Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-01-18

| tiny DaDy anu tue fIetCner tWlnS, anO
the Warren baby, until, one morning.
a colored woman appeared with bun.
die in her arms. AS she was the first
voluntary contributor of live stock,
she was warmly welcomed, and
| great fuss made over the tiny black
infant which gradually emerged from
the folds of an old shawl like cukoo
out of It's COCOON" as Mary Quinn re.
marked. This Of course, was very
nice and encouraging, but most unfor-
tunately, when night came, the moth.
or did not appear to claim her pro-
gency, nor did she ever turn up again.
| OF course it was mere oversight
on her part, but Virginia was much
disturbed, for, to her very great en-
barrassment she found herself the u,.-
disputed possessor OF a coal black
baby. She was Mortified hey opd meas.
ure and sent at once for Mrs. Burke.
what shall 1 do, what shall l do,
Mrs. Burke?" she cried. Mrs. Burke
gazed musingly at the writhing black
blot on the white rose blanket, and
suggested:
'Pity you couldn't adopt 1t Virginia.
You always loved children"
adopt it' Virginia screamed his
terically. "What in the world can you
be thinking off,"
swell, can't think Of anything else
unless l can persuade Andy Johnston,
the colored man on the farm, to adopt
It. He wouldn't mind its compexion
rs much as you seem to-"
Virginia frightened considerably a:
this suggestion, exclaiming excitdely:
"oh, Mrs. Burke, do you really
think you could?"
swell, don't know. Perhaps 80.
At any rate, II we offer to help pay
the extra expense, Mrs. Johnston
might bring the baby up as her own.
Then they can name it Virginia Bas-
com Johnston, you see.'
Virginia bit her lip, but she manag.
ed to control her temper as she ex-
claimed quite cheerfully:
Mrs. Burke, you are so very kind.
You are always helping somebody out
Of scrape."
Don't overpraise me, Virginia. My
heads easily turned. The teachin's of
experience are hard-but guess they
are best in the end. Well, send the
poor little imp of darkness round to
me tonight, and I'll see that it has
good care"
AS a matter of fact, Hepssy had
| qualms of conscience as to whether
she should not, at the outset, have
discouraged the whole baby project;
experience threatened to give its les
son by pretty hard knocks, on this oc.
casion.
For though the immediate problem
was thus easily solved, others pre-
sented themselves to vex the philan-
thropic Virginia.
When on the tenth day the rental
for the Warren baby and the Fletcher
twins fell due, and the lease Of James
Mccarthy expired without privilege of
renewal, the finances of the nursery
were at very low ebb. 1t certainly
did not help matters much when, to-
wards night, Mary Quinn called Vir-
ginia's attention to the fact that there
were unmistakable signs of bad rash
on the faces of the twins, and very
suspicious spots on the cheeks of the
Warren baby. Even the antiseptic
James Mccarthy blushed like boil
ed lobster, and went hopelessly back
on his steriliZed character. or course
the only thing to be done was to send
at once for the doctor, and for the
mothers of the respective infants.
When the doctor arrived he pronounc-
cd the trouble to be measles; and
when the mothers made thei- appear
ance, Virginia learned something of
the unsuspected resources of the
English language served hot from the
tongues of three frightened and irata
women. Finally the floor was clear
ed, and the place closed up for disin-
fection.
Just before she left Virginia drop
ped into a chair and wept, quite OBJ
livious of the well meant consultations
of Mary Quinn, sometime co-partner
in 1.-The Durford Day Nursery for the
Children of Working Women"
We've done the very best we could
Miss Bascom; and it certainly isn't
our fault that the venture turned out
badly. Poor babiesn'
At this the sobbing Virginia was
reused to one last protest:
MARY Quinn, If you ever say an
other word to me about babies, I'll
have you arrested just hate babies,
and-and everything! Why, there
comes Mr.. Maxwell! Say, Mary. you
just run and get me wet towel to
wipe my face with while ! hunt for
my combs and do up my back hair.
And If you wouldn't mind vanishing
for WILHELM sure you understand
for If ever needed spiritual conscl
alton and the help of the church, IL IL
now. this minute"