The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-08-05

It was in one OF the waiting room
OF the Grand Central depot. Wa
sitting beside an honest faced, mothe
~ woman of thirty-fve, who had
oapy about eight months old asleep 1
heF Jap. She had asked about the trai
up the river, when she suddenly erie
out that she had lost her portemonnai,
one reit In the pocket of her dress an
an the pockets of her cloak, and sh
shook out the baby's clothes. and b,
and by she said:
remember now. left it at my sis
ters, in East Thirty-sixth street. NJ
ucket and all my money are in it."
Madam" said |. "you have fifty
minutes before train time You car
easily go back and get your purse"
But the baby?"
hes asleep, and If you dare trust
MIN with me I'll take care of him."
We most a mind to do So"
Come on with him, and you needn't
hurry bit on my account Wen both
oe right here when you get back"
she gave me a 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-
oy 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
ner nose up in the air when an old
man with cane aud a 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 held
up my hand warningly. -..--'-
Young un sleep, elh! ~ ne shouted in
still Louder tones
RI 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, / didn't see any hand bag, and |
you woke this baby up!" l shouted at
the woman.
"Oh, l havel State prison offense,
1 supposed" she sneered as she made
off.
BY this time the baby's eyes had got
below my hat, and they began to be-
tray great deal of anxiety. ! kept
my knees moving and sang to him.
1 had sung about a rod of "The Old
Oaken Bucket" which l have always
found to have soothing effect, and he
was looking at me with great curiosity,
when fat woman came sailing along
and stopped to exclaim:
"Kitches, what a sweet little babyw
Walking about with d 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-
Oy-baby walk. AS l walked | tried to
divert his mind into a new channel by
telling him bear story. He was grad
uaily becoming interested and had
probably made up his mind that | was
at least his stepfather when q little
Old man who hadn't the slightest ex-
cuse for living blocked my way and
shrilly observed
My wife died and left a baby about
as big as him on my hands, and |
know how to pity you. Are you rails
Ing him on the bother
l went On with the bear story, but it
was no use. The baby began to grow 6
red in the face and to kick and claw. !
and he finally yelled out at the top Of c
his voice. i changed him to the other {
shoulder, but 1t was no good / got
him down ON my arm and tossed him 7
up and down, but he piped the harder. !
No fewer than six full grown people at [
)nce gathered around to discuss the I
.ase, and because l couldn't stand still t
% answer their questions heard them g
Jay that | was heartless father and n
hat the Humane society ought to sta n
ion an agent at the depot
| carried him over to the ticket Of
Ice and the information bureau. but
le was not in want Of anything In
hat line. | walked and waved him to
nd fro; then | stood still and tossed t,
I'm up and down; then | sat down a
nd bounced him on my knee until his d
rst tooth was almost shaken out. He Il
ad made up his mind that things a
'ere not according to Hoyle, however, :,
nd he stuck to his tune. :,
/ don't remember all that was said II
y the waiting passengers, but here ID
re a few sample specimens from the b
ock: CT
mo one can make me believe that
; is that childs father"
HE doesn't seem to have a spark OF
We for the poor little thing" 6
tits curious that the police haven't i,
terfered before now"
Dear me, but If he knew anything re
all about children he'd know that
n was priclzing the poor thing 10 ca
ath."
There was just one faint hope left. &C
d ! seized upon it. cantered the th
lid out of doors, and the sudden Sb
ange shut him up. Then l walked
ing until / got the sun in his eyes,
a. n