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About The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1902)
'W, ,t'Y VT HOLIDAY SUPP ENT. UMMM THE C pMEB NEW WWW J" t" " BYMAIE JBOTHELDA -y 1 3 Svtr? 5 . . '- " -SF" . . (F-?JlgT j j IS f m i rf- - t fe li . z - A i-. f H. WBRTHEI MER wanted a baby. MYa. Wnrthel- (jKpBs)! OTer's asp Ira 1.4' V (oH lions for a nousenom c e n ter of attraction was substantial ly In the same direction. It must bo ad mitted here, however, that the desires of the two for tho same object did rot emanate from the same view u point; there was nothing marital in their thought, the son-and-hoir idea never ocurrlng to either of them. A dog, a cat and a canary bird had 3iithcrto been 'the objects of Mr. Wer- Mr. Wcrthelmer was amazed to find with soft pillows, a chubby-faced, of golden qurls hanging SIHEEUkWi ilHI -VIWH f J?V J15 flT ft ?f 3HB dBBBBHPAr Si- y&& B t)&?fy thoimer's amusements when off duty, hut ihe had grown weary of tho mon otony of all threo and wanted some thing human that he oould love, pet und .perish -.animals did not seem to nil tho void In bis heart. Moreover, lie was ji Jolly sort of .a man and felt the Jieed of Jbonicthing to bubble and sush over. Ills homo environments were well, were somewhat frigid. 0ji the .contrary, Mrs. "Werthelmer was sx, strict disciplinarian on tho ;joore .of duty, dogmatic and unyield ing in ber tUEposltlon, and opposed to sentimental displays; even her smiles when she forgot herself and Indulged in such worldllness, were frost-bitten. But she had gathered the Idea at the Woman's club, during h protracted and heated discussion on the subject, that It was tho duty of every woman to assume tho guard ianship of at least one embryo Human being, for the purpose of train I lng it according to tho standard recog rized by tho club, in tho right way, of course, and thus save an Immortal fcoul from contamination by the wick edness of the world, which was badly ;n need of making over again. Be sides that, the lady had noticed the waning Influence of tho dog, cat and Mrd to keep Mr. Werthelmer at home in tho evenings. Hence, Mrs. Wer thelmer thought a baby in the houso might accomplish a doublo object, to wit: A halo and a stay-at-home hus band. "Let me see," sho said, pausing in her dusting, "John and I quarreled on Thanksgiving day, and to make him understand that he was In the wrong, I gavo him corned beef and cabbage for dinner instead of turkey. Then again, on Christmas day ho was not as liberal as I thought he should bavo been, and tho turkey was tough there weren't any cranberries, and tho only dessert was bread pudding Instead of plum accidental,, of course. To make up with him, I think I will present him with & baby on New Year's day, and that will keep him at home for a year at least. But where shall I get one?" Now it so happened that Mr. John Hopkins bad more children than he could care for; half a dozen of them reaching up like the steps of a ladder, all vigorously healthy and constantly clamoring for something to eat and wear. His wages not Increasing with his family, it was very difficult to got even bread. To add to his misery, -J Mrs. Hopkins committed the folly of presenting him with a seventh, and, as a, last straw, she up and died in the midst of its raising, leaving him forlorn with an eight-monthr-old baby nd a Btrlng of children too young to help enro for it. It seemed to him that the world was cold and unfeeling, for the neighbors, Instead of offering any assistance, intimated qulto plain ly that "poor people who kept on hav ing children should bo able to pro vide for them without holding outsid ers responsible by soliciting help." In spite of Its unwelcome reception the seventh Hopkins was really the finest of tho lot, a bright, healthy and attractive baby. In his extremity tho father advertised it for adoption, and his advertisement was what Mrs. Wor theimer saw, when In the throes of her desire to procure one. It waB a windfall, and as soon as sho set her eyes upon it sho recognized a fine brand to bo snatched from tho burn- sprawling on the floor, surrounded blue - eyed infant, with little wisps around a shapely head. lng, .and adopted It at once, but Mr. Hopkins was not to deliver tho baby girl' until an hour or so before tho husband's home-coming on Now Year's ever, so as to be a surprise for him. When Mr. Werthelmer returned homo after his day's toll on tho even ing in question, he was amazed to find sprawling on tho floor, surrounded with soft pillows, a chubby-faced, blue-eyed infant, with little wisps of golden curls hanging around a shape ly head. It was bobbing around in a wobbly fashion, Us tiny hands stretch-ed out trying to reach a large gray cat, wisely sitting just, beyond Its grasp, blinking at the new acquisi tion in sleepy wonder. Jack, the dog, was manifesting his approval of the new arrival by furiously barking and wagging his stumpy tail, at the same timo frisking around and upsetting the cat, drawing her about by tho tail, and performing other astonishing feats to entertain the baby. "Great Caesar!" he exclaimed. "What's the row anyway? Have you started a menagerie?" "This is our baby," exclaimed Mrs. Werthelmer, relating her experience and Intentions. "Well, now we'll have some fun and life around the bouse," said he, get ting down on tho floor to investigate tho now plaything. "She's mighty pretty, anyway," was his decision. In a few moments he was mixed up with baby, dog and cat in such a noisy revel that his wife, with, an expres sion of disapproval, came in from the kitchen, where she bad gone to pre pare supper. "John, I didn't know you could mako etch a fool of yourself. Just look at your clothes, all lint and dust, and you are making more noise than the whole lot put together. Have you no consideration for the neighbors?" "Well, what did you get her for, if you don't want me to play with her?" And he laughed good-naturedly. "I can't Just sit and look at her; that ain't enough." "I took her," responded his wife Be verly, "because it is our duty to mako a home for some child that didn't have a good one. You'll make such a fuss over this ono that it will soon be spoiled, and I want it to grow up good and sensible. I have my own Ideas about its training. Come, get up, supper's ready." For two weeks Mr. Werthelmer lived In paradise, and, strange to say, he never once went out In the evening. But not so Mrs. Werthelmer, Babies require a good deal of care and atten tion; she bad not calculated on this. and her Idea of duty bocamo very much modified. In fact, sho com plained of tho trouble tho baby was giving her, in addition to which thcro was a trlflo of Jealousy. Mr. Wor thelmor devoted all his time to tho In fant and nono to her. True, sho had never Invited his caresses, but that did not make nfty difference; tho baby had wedged In between them, and sho was crowded out of her rightful, though unappropriated place Tho matter rankled in Mrs. Wor thoimer's mind, and tho thought of getting rid of It grew in her heart. So It was, that one night when Mr. Werthelmer had hurried homo, ready for a romp before supper, thero woro np Bigns of life in tho house; no bark ing dog, no singing bird, no crowing baby. "Whero'a baby?' he inquired of his stern-faced wife, with a sudden mis trust in his heart. "Oh, yes, it always baby, baby, nothing but baby," answered tlie woman, petulantly. "I suppose you wouldn't have cared If I had caught my death of cold, or worked my fin gors to tho bono waiting on It, as long as you could have something to play with. I made up my mind last night, j after I had gotten up threo times to attend to it, that I would not be im posed upon any longer, so this morn ing I tool: it to tho Foundling Asylum and " "You took that poor child to an asylum?" stammered Mr. Werthel mer with sudden anger and a curl of contempt on his lips. "You took that llttlo motherless child to a public in stitution after promising its father that you would take its mother's Babies require a good deal of care and calculated on this, and very much place? I thought every woman had come lovo in her heart, If not for her husband, then at least for a helpless babe, but you a nice religion you have, with all your prating about Christian duty and charity It Ib des picable." Mrs. Werthelmer was appalled at this outburst from her husband who bad always been kind and gentle, and his contemptuous look and bitter lan guage frightened hor. Womanlike, she began to cry, at which her hus band softened and looked surprised. It was tho first time he had ever Been tears in her eyes. Could it bo possible that she had a heart? "Martha, I said more than I should have; pardon me. Never mind about the baby, It's only one more disap pointment and I will live through it" With that he turned away, but his wife, whose eyes were opened to tho full significance of what she had done, called him back and putting her hands upon his shoulders looked him full in the face, with a strange, un wonted expression in her eyes. "John, I must tell you the truth now. It was not heartlessness. It was because oh, John, do you not under stand? I was jealous of your love for tho child. I was afraid you had ceased to love me. My hardness was all as ijmod, John. Say you forgive me, and I will go this moment and get the child again." The woman's habitual reserve melted under the tender caress of her husband, "Dear wife, I have always loved ?ou, but It seemed to me that you did not love me, you were so no, I will BBBaffr""H "IB :1t SKsSSHP'iyHBIWliMW nqj, say It, becauso I know now that I was wrong. My heart la big enough for both you and tho baby, so let us go after It boforo wo do anything else." f But tho baby was not thcro, another womnn who wanted a baby having taken it away. It was too lato that evening to do moro, so procuring tho address, Mrs. Worthelmor resolved to start after her baby early In tho morning It was her baby now, truly. A vigorous, impatient pull at tho boll and a young woman with a weak, childish faco appeared. Thero woro traces of recent tears, and tho chocks wero red with much rubbing. "If this Is Mrs. Harris, permit mo to enter and stato tho object of m visit," said Mrs. Werthelmer, with mnny misgivings. But when sho had entered, sho heard a baby's soft gurglo, and suro enough, there was her baby on tho bed In an inner room, as Bwoct and as dimpled as ever, making tho best of it In her strange quarters. Mrs. Wer thelmer told her story and begged Mrs. Harris to let her have tho baby tack. "I can never bo happy without It," sho confessed, with tears running down her cheeks. "Well, now, isn't that funny," said Mrs. Harris. "I mado up my mind that I must havo a baby because all my friends woro poking fun nt mo for being without ono. So I thought I would surprise my husband and havo ono hero somo night ready for him when ho got home. But, my gracious, you should havo heard him. Ho was as mau as a March haro and wanted to know what I meant by attention; ryirs. Werthelmer had not her Idea of duty became modified. bringing homo a strango brat, I told him I wanted something to lovo and cuddle, and he said, 'Love and cud dlo? Nonsense 1 Cnn't you lovo and cuddle me? That's what I married you for, anywny. You Just take that brat back whero you found it. I won't have it around." Ho was so mad that ho went away this morning without klsBlng ma good-by, a thing he has never dono before," and sho wept at tho terrible recollection. Then rcov cring herself, she snapped out: "Take It away. I neyer want to see another baby." When Mr. Werthelmer returned that evening, thero was tho baby In her accustomed place on the floor, with the dog performing his old trfeks, and the bird splitting its throat with melody, the cat purring an accompaniment But what was moro to him, there was his wife who met him at the door with a loving caress, something that had not hap pened since their honeymoon, a long time before. "Hurrah for the baby!" ho shouted. "This is what I call a happy family," Mrs. Werthelmer put tho baby in hia arms. "It is our New Year'B baby, dear nusband," she said softly; "my cruel conduct " "No moro of that," said Mr. Wer thelmer, hugging wife and baby to gether. "Tho past is forgotten, and wo shall begin tho New Year over again, but wo must give the baby an appropriate name. I have it," he exclaimed after a moment's thought. "Roxana, that's her name; it means the 'Dawn of Day,' and that's what eho has been to us. So, here you are, Roxann," and ho tossed tho squealing Infant up in tho air, while- Jack, tho dog, tried to Jump and catch Us tiny feot as they dangled Just beyond his reach. Christmas In Mantown. A Mining Comp Story. "Mantown" had been snowed in for ty days. It was on tho night boforo a Christmas tho thing happened which I nm going to toll you. You will not And Mantown on tho map of Califor nia, for tho reason that it mostly coased to bo before tho map was mado. When tho Parson, who was an early riser, throw tho wot flourcack ho had wiped his hands and face on nt my head and said: "Tho old lady up thero's plckln' hor gecso, Tom," nnd Polaris and I lookod out and saw tho fenthory white flakes falling, wo laughed. When it kept on and on till tho Bnow was nino feot deep tho laugh was on tho other sido of our moutlu Tho snow settled and froze, and wo woro In for It. Thero was whisky enough and pro visions enough, so that wo did not fear dying of thirst nnd hunger, but wo wero pining for amusement. Forty days and forty nights slinking dice and playing poker at the Itcd Gooso had become monotonous. Tho Red Gooso was a saloon. Thq way it got its namo was this which is also tho beginning of tho end of the thing that happened. It was all finished, tho saloon was, and ready for busi ness, nnd u big smooth signboard waiting to bo painted, but thcro wasn't a man thero could paint It. Wo wero falling into tho way of speaking of it as "Old Bob's'' when along camo a dandy-looking young chap Old Bob asked him If ho could paint a sign for a saloon, Ho asked what kind of a sign was wanted. Old Bob told him ho wanted a flguro of a great originality and ono that would tell tho namo without any printed mntter. Ho always put on airs in his speech when ho thought ho know moro than tho other follow did, and tho dandy chap waa modest-looking, in spite of his clothes. Well, tho stranger took tho Job, and when It was dqno and put up ovbr tho door and old Boh enma. out to size It up ho was roaring mad. Ho swore ho wouldn't pay for It. Tho figures paint ed on It was a big rod goose. The painter called all tho town to provo lhat ho had painted according to order by nsking each ono separately what it was, Every one of them said, "Bed Goose." Ho then asked pointedly if it was not of "great originality," and every ono to a man said it was tho first red gooso thoy had ever seen. So old Bob had to pay for tho sign and set up the drinks besides. It was that night I spoko of tho MBBBBBKKSViflrtw WtBBH N?k l rm f i . ifarwmmtmJttttBr'm ii7"ffTffi B Tat BB Baa U-S T BBBBBJnfc ''St Mf AIBflHHRF "F'PJPH'B 5"IEo BBBlWMyfllf"1!- Tin1rTFrfimMM HrBBBSBHi, l. nBHEfHBriHMkflKflHt ? nVnBHKli BBIHHBBBb teJBBkKiBBBBBBk gUyBBHBBwBBmMP&i&, " lYlKnfcLlJKBr BBBBbw JBPP7RBBHHf?WHWilfSl 'JbVmBHbBMBHP lXBVKWBMBwiliSHBHf BPBPS&KiS!-,',,,, "Well, now, we'll have some fun and life around the house," said he, getting down on the floor to Investigate the new plaything. .light before Christmas. The boys kept a roaring fire in the fireplace and tried to keep tho cheer going, but It was too plainly an effort all except at tho card tables. The most improb able things always happen without warning. In at tho door of tho Red Goose, like a bird blown from the night, camo a shivering, oldish-looking roan. His hair was long and a stub bly beard bid tho under half of his face. He was lost, he said, and near ly froze, and had the rheumatism and wanted to warm at the fire. We all stood back and let him have tho fire to himself. Ho strotchod his long, Blonder Angora In tho warmth of tho largo blaze, wnnnod his foot at it and turned hlo back to warm. His oyos wandered round tho big, ugly room nnd lit on tbo piano. Tho man at tho fire Bot his glnnco so questlonlngly on tho instrument that Polnrls voluntcored to toll him that It was a "pyanner," and askod him if ho could play on tho "critter." Ho said ho usod to play a llttlo, nnd began to rub his hands together. In n mlnuto a dozen volcos woro urging him to play. Ho Bald ho wna afraid his flngors woro too stiff. Thoy gavo him a drink of whisky and Boated him nt tho piano. Ho rau his fingots Along tho koys several times and be gan to piny, Tho man lookod up from their enrds. Ho played tho ploco through and part of "Tho Girl l Loft Uohlnd Mo," nnd stopped to rub his hands and straighten hia fingers. Ho throw hia head back and tho long, wind-blown hair slid down on his shouldorB. Mb volco roso in vol ume nnd richness and thrilled ub with Its vibrant sweetness. Plank by nlnnk tho hlood-stnlnnrl 3oor Bllpped out; Inch by Inch tho nmoko-grlmod walla dissolved; tho bottles and glasses molted away, Tho thounands of miles of savngo vlldcrnoss and trackless desort thoy had conquered to roach this golden fringe of creation wero not And out of tho puro whlto moonlight and tho dlamond-cryBtnlcd snow stolo in the facea nnd forms nt home, awoot homo. There wna a grand roll of song and round, a low, slow wall of melody, a bnnp, twang nnd silence. i Tho men waited, each In his attl tudo of listening, for tho length of a Lreath, and then ono big, concordant Flgh broke tho stillness. By onoa and twos and threes, without a word or a sign, they went out into tho sllcnco and tho snow. This would bo a good placo to stop tho story, but It did not happen that "ay nt tho Red Gooso. Tho first ones in to got tholr morn ing "dram" found tho proprietor In a toworlng rage. Ho said ho thought that old musician a nugget forty karats fino that had just rolled Itself Into his handa for a Christmas pros cnt. Ho had mado him n bod by tho fire, taking tho grizzly bear akin from 1 Is own bunk to make the floor softer for him, nnd told him thero was plonty of wood in tho corner and for him to just help himself nt tho bar. And when ho put his head in at' tho parti tion door nnd callod "Christmas Gift" to wako tho old chap up to breakfast he was gone. So was tho grizzly skin ho Blept on so was tho gold in tho box on tho wall end of tho bar; four thousand dollars in gold dust every ounce of it gone In Us placo ho had found a piece of paper with some lead-pencil Bcrlb bllngs on it, which read: Excuso my leave-taking unheard, And tho hour, for my way it is for; Taking you aa a man of your word, I have helped myself at the bar, For your kindness I give this advice; Never leave your dust lay round loose, Never trust either women or Mice I painted your sign of the goose. The laugh was on -old Bob. Sa Francisco Call, t
