Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-12-24
"TONNEAU BABY IS
TAKEN INTO HON {.
WHERE 10y AbOUNDS.
CHILD ABANDONED BY MOTHER
is SPIRITED" AWAY BY WON.
AN WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN
DEDICATED TO HIS FUTURE
CARE.

If, when Robert Gene" grows up
and learns the story of his babyhood,
and some of his boy friends attempt
to tell him there is no Santa Claus,
he doesn't throw off his nat and coat
and fight right then and there in de-
fense of a Kris Kringle as real life
itself, the Free Trader-Journal is a
poor judge of American youth.
Robert Gene" derived his name
thru lottery" conducted at the De.
tention Home, is La Sale County's
famous "t0nneau baby" His little
"brothers and sisters" under the
motherhood of Mrs. Carey Foster
christened him during one of the gay
est ceremonies ever conducted by
that family of merry tots.
This story begins with the finding
of Robert Gene, aged three months.
in the automobile Of +. L. Rogers. at
Earlville, were some mother, whose
name in all probabilities will ever re-
main concealed from the general
public, tossed him and then disap-
peared Abandonment of the child
was closely guarded, and his secret
remains hers until the end of eter-
nity-unless. Of course, she should re-
pent her act in later years and make
known her identity
But getting back to Robert Gene" (
and Santa Claus. Today in a home
blessed with much joy little Bob is
to be the principal celebrant at a big
Christmas party given in his honor. |
There will be all the fixings of a re-
gular Yuletide fete for a regular baby
hoy, He has been made a part and
parcel of the life of Miss Jennie
Moler, an Earlvile woman of 35l
years, whose desires to posses him as
her own have been paramount in the
little fellows epochal week--a week
mayhap he'll never know about, and
that is to be hoped for
Thursday Miss Moler giving way to
desire went to the Detention Home
and picked Bob up and carried him
away. There was no opposition to
her kidnapping" from either the
child. or Mrs. Foster, matron in
charge. Both seemed very glad that
Miss Moler came and carried away
her precious bundle of wiggling little
Bob smiled as only a baby |
can smile. Mrs. Fosters handker- /
chief was much in evidence as she .
tried to dry whatever it was that
made her kindly eyes shine so. Well ,
tell the world it was almost hallow-
ed moment, a moment that meant call |
was jake" for one tiny morsel sent |
onto this earth, perhaps thru tragedy i.
"a thing that will never creep into .
his baby heart again-and without
his knowing what it was all about
Robert Gene That's a digniied |
name. If names are mentors for a |
BOYS future, Miss Moler in later days
will be amply rewarded for the God (
given mother-spirit that took her from /
a comfy home, well supplied with this
worlds gods. on trip to ottawa to |
claim what the law, during the course /
of the next few DAYS will say is her
own-not in blood nor flesh, but just .
the same hers.
Miss Moler's possession of Bob was
brought about by the many other ap-
plicants giving waivers on their
claim to him. He will be formally /
adopted and the bet is he will be
known as Robert Gene Moler'-the
name his brothers" and sisters" OF
Mrs. Fosters faily. gave him--for the
rest of his life.