The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-09-10
THE CHRISTMAS BABYC 81
INEZ HAYNES GILMORE
CoeYRlcssT $40

they'll have to take it off our hands" He
watched Mary unwind the shawl. "You
lug it out into the kitchen, Mary; give it
saucer Of milk and put it to Sleep
Yes, sir" the girl said mechanically.
The last fold of the shawl came off. There
appeared little red face, a pair of fat, red
arms, which begin to wave and pair,
equally gesticulatory, of fat red legs.
The baby opened its eyes wide, emitted
opened them, started third howl, but. mid
way, glimpsing at the brilliant hall chande-
her, contemplated it for, an awed second,
adroitly caught the howl just where she had
left it, finished it, started number four.
caught sight of Mr.. Finney, howled thrice
in mad abandonment of disgust. caught
sight of Mrs. Firmey, shut the final howl
Clearly off in the middle and smiled up
into Mrs. Finney's face.
It is probable that the woman does not
exist who could have resisted that tribute.
Certainly Mrs Finney did not. She
pumped down beside Mary and took the
baby into her arms. She pillowed its head
on her shoulder and rocked back and forth.
Is well, was It the dearest, darlingest, de-
sertedest duck?p she inquired alIteratively.
Homeliest little damn thing ever saw
in my Life" Mr.. Finney pronounced judi
cially.
"She's kinder cunning though" Mrs.
Finney said. How old would you say she
was, Nary"
: About nome months, mum, Mary said
with decision. ~
s You can call up the police station now if
you want, DIR. FI1neY," said Mrs. Finney,
"but tell them they needn't do anything
about her until tomorrow morning. I'm
afraid she might catch cold going such
long distance in this storm. And you
needn't wait any longer, Mary. I'll take
care of her for the night. She can sleep ON
that couch In my room. III fix chairs SOS
she won't fall off But what are we going
to do about feeding herr Oh, it's bottle
baby, all right"
Mary's explorations in the basket had
brought to light tvfo feeding bottles, half,a
dozen long, shapeless garments, a scrap Of
paper. Mr.. Finney bounced on this.
"Shayneford, December IS" he read.
Please take care ofthis baby 1t will have
to go to the poolhouse if you don't. It's
mother and father are both dead
Mrs. Finney carried the baby upstairs,
and that was the last Mr.. Finney heard from
hthat night But about FIVE the next morn
ing, he was wakened by weight on his chest
which threatened to crush his breathing ap-
paratus. He opened his eyes sleepily at first;
Their with the energy of surprise. The baby
was lying, spread out like little red lobster,
on Ids chest, clawing vigorously at the frogs
of his pajamas Mrs. Finney was sitting at
the foot of the bed smiling.
"Hullo, Gus!" Mr.. Finney calculated
feebly.
She walked me up about four" Mrs.
Finney explained, and she was so everlast-
ing cunning ! couldn't resist bringing her
here to show YOU.
Mr. Einney was much embarrassed by the
situation and showed it. Five or six little
brothers had followed in the wake of his own
family life. But so far as he knew, he had
never before opened social relations with
girl baby. He had vague impression that
the situation demanded something Of him.
He gave the baby heayy-handed pat or
two and split the morning calm with deaf
ening whistle.
The effect was immediate.
The baby stopped fumbling with Mr..
Finney's pajama frogs. Evidently she
traced the ear-splitting sound to its source,
for her black eyes fixed themselves on Mr..
Finney's mouth Then, suddenly one red
fist few like a fash to Mr.. Finney's NOUS
tache.
"Ouchl Quit thatI What the
Stop him, Cert, VII you7"
Mrs. Finney laughed, and she treacher-
ously refused to aid her husband in the I'M
equal combat. "My, but she's an awful
cunning baby" she commented.
MIR. Finney squi.med to sitting position.
Say, amt he the little Jeffries thought He
got strangle hold on me all right. Perfect
little mick, ain'thef Redhead, too, amt he? +"
Joshua Finney, don't you call her he
again. It's she, as plain as the nose on
your face"
well, | guess you'd better take him.
I'm afraid her headn roll off, Don't seem
to have any backbone in his neck, does she7
Iguess might as well get up. There amt a
drop of sleep left IN my bones"
Once up and dressed, Mr.. Finney con-
descended to be present at the baby's bath.
That proceeding, unduly prolonged by Mrs.
Finney because OF her enjoyment of the
baby's inability to catch the soap, inter-
ested him so much that he missed his train.
In spite of the lost business hour, sense of
something violently unusual in his home
brought him back to Podgemore an hour
40 xIiar y, da ~ Il f1,.~I NJ