HOLIDAY
SUPPLEMENT.
THE
MUMMER NEW TCAR BAM
bYMAIE BOTIilLDA
R. WEnT 11131.
MEH wanted a
bnby.
.r -IssssvftSIy'.a?
h"V Afro Wnrtlml.
household con.
tcr of attraction
was substantial
ly In tho samo
direction.
It must bo ad
mitted hore, however, that tho desires
of tho two for tho samo object did
r.ot cmnnato from the samo view
point; there was nothing marital In
their thought, tho Bon-nnd-heir idea
novor ocurrlng to cither of them.
A dog, n cat and a canary bird had
hitherto been tho objects of Mr. Wer-
Mr. Werthelmer was amazed to find
with soft pillows, a chubby-faced,
of golden curls hanging
maimer's amusements when off duty,
but ho had grown woary of tho mon
otony of all threo and wanted some
thing human that ho could love, pot
and perishanimals did not seem to
fill tho void in his heart. Moreover,
ho waB a jolly sort of a man and felt
tho need of something to bubblo and
gush over. His homo environments
were well, were somewhat frigid.
On tho contrary, Mrs. Werthelmer
was a strict disciplinarian on tho
.icoro of duty, dogmatic and unyield
ing In her disposition, nnd opposed
to sentimental displays; oven her
Hmiloo when sho forgot herself nnd
indulged In such worldliness, wore
frost-bitten. But sho had gathered
the idea at tho Woman's club, during
4 protracted and heated discussion on
iho subject, that It wus tho duty of
ovory woman to nssumo tho guard
ianship or at lenst ono embryo
numan being, for tho purposo of train
ing It according to tho standard recog
rlzed by tho club, In tho right way, of
course, nnd thus save an Immortal
soul from contamination by tho wick
edness of tho. world, which was badly
n'need of making over again. Be
sides that, tho lady had noticed the
waning inlluonce of tho dog, cat and
bird to keep Mr. Werthoimer 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-homo bus
hand. "Lot mo see," sho said, pausing In
her dusting, "John nnd I quarreled on
Thanksgiving day, and to make him
understand that ho was In tho wrong,
I gavo him corned beef and cnbbago
for dinner Instead of turkey. Then
again, on Christmas day ho was not
as liberal as I thought he should havo
been, and tho turkey was tough thero
weren't any cranberries, nnd tho only
dessert was bread pudding instead of
plum accidental, of courso. To make
up wltli him, 1 think I will presont
him with n baby on Now Year's day,
nnd that will keop him at homo for
a year at least. But whero shall I
get one?"
Now it so happonod that Mr. John
Hopkins had more chlldron than ho
could care for; half a dozen of them
' reaching up Hko tho Btcps of a ladder,
all vigorously healthy and constantly
clamoring for something to eat and
wear. His wagos not Increasing with
his family, it waa very difficult to got
oven bread. To add to Ills misory,
Mrs. Hopkins committed the folly of
presenting him with a sovonth, and,
as a Inst straw, sho up and dlod In
tho midst of its rnislng, leaving him
forlorn with an elght-nionths-old baby
nnd a string of children too young to
holp caro for It. It seemed to him
that tho world was cold and unfeeling,
for tho neighbors, Instead of offering
any assistance, intimated quite plain
ly that "poor pcoplo who kept on hav
ing children should be ablo to pro
vide for them without holding outsid
ers responsible by soliciting help."
In Bplte af its unwelconio reception
tho seventh Hopkins was really tho
llnest of tho lot, a bright, healthy and
attractlvo baby. In his extremity tho
father advertised it Tor adoption, nntl
his ndvortlsomcnl was wlint Mrs. Wer
thoimor saw, when In tho throos of
her desire to procuro one. It was a
windfall, and as soon as sho set her
eyes upon it sho recognized a lino
brnnd to bo snatched from tho bum-
sprawling on the floor, surrounded
blue - eyed Infant, with little wisps
around a shapely head.
Ing, and adopted It at once, but Mr,
Hopkins was not to deliver tho bnby
girl until an hour or so before tho
Uusband's homo-coming on Now
Yenr's over, so nB tr bo o surprlso for
him.
When Mr. Wcrthelmor returned
homo after his day's toll on tho even'
Ing in quostlon, ho was amazed to And
sprnwling on tho floor, surrounded
with soft ' pillows, n chubby-laced,
blue-eyed infant, with little wisps of
goldon curls hnnglng around a shape
ly head. It was bobbing around in n
wobbly fashion, 11b tiny hands
stretched out trying to roach a largo
gray cat, wisely sitting Just boyond
Its grasp, blinking ut tho now acquisi
tion in sleepy wonder. Jack, tho dog,
wno manifesting IiIb npprovnl of tho
new arrival by furiously barking and
wngglng his stumpy tall, at tho samo
tlmo frisking around and upsetting
tho cat, drawing hor nbout by tho
tall, and performing other astonishing
feats to ontertnln tho baby.
"Groat Caesar!" ho exclaimed.
"What's tho row anyway? Have you
started a monagorlo?"
"This Is our baby," exclaimed Mrs.
Werthelmer, relating hor experience
and intentions.
"Wejl, now wo'll have some fun and
llfo around tho houso," said ho, get
ting down on tho floor to investigate
tho now plaything. "Sho's mighty
protty, anyway," was IiIb decision, In
a few momonts ho wnH mixed up with
baby, dog nnd cat In such a noisy
revel that his wife, with an expres
sion of dlsapprovnl, camo In from tho
kltchon, whoro sho hnd gono to pre
pare supper.
"John, I didn't know you could mako
e ich a fool of yourself. Just look at
your clothes, all lint and dust, and
you aro making moro iioIho than tho
wholo lot put togothor. Havo you no
consideration for tho neighbors?"
"Woll, what did you get her for, If
you don't want mo to play with her?"
And ho laughed good-naturedly. "I
can't just sit nnd look nt her; that
ain't enough."
"I took hor," rospondod his wlfo so
vorly, "becauso It Is our duty to mnko
a homo for somo child that didn't
havo a good ono. You'll mnko such a
fusB over this ono that It will soon bo
spoiled, and I want it to grow up
good and sonslblo. I havo my own
Ideas about Us trninlng. Como, got
up, suppor's ready."
For two weoks Mr. Werthelmer lived
in paradlso, and, strango to say, ho
novor once went out in tho ovoning.
But not so Mr. Worthalmor. Bahios
roqulro n good doal of caro and atten
tion; buo had not calculated on this,
and her Idea of duty became very
much modified. In fact, sho com
plained of tho troublo tho baby was
giving hor, in addition to which thero
was n trifle of Jealousy. Mr. Wer
thelmer dovoted all his time to tho In
fant and nono to her. True, sho had
novor Invited his enrosscs, but that
did not mnko nny difference; tho bnby
had wedged In botweon them, and sho
was crowded out of hor rightful,
though unappropriated place.
Tho matter rankled in Mrs. Wcr-
tholmcr's mind, and tho thought of
gottlng rid of it grow In hor heart.
So it was, thnt ono night when Mr.
Werthelmer hnd hurried home, ready
for a romp boforo supper, there wcro
no signs of life In the houso; no bark
ing dog, no singing bird, no crowing
baby.
"Where's baby?'' ho inquired of his
stern-faced wlfo, with a suddon mis
trust in his heurt.
"Oh, yes, It always baby, llnby,
nothing hut bnby," answorod tho
woman, petulantly. "I suppose you
wouldn't have cared If I had caught
my doath of cold, or workod my lin
gers to tho bono waiting on it, as long
an you could have something to piny
with. I mado up my mind last night,
after I had gotten up thrco times to
attend to it, that I would not bo im
posed upon any longor, so this morn
ing I tool: it to tho Foundling Asylum
and "
"You took that poor child to
an asylum?" stummorod Mr. Worthoi
njer with suddon angor nnd n curl of
contempt on his Hps. "You took that
little motherless child to a public in
stitution after promising its father
that you would tako its mother's
Babies require a good deal of care and
calculated on this, nnd
very much
place? 1 thought every woman had
nomo lovo In hor heart, if not for her
husband, then at leaBt for a holploss
babe, but you a nico religion you
have, with nil your prating about
Christian duty and charity It 1b des
picable." Mrs. Werthelmer wnB appalled at
this outburst from hor husband who
had always boon kind and gentle, and
hlH contemptuous look nnd bitter Inn
guago frightoncd her. Womanllko,
fiho began to cry, at which her hus
band softened nnd looked surprised.
It was tho first tlmo ho had over Boon
tears In hor oyes. Could It bo possiblo
that she had a heart?
"Martha, I Bald moro than I should
hnvo; pardon mo. Never mind about
tho baby, It's only ono moro disap
pointment nnd I will live through It."
With thnt ho turned away, but hla
wlfo, whoso oyos were opened to tho
full Hlgnlflcnnco of what alio had dono,
called him back and putting hor
hands upon his shoulders lookod him
full in tho faco, with n atrnngo, un
wonted expression in hor eyes,
"John, I must tell you tho truth
now. It wna not heartlossnoss, it was
becauso oh, John, do you not under
htand? I wns Jealous of your lovo for
tho child. I was afraid you had ceased
to lovo mo. My hardness wob all ub
i.unod, John. Sny you forglvo mo,
and I will go tills momont and get tho
child again."
Tho woman's habitual rosorvo
melted under tho tonder enrosa of her
husband.
"Dear wlfo, I havo always lovod
; ou, but it Boomed to mo that you did
not love mo, you were so no, I will
noj say it, becauso I know now that
1 was wrong. My heart Is big enough
for both you nnd tho baby, so let us
go after It boforo wo do anything
OlBJ."
But tho baby was not thero, nnothcr
woman who wanted a bnby having
taken It nwny. It was too lato that
evening to do moro, so procuring tho
address. Mrs. Werthoimer resolved to ,
atnrt after hor baby early in tho
morning it was hor baby now, truly.
A vigorous, impatient pull nt tho
bell nnd a young woman with n weak,
childish fnco .appeared. Thero woro
trnceB of recent tears, nnd tho checks
wcro red with much rubbing.
"If this Is Mrs. Harris, permit mo to
ontor nnd Btnto tho object of my
viBlt," said Mrs. Werthelmer, wlUi
many misgivings.
But when sho hnd entered, sho
henrd a baby's soft gurgle, nnd auro
enough, thero was her bnby on tho
bed in an Inner room, as Bwoot and as
d'mplcd na ever, making tho host of
It In hor strango quarters. MrB. Wor
Uiclmor told hor Btory nnd bogged
Mrs. Harris to let hor havo tho baby
back.
"I can novor bo happy without it,"
ttho confessed, with tears running
down hor cheeks.
"Well, now, Isn't thnt funny," snld
Mrs. Harris. "I mndo up my mind
that I must have n baby becauso all
my frlendB woro poking fun nt mo for
being without ono. So I thought
I would surprise my husband and
hnvo ono hero somo night ready for
him when ho got homo. But, my
gracious, you should havo hoard him.
Ho was as man as n March haro nnd
wnntcd to know what I meant by
attention; Mrs. Werthelmer had not
her idea of duty became
modified.
bringing homo u strango brat. I told
him I wanted something to lovo nnd
cuddle, 'nnd ho said, 'Lovo and cud
die? Nonsense! Can't you lovo nnd
ouddlo me? That'a what I married
you for, anyway. You Just tako that
brat back where you found it. 1 won'
hnvo It around." Ho wna bo mad that
ho wont awuy this morning without
kissing mo good-hy, a thing ho has
novor dono boforo," nnd alio wept at
ho torriblo recollection. Thon rcov
erlng heraolf, alio annpped out:
"Tako It nway. I novor wnnt to
ace nnothor baby."
When Mr. Wortholmor returned
that ovoning, thoro was tho baby in
1 or nccustomod plnco on tho floor
with tho dog performing hla oh
tricks, and the bird splitting Its
throat with molody, tho cat purring
an accompaniment. But what was
moro to him, thoro was hla wlfo who
mot him at the door with n loving
cnrosB, something that hnd not Imp
pened hIiico tholr honeymoon, a long
tlmo boforo.
"Hurrah for the baby!" ho ahoutod
"This la what I call a happy family.
MrB. Werthelmer put tho bnby in hla
nrniB.
"It Ib our Now Year'a baby, dear
miBband," alio said aoftly; "my cruel
conduct
"No moro of that," said Mr. Wer
tholmor, hugging wlfo and baby to
aether. "Tho past la forgotten, nnd
wo shnll bogln tho Now Yonr ovor
again, but wo must glvo tho baby
an appropriate namo. I havo It," h
exclaimed nftor a moment's though
"Hoxnna, that's hor namo; It monna
iho 'Dawn of Bay,' nnd Unit's, what
fiho has bon to us. So, hero you aro,
Roxann," and ho tossed tho squcnllng
Infant up In the nlr, whllo Jack, tho
dog, tried to Jump nnd cntcli Uh tiny
feet ns they dangled Just beyond IiIb
reach.
Christmas In Mnntowri.
A Mlnlni Camp Story.
"Mantown" had boon Biiowed In for
ty days. It wns on tho night boforo a
Christmas tho thing happonod which I
am going to tell you. You will not
And Mantown on tho map of Cnllfor-
nut, for tho renson thnt It mostly
ceasod to bo boforo tho map was made.
hon tho rarson, who was an oarly
riser, throw tho wet Hoursnek ho hud
wiped IiIh handB and fnco on at my
head and snld: "Tho old huly up
there's plckin' hor geoso, Tom." and
'olnrlB and I looked out and saw the
foathory white flakes falling, wo
lnughed. When It kept on nnd on till
tho buow wnB nlno foot deep tho laugh
was on tho other sldo of our mouth,
Tho biiow settled nnd froze, nud wo
woro In for It.
Thoro wns whisky enough nnd pro
Islons enough, so that wo did not
four dying of thirst nnd hunger, but
wo woro pining for umusomont.
Forty days nnd forty nlghtB Blinking
dlco nnd playing poker at tho Hod
Clooso had bocomo monotonous. Tho
Hod Goose wns n saloon. Tho way it
gotj Itii namo wns this which is nlso
uw uogitining or tuo ouu ol mo tiung
that happened. It .was all finished,
the saloon wns. and ready for busi
ness, and n big smooth alguhonrd
waiting to bo painted, but thero wasn't
a man thoro could paint it. Wo woro
falling Into tho wny of speaking of It
ns "Old Bob'a" when nlong ciuno u
dnndy-looklng young chap
Old Bob asked him If he could paint
a sign for a saloon. Ho naked what
kind of n sign wnB wanted. Old Bob
told him ho wanted n figure of u gront
orlglnnllty and ono that would toll tho
namo without any printed mntter. Ho
always put on nlrB In 1i!b speech when
ho thought ho know moro than tho
other follow did, and tho dandy chnp
wna modest-looking, In spite of IiIb
clothes.
Woll, tho Btrnngor took tho Job, nnd
when it was dono and put up ovor tho
door and old Bob cntuo out to nlzo it
up ho wna roaring mnd. Ho Hworo ho
wouldn't pay for It. Tho figures paint
ed on it waa u big rod gooao. The
painter cnlled all the town to provo
Unit ho had painted nccordlng to order
by nailing ench ono Bopnratoly what It
wnB. Every ono of them snld, "Hod
Coose." Ho then naked pointedly It
It wnB not of "grout originality," and
every ono to a man said It was tho
first red goofio tlioy had over . Boon.
So old Boh had to pay for tho sign
and set up tho drinks bcsidcH,
It wns that night I apoko of tho
"Well, now, we'll havo some fun and life around the house," said he, getting
down on the floor to Investigate tho new plaything.
.light boforo Christmas. Tho hoys
kept u roaring Aro in tho fireplace and
tried to keep tho cheer going, hut It
waa too plulnly an effort all oxcopt
at tho card tabloB. Tho moat Improb
able thlnga ulwayB happon without
valuing. In ut tho door of the Hed
Goose, like n bird blown from tho
night, camo a shivering, oldlah-lookliig
man. Ills hair was long and a stub
bly board hid tho under half of hla
fuco. Ho wan lout, ho said, and near
ly, froze, and had tho rheumatism and
wantod to warm at tho Arc.
Wo all stood ba'ok aud lot him havo
tho flro to himself. Ho strotchod bio
long, Blonder lingers In tho warmth
of tho Inrgo blnzo, warmod his foot
at It and turned his back to wnrm.
His eyes wandered round tho big,
i.gly room and lit on tlto plnno.
Tho man nt tho flro sot IiIb glnnco
so quostloulngly on tho Instrument
that Polaris volunteered to toll him
that it wns a "pyanner," nnd asked
him If ho could play on tho "critter."
Ho said ho used to play n llttlo, and
hogan to rub his hands together. In
n mlnuto n dozen voices were urging
him to piny. He said lie was nfrnld
his Angora woro too Btlff, Thoy gavo
him n drink of whisky nnd seated
Mm nt tho plnno. He rnu his flngcrn
along tho keya Bovernl times nnd bo
Bim to piny. Tho men looked up from
tholr cards. Ilo played tho pioco
through and part of "Tho Girl i Loft
Behind Mo," and stopped to rub hla
hnnds nnd straighten hla lingers.
Ho throw his bond back and tho
long, wind-blown hair slid down on
his BliouhlurB. IIIb volco rose in vol
ume nnd rlchnoBH nnd thrilled ub with
Its vibrant nwoetness.
Plank by plnnk tho blood-Btnlnod
3oor sllppod out; Inch by inch tho
nmoko-grlined walla dlasoivod; tlto
bottlen and glasses molted away.,
The thousands of miles of Bnvago
vlldornesa nnd trnckloss doaort thoy
hnd conquered to roach UiIh golden
rrlngo of creation wero not. And out
of tho puro whllo moonlight nnd tho
dlnmondorystnlod buow stolo In tho
incoB nnd forms nt homo, aweot homo.
Thore wiib n grand roll or song nnd
round, n low, slow wnll of molody, a
hiinp, twang and sllonco.
Tho molt wnltod, each In IiIb atti
tude or llBtonlng, for tho length of n
breath, and then ono big, concordant
t'lgh broke tho stillness. By ones nnd
twos nnd throea, without a word or a
sign, thoy wont out into tho allonco
nud tho biiow,
This would bo n good placo to stop
tho Blory, but It did not linppon that
vay nt tho Hod Gooao.
Tho Arst ones in' to got tholr morn
ing "drnm" found tho proprietor in n
towering rngo. Ho sold ho thought
that old musician a nuggot forty
karnts lino that hnd Just rolled itsolf
Into his liiuidB for n Christmas pros
out. Ho hud mndo him a bed by the
Are, taking tho grizzly benr akin from
Ma own bunk to mnko tho Aoor aoftor
for him, and told him thero wnn plonty
or wood lu the corner nnd for him to
JitHt help hlniBolf ut the bar. And
when ho put hla bond In at tho parti
tion doot' anil called "Chrlatniaa Gift"
(o wnko tho old chap up to breakfast
ho waa gono. So wna tho grizzly Bkln
ho alopt on ao wna tho gold In tho
box on tho wnll ond of tho bar; four
thousand dollars lu gold dust ovory
ounce of It gono.
In Its placo ho had found n pioco of
puper with Bonio load-pencil Bcrlb
bllngs on It, which rend:
ISxciiso my leave-taking unheard,
And the hour, for my way It Ib far;
Taking you nB a man or your word,
I havo helped myself nt tho bar,
For your kindness 1 glvo this ndvlco;
Novor loavo yonr dust lay round
loose,
Novor trust olthor womon or ntlco
I painted your algn of tho goose.
Tho luugh wna on old Bob. San
Fruuciuco Cull.