THE RIVAL BABIES.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2127, 28 October 1875, Page 3

THE RIVAL BABIES.

Uncle Putnam's grand Co-operative Baby Show has not come off yet, but it was very near making a start on Saturday afternoon. Two womeii with babies entered the parlor set apart for the little popsey-fropseys, and taking their seats.on opposite sides of the room, proceeded to etare at each..other coolly and suspiciously. One was a tall female with auburn hair, and the other was a lump of a woman with, very black eyes and determined look. Neither spoke, and they commenced to unpack the offerings. The auburnhaired lady finally produced from the midst of innumerable wrappings a pale, scrawny-looking infant, wearing a consi- j derable gold chain and an expression of; melancholy. The other baby was a chip ' of the old block, so to speak, — a corpulent cherub with puffy checks and big eyes, who proceeded to suck its fat thumbs with much composure. The silence was becoming oppressive, when the tall woman broke it. She remarked with affected solicitude : " What is the matter with your baby, mum ? The poor little thing looks quite unwell." The little woman's black eyes snapped, but she answered with forced composure : " Minerva Geraldine was nej^r ill a dayinjier life, madam, and she is sixteen months and ten days'old. Has your little one been ailing long ? " The tall woman's hair began to rise up. but she pr-etended to be looking to find whereabouts the pin was that was pricking her* sad-looking babe, and made no reply. Presently she wound the infant's gold chain around her finder in an abitracted maunfir, so that the other woman could see it. The rival mother produced a coral necklace with a blue locket, and carelessly clasped it about Minerva G-er-aldme's neck. Then the other, in tones of alarm, exclaimed— " Why, Alphonso, you have lost your little gold ring!" ■ . ■. ■ Alphonso, who was about thirteen months old, vouchsafed no reply, bu^ only looked sad, and his mother, after a brief search, produced the ring from a needlecase, and with a glance of iriumph, forced i it on his finger. .. . . i The little woman was pale, but cdeipressed her lips with stern determination. Diving down into her basket, she broug'-t out a silver tnug and a wax doll with real hair. She trembled with excitement, for she had shown her full baud. She won; the silver mug settled it. "Do you intend to exhibit that overgrown monster here ? " inquired the fieryhaired female, glancing at her rival. " Why don't you let out your living skeleton to a peep show ? " screamed the little woman, her eyes snapping with r&ge. ■ It looked as if there might be blood shed, and a humane reporter, who had overheard the wrangle, rushed to interfere. " Is raj little darling a monstrosity ? ' "Is my Alphonso a living skeleton? " Both interrogatories rang out simultaneously with a shrillness that drowned the yelling of the canines and the crowing of the prize roosters in the next apartment. . " Ladies," said he* with an expreesion of great solicitude " they are both angels. But for heaven's sake don't detain me, for I have been exposed to the scalet fey And each exasperated female clutched up her baby, and nursing bottle, and basket, and bounced out. He was alone, and the chances of the show gone.—Detroit Post. . ','."' " •- V.- -■,