Ginx's Baby [11]
is that a correct version?" "Law, no, sir, it warn't quite like that," said Mrs. Ginx. "We've 'ad so many on 'em that Ginx was for drownin' the thirteenth"--
--The little man opened his eyes---- "An' he went and gave it away, sir," said she crying, "to a nun, sir--ah! ah! ah!-- they won't let me see the darlin' now, sir-- ah! ah! ah! because I won't let Missis Spishyosir mark me with the cross, sir, an' me with as fine a breast o' milk as ever was for 'im, sir--ah! ah! ah! " "Hem!" said the little man, "that's different from what I understood." He was quite honest, but who does not know how disappointing it is to find a wrong you wish to redress is not so bad as you had hoped? However, it looked bad enough, and might be made worse. It was the very case for the Protestant Detectoral Association. "Would Mr. Ginx not join in an effort to recover his child?" "No, sir; I should think not: he went an' gave it away." "I know; but he is a Protestant?" "I don't think he be much o' anything, sir. I know he hate priests like pison, but he don't care about these things as I do." "Oh! I see." Writes in his memorandum book--husband indifferent.
"But don't you think he would help you to get the child back again?" "No, sir. I wouldn't speak of it to him for the world. He'd knock any one down if they was to mention the child to him." The little man mentally determined not to see Ginx. "Well; would you like to have your child back?" "You see, I couldn't bring it 'ere, sir. Ginx won't 'ave it; but I'd like to see it took away from them nunnerys." "Ha! very well then. We can perhaps manage it for you. You would be content to hand it over to some Protestant Home, where it would be taken care of and you could see it when you liked?" "O yes, sir," cries Mrs. Ginx, brightening. "Then we'll have an affidavit and apply for a Habeas Corpus." It was impossible not to be satisfied with such words as these, whatever they meant and Mrs. Ginx was cheered, while the little man went on his way. III.--The Sacrament of Baptism. Mother, or "Mrs." Suspiciosa, fed Ginx's Baby with holy pap. It seemed proper now that he should be christened and formally received into the Church. No small stir was made by this ceremony, for which all the resources of the convent were called into action. The day selected was that sacred to St. Ambrosius. The chapel was decorated with flowers. Mass was celebrated, candles flamed upon the altar surrounding a figure of the Infant Jesus, incense was burning around the baby, sisters and novices knelt in serried rows of virginity "like doves Sunning their milky bosoms on the thatch. " Mother Suspiciosa carried the infant, clothed in a pure white robe, with a red cross embroidered on its front. In the absence of the natural parent a wax figure of St. Ambrosius did duty for him, and another wax figure stood godfather: but I dare not enter into details of matters that may be looked at as awfully profane, or awfully solemn, by different spectators. These things are a mystery. I have no hesitation about describing the impious behavior of little Ginx. Whatever swaddled infant could do in the way of opposition, with hands, and legs, and voice, was done by that embryo saint. The incense made him cough and sputter; the lights and singing raised the very devil within him. His cries drowned the prayers. He frightened his conductress by the redness of his face. He ruined the red cross with ejected matter. You would have taken him for an infant demoniac. Mother Suspiciosa, though annoyed, was encouraged. She looked upon this as an evident testimony to little Ginx's value. The devil and St. Michael were contending for his body. At length he was baptized, and carried out. Credat Judaeus. He instantly sank into a deep sleep. It was a miracle: Satan had yielded to the sign of the cross! IV.--Law on Behalf of Gospel. In the moment of Sister Suspiciosa's triumph, the enemy was laying his train against her. The
--The little man opened his eyes---- "An' he went and gave it away, sir," said she crying, "to a nun, sir--ah! ah! ah!-- they won't let me see the darlin' now, sir-- ah! ah! ah! because I won't let Missis Spishyosir mark me with the cross, sir, an' me with as fine a breast o' milk as ever was for 'im, sir--ah! ah! ah! " "Hem!" said the little man, "that's different from what I understood." He was quite honest, but who does not know how disappointing it is to find a wrong you wish to redress is not so bad as you had hoped? However, it looked bad enough, and might be made worse. It was the very case for the Protestant Detectoral Association. "Would Mr. Ginx not join in an effort to recover his child?" "No, sir; I should think not: he went an' gave it away." "I know; but he is a Protestant?" "I don't think he be much o' anything, sir. I know he hate priests like pison, but he don't care about these things as I do." "Oh! I see." Writes in his memorandum book--husband indifferent.
"But don't you think he would help you to get the child back again?" "No, sir. I wouldn't speak of it to him for the world. He'd knock any one down if they was to mention the child to him." The little man mentally determined not to see Ginx. "Well; would you like to have your child back?" "You see, I couldn't bring it 'ere, sir. Ginx won't 'ave it; but I'd like to see it took away from them nunnerys." "Ha! very well then. We can perhaps manage it for you. You would be content to hand it over to some Protestant Home, where it would be taken care of and you could see it when you liked?" "O yes, sir," cries Mrs. Ginx, brightening. "Then we'll have an affidavit and apply for a Habeas Corpus." It was impossible not to be satisfied with such words as these, whatever they meant and Mrs. Ginx was cheered, while the little man went on his way. III.--The Sacrament of Baptism. Mother, or "Mrs." Suspiciosa, fed Ginx's Baby with holy pap. It seemed proper now that he should be christened and formally received into the Church. No small stir was made by this ceremony, for which all the resources of the convent were called into action. The day selected was that sacred to St. Ambrosius. The chapel was decorated with flowers. Mass was celebrated, candles flamed upon the altar surrounding a figure of the Infant Jesus, incense was burning around the baby, sisters and novices knelt in serried rows of virginity "like doves Sunning their milky bosoms on the thatch. " Mother Suspiciosa carried the infant, clothed in a pure white robe, with a red cross embroidered on its front. In the absence of the natural parent a wax figure of St. Ambrosius did duty for him, and another wax figure stood godfather: but I dare not enter into details of matters that may be looked at as awfully profane, or awfully solemn, by different spectators. These things are a mystery. I have no hesitation about describing the impious behavior of little Ginx. Whatever swaddled infant could do in the way of opposition, with hands, and legs, and voice, was done by that embryo saint. The incense made him cough and sputter; the lights and singing raised the very devil within him. His cries drowned the prayers. He frightened his conductress by the redness of his face. He ruined the red cross with ejected matter. You would have taken him for an infant demoniac. Mother Suspiciosa, though annoyed, was encouraged. She looked upon this as an evident testimony to little Ginx's value. The devil and St. Michael were contending for his body. At length he was baptized, and carried out. Credat Judaeus. He instantly sank into a deep sleep. It was a miracle: Satan had yielded to the sign of the cross! IV.--Law on Behalf of Gospel. In the moment of Sister Suspiciosa's triumph, the enemy was laying his train against her. The