A VERY QUIET BABY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6003, 12 February 1881, Page 7

A VERY QUIET BABY.

J <» I Ciuldrex-is-akms generally enjoy exempe tion from Customs' duties, and even the t octroi officials stationed at the '' barriers" of i French and Italian cities, fiscal martinets h though they be, are wont to allow these - innocent creatures to pass them free of duty, it There are, however, exceptions to every o rule. Only tlie otlier day, among the s passengers in an omnibus undergoing the e usual inspection at the Porta Garibaldi of t Milan was a nuldy-cheekcd wet-nurse, bearL- ing on her lap an infantine treasure, carefully it swaddled, its youthful lineaments, hidden — from view by a thick white lace veil. It i. seemed a baby of excellent conduct, by no y means addicted to infuriate screaming, or It even to the complacent gurglings affected by d some infants, but wrapped in a profound d 1 noiseless slumber. "That is a remarkably d quiet child of yours," observed the searching d official to the nurse. "Yes, indeed it is, '• dear little angel," rejoined the latter; it Is hardly ever cries, tlie sweet poppet, and y when it does whimper a little I can quiet it s in a moment with a lump of sugar." "It t must be quite a treasure," replied he of the e- octroi; "just step down, there's a good t woman, and bring it in to my office, will e you. I should like to have a look at it, , being a family man myself." The nurse o grew pale ; she had, however, no valic: e excuse for non-compliance with the request, y so she descended from the omnibus ant s, followed the fatherly official into his bureau, e where, strange and sad to tell, the extra c ordinary placidity of her infantine chargc s, was speedily accounted for by the discover} e that it consisted of fourteen pounds of fin< ; Bolonga sausage, neatly packed up in tin t snow-white robes of guileless babyhood.