Wichita Daily Eagle

She Got the Baby.
[Chicago Herald]
"When a woman leaves a baby at the Foundlings' Home she don't want any company," said an old officer, "for she creeps around after dark, pulls the bell and runs.
But when she wants to get it again, as some of them do, she comes for an officer. Now all this business is pretty tough, but I would rather lie around in the first case than in the last. I had to go over with a young woman the other day. She wanted to find her baby. She was happy as a lark, because she was able now to care for it. I wanted to warn her a little, but I didn't know just how to begin. Finally I said:
" 'When did you leave the baby there?"
"'A little more than a year ago,' said she.
Then she started in to tell me all about it, crying and a grin all the time.
When I could get in a word I said
"'Have you ever seen it since?"
"'Are you sure it is there?"
"'Oh, it must be it was, of course. I could know him anywhere.'
"Well," I said no more. We went in and the girl gave the day on which she left the child. The clerk looked up the record. I stood behind him as he did so, for I was afraid. Pretty soon we came to it. I read: Aug. 22, 1883. Boy, 2 months old. Left at door. Named William Smith. Died Nov. 17, 1883. I pressed the clerk's arm and wrote on a piece of paper, 'Say nothing.' Then I took the girl and we went through the place looking at the babies. Says I: 'You said you would know him. Now, I want you to pick him out.' I was getting mighty nervous. We looked at fifteen or twenty, and pretty soon she gave a scream and seized one poor little fellow and almost ate him up. She got down on her knees and kissed him a thousand times, the big tears rolling down on his face. I thought she was going to smother him. When we got her quieted I said: 'Now, by the law of the state this baby is in the keeping of this home. I must know something about you. If you are able to take care of him and are all right otherwise you shall have him.' I began to be afraid that I had got into an almighty big scrape. But, sir, it all came out right. I found that she was married to a fine young fellow, and that they were doing well. She got the baby and it's hers, ain't it? Of course it is."