned to the con-
ductor. He came.
How is the sick lady?' T
said.
"'The sick lady?' he asked.
(which one do you mean?'
II told him the circumstance,
land he informed me that she had
gotten off at 10th st. So l had
fthe baby, and here he isl"
n But, David, what will we do
with him?"
e We'll turn him over to the po-
Ilice tomorrow" he said, rather
laryly.
No, we WON'T" she answered.
He will remain here until his
mother comes for him. She is not
much of mother! She'll never
Iget him! Well keep him, Da-
tvid!"
eyes. Martha, we'll keep him.
He is mine!"
u Yours? He is ours! Now you
heat. some water and We will give
him a bath before putting him to
bed.""
The minister went to heat the
water, and when he returned his
wife said:
David, you go upstairs and get
one of those little nighties out of
the upper dresser drawer, and"-
The minister put his arm around
his wife's neck and kissed the
tears from her eyes.
ITS just three years ago to-
night since Archie died, is 1t not,
Martha?"
eyes, dear!" and she returned
his kisses.
II thought of that as 1 was COM
ling up the street." he said. as he
turned to perform his errand.
The garments were brought,
and together. they bathed and
dressed the little fellow. And a
rosy little chap he was! They
kissed him by turns, vowed he
should never leave their home.
and even laid some plans for his
future.
Now we must put him into the
little crib" said the minister's
wife. ut has been vacant for
three years!"
There was a rap on the door.
Inc minister went and opened
the door, and there stood man
and a woman.
You don't know u.s." said the
man.
Il know that woman" replied
the minister; "she is the one who
gave me the baby on the street
car"
Yes" said the woman, az am
the baby's mother. This Is INV
husband. We planned it together.
The times are hard. We are poor.
We thought we could not raise
our baby, so we decided to nut
him into the care of some good
people. We saw you come into
the car. We know you. So we
decided that that was our chance.
We played the game. But when
we got home We could not stand
1t. So we came up here. We
want our baby!"
You cannot have him. You are
not fit to have baby! Well care
for him!" and the minister start
ed to close the door.
The woman fell forward on her
knees before the minister, plead
ing for her child, while her hus-
band stood over her, weeping, and
pleading, too.
Give me my baby! Give me
my baby!" cried the woman.
David" said the ministers
wife, "she is a mother, and we
must give her her child"