"Anything I kin do for you, Bill?" says I, but he didn't make no answer.
All of a suddint he sot his eyes on the prutty lady that had the fat
baby sleepin' in her arms, 'nd he made a break for her like he wuz
crazy. He took off his hat 'nd bent down over her 'nd said somethin'
none uv the rest uv us could hear. The lady kind uv started like she wuz
frightened, 'nd then she looked up at Bill 'nd looked him right square
in the countenance. She saw a tall, ganglin', awkward man, with long
yaller hair 'nd frowzy beard, 'nd she saw that he wuz tremblin' 'nd hed
tears in his eyes. She looked down at the fat baby in her arms, 'nd then
she looked out'n the winder at the great stretch uv prairie land, 'nd
seemed like she wuz lookin' off further'n the rest uv us could see.
Then, at last, she turnt around 'nd said, "Yes," to Bill, 'nd Bill went
off into the front car ag'in.
None uv the rest uv us knew what all this meant, but in a minnit Bill
come back with his little yaller baby in his arms, 'nd you never heerd a
baby squall 'nd carry on like that baby wuz squallin' 'nd carryin' on.
Fact is, the little yaller baby was hungry, hungrier'n a wolf, 'nd there
wuz its mother dead in the car up ahead 'nd its gran'ma a good piece up
the road. What did the lady over the way do but lay her own sleepin'
baby down on the seat beside her 'nd take Bill's little yaller baby 'nd
hold it on one arm 'nd cover up its head 'nd her shoulder with a shawl,
jist like she had done with the fat baby not long afore. Bill never
looked at her; he took off his hat and held it in his hand, 'nd turnt
around 'nd stood guard over that mother, 'nd I reckon that ef any man
hed darst to look that way jist then Bill would've cut his heart out.
The little yaller baby didn't cry very long. Seemed like it knowed
there wuz a mother holdin' it,--not its own mother, but a woman whose
life hed been hallowed by God's blessin' with the love 'nd the purity
'nd the sanctity uv motherhood.
Why, I wouldn't hev swapped that sight uv Bill an' them two babies 'nd
that sweet woman for all the cattle in Texas! It jest made me know that
what I'd allus thought uv wimmin was gospel truth. God bless that lady!
I say, wherever she is to-day, 'nd God bless all wimmin folks, for
they're all alike in their unselfishness 'nd gentleness 'nd love!
Bill said, "God bless ye!" too, when she handed him back his poor little
yaller baby. The little creeter wuz fast asleep, 'nd Bill darsent speak
very loud for fear he'd wake it up. But his heart wuz way up in his
mouth when he says "God bless ye!" to that dear lady; 'nd then he added,
like he wanted to let her know that he meant to pay her back when he
could: "I'll do the same for you some time, marm, if I kin."
1888.
* * * * *
The Cyclopeedy.
THE CYCLOPEEDY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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