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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 wuz 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 bed 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.