Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1915-10-14
Tending the Baby
But He'll Never Repeat the Performance
By Nj. QUAD
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

sitting beside an honest raced, mother
ly woman Of thirty five. who had
baby about eight months old asleep in
her lap. She had asked about the train
up the river. when she suddenly cried
out that she had lost her portemonDaie
She felt In the pocket of her dress and
In the pockets of her cloak. and she
shook out the baby's clothes. and by
and by she said:
Il remember cow. left 1t at my sis
ter's, in East Thirty-sixth street. My
ticket and all my money are in it,
Madam" said l. you have fifty
minutes before train time You can
easily go back and get your purse"
But the baby?
He's asleep, and If you dare trust
him with me I'll take care of him."
1--WE most a mind to do So"
Come on with him, and you needn't
hurry bit on my account Wen both
be right here when you get back"
She gave me long. lingering look.
so as to be able to swear to me in
court, and hurried out. and she was
scarcely out of sight when "Rock-a-
by Baby" woman about four seats
away. who had heard and seen all and
was no doubt jealous. got up and walk
ed around and said:
THAT shows how much mothers
| think Of their offspring! Do you sup
pose I'd ever leave one Of my children
that way? Not much"
She was still walking around with
her nose up In the air when an old
man with a cane and satchel stop
ped to yell at me:
"Do you know If this is the New
Haven depot or not"
mo. sir. it isn't" replied as l held
up my hand warningly.
Young un sleep. eh?" he shouted In
still louder tones.
nodded and cautioned him again.
At that moment the baby's eyes open
ed. rocked him to and fro and Groom
ed to him. and he'd have slept again
but for woman who came up and
loudly inquired:
did you notice hand bag on that
seat when you sat DOWN.
mo. l didn't see any hand bag, and
you woke this baby up!' l shouted at
the woman.
"Oh, | have! State prison offense,
suppose!' she sneered as she made
Off.
By this time the baby's eyes had got
below my hat, and they began to be-
tray a great deal of anxiety. I kept
my knees moving and sang to him.
had sung about rod of THE Old
| n prn OF ~ hi oh hnx, o1x We
found to have a soothing effect, and he
was looking at me with great curiosity,
when a fat woman came sailing along
and stopped to exclaim:
: "Kitches. what sweet little babyr'
Walking about with baby in your
arms is rather monotonous on the spine
and knees and shoulders, but was In
vented as an offset for paregoric.
lifted up the baby and took walk-a-
by-baby walk. As l walked tried to
divert his mind into a new channel by
telling him bear story. He was grad
ually becoming interested and had
probably made up his mind that was
at least his stepfather when a little
old man who hadn't the slightest ex
cuse for living blocked my way and
shrilly observed:
MY wife died and left baby about
as big as him on my hands. and
know how to pity you. Are you rails
ing him on the bother"
went on with the bear story but Il
was no use. The baby began to grow
red in the face and to kick and claw
and he finally yelled out at the top Of
his voice. changed him to the othel
shoulder, but 1t was no good | go
him down on my arm and tossed hin
up and down. but he piped the harder
No fewer than six full grown people a
once gathered around to discuss thu
ease and because | couldn't stand still
to answer their questions | heard then
say that | was heartless father ant
that the Humane society ought to sta
ton an agent at the depot
carried him over to the ticket OF
fee and the information bureau, Blu
he was not In want Of anything Il
that line. | walked and waved him t
and fro; then l stood still and tosse
him up and down; then | sat dow
and bounced him on my knee until hi
first tooth was almost shaken out. Ii
had made up his mind that thing
were not according to Hoyle. however
and he stuck to his tune.
l don't remember all that was sal
by the waiting passengers, but her
are few sample specimens from tn
= stock:
mo one can make me believe tha
he Is that child's father"
HE doesn't seem to have a spark
love for the poor little thing
Its curious that the police haven
interfered before now"
Dear me. but If he knew anythin
at all about children he'd know that
pin was pricking the poor thing
DEATH
There was just one faint hope LEI
and | seized upon 1t. cantered Il
child out of doors, and the suddt