Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-12
DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE BABY SHOW
BY Anna l.. Finn
TAMEs MERRITT was n,eassd hO

- yond expression. For the first time
in his business career he had been given
n day off. and the prospects of il filled
him with pleasurable authorization.
For once in my life I'll have nice.
quiet day tomorrow. he soliloouized,
But his visions of rest and HARMONY
soon vanished. when Helen. his charm
ing young wife. heard the news. "Oh.
that's perfectly lovely. Jimmy dear"
she said. "And to think it should han
pen so luckily. You know they are
running a baby's show up at G.'s. and
I've tried all week to get up with
James. but | simply cant leave nv
preserving. So You can take him to-
morrow she ended very confidently.
why. Helen" her husband exclaim.
cd in astonishment. "Who ever heard
of man going to a baby show"
There, | knew you'd refuse" she re
piled. "and. spoil the darling's chance
of winning first prize
Nonsense, her husband rctorted
Every mother feels the same way
about her baby. There is nothing un-
usual about James.
Helen, however. was determined that
young hopeful" should enter the con
test. and try as he would, her husband
could not dissuade her. He realized
how futile it would be to argue. for
Helen's word was law, and there was no
alternative for Jimmy other than the
one of taking his young son to the
baby show. So this was the way he
was to spend his day of rest.
Bright and early the next morning.
James. Jr., was placed in his carriage,
looking spic and span in his best bib
and tucker. and quite unassuming for
n prospective prize winner.
''Now be sure and tell the judges Just
how old he is and all about him.
jimmy Helen instructed, and making
certain that everything was in order,
stood on the piazza and watched her
| husband wheel the baby down the ave e
nue. until he was out of sight.
Although to all outward appearances
| Jimmy was enjoying fair share of
happiness, nevertheless inwardly he was
very much disgruntled for having such
M obligation imposed upon him.
as a special feature in one of the large
department stores. Arriving at the des
tination, Jimmy took the baby in his
arms and proceeded in search of the
contest. He had little difficulty in
locating it, however, for as he entered
the store a variety of all kinds of noise
greeted him. 1t seemed to Jimmy as
though every baby in the city were
there. and that each was trying to out.
do the other to see who could cry the
loudest. And to make matters worse
Jimmy was the only man present, anC
naturally attracted a great deal of at.
tention.
He joined the long line of contestants
and after what seemed to him ar
eternity it finally came James. Jr. s turr
relief. Never before had he witnessed
such chaos and confusion, and deter
mined right then and there that hi
never would again, at least so far as 6
baby show was concerned.
He was congratulating himself fol
getting along so well when, as he wa!
half way home, he happened to thinl
that he had an errand to do for Helen
but in the excitement forgot all abou
it. so there was nothing to do but e
back.
Placing the carriage among n lonl
line of others he entered the store, ant
although he was gone but few minutes
vet ia that short time a number O
other carriages had been added to tn,
line, and as Jimmy returned in searcl
of his he admitted that he was some
what confused. OF course, he knew tn,
baby's carriage, he argued, for it wal
gray and ne had put down the shade be
fore entering the store. ''Oh, yes
there it is right at the end" he thought
and without further examination started
home.
Helen was right on hand to gree
them. ooh, the darling, is he asleep?'
she fondly inquired. II don't know;
guess so." her husband replied, whel
to Jimmy's astounded ears Helen ex
claimed, flames Merritt, what hav
5 you done? Oh, where is the baby?'
, for as she turned back the hood instea
of finding fair-haired James, Jr.,
bright pink bow at the top of mass o
pretty brown curls met her gaze. Jim
! my in his excitement had nothing les
than taken the wrong carriage. For tn
3 time being he was dumfounded. Word
failed him. "Why-er, I must hav
D taken the wrong carriage" he STAN
l mered, and without further explanation
darted down the avenue in search Q
3 his own as we'll as to find an owner 70
! the one he had mistaken.
A frantic mother was making wide
4 spread search for her baby when Jimm
appeared on the scene, feeling yer
= much embarrassed, and he had no littl
e difficulty in convincing her that he wa
; not trying to kidnap her baby.
Meanwhile James, Jr,, slept peace
9 fully right where his father had lei
him outside of the store.
:, Helen was so delighted to have tn
s baby safely back again that she forge
u to inquire whether he had won a pri7
s or not, although he was fortunat
s enough to claim one of the smaller one!
s Jimmy, however, did not forget I'll
&c incident quite so quickly. In fact, it
I indelibly imprinted on his memory @
v his perfect day of rest.
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