Ginx's Baby [5]
kind, she trusted in this as a truth, and perhaps an all-seeing eye reading some quaint characters on her simple heart, viewed them not too nearly, but had regard to their general import, for, as she expressed it, "Thank God! they had always been able to get along." In the rush and tumult of the world it is likely that the summum bonum of nine-tenths of mankind is embraced in that purely negative happiness--to get along. Not to perish: to open eyes, however wearily, on a new morning: to satisfy with something, no matter what, a craving appetite: to close eyes at night under some shadow or shelter: or, it may be, in certain ranks to walk another day free from bankruptcy or arrest: Thank Heaven, they are just able to get along! Convinced that another infant straw would break his back, Ginx calmly proposed to disconcert physical, moral, and legal relations by drowning the straw Mrs. Ginx clinging to Number Twelve listened aghast. If a mother can forget her sucking child she was not that mother. The stream of her affections, though divided into twelve rills, would not have been exhausted in twenty-four, and her soul, forecasting its sorrow, yearned after that nonentity Number Thirteen. She pictured to herself the hapless strangeling borne away from her bosom by those strong arms, and--in fact she sobbed so that Ginx grew ashamed, and sought to comfort her by the suggestion that she could not have any more. But she knew better. VI.--The Antagonism of Law and Necessity. In eighteen months, notwithstanding resolves, menaces, and prophecies, GINX'S BABY was born. The mother hid the impending event long, from the father. When he came to know it, he fixed his determination by much thought and a little extra drinking. He argued thus: "He wouldn't go on the parish. He couldn't keep another youngster to save his life. He had never taken charity and never would. There was nothink to do with it but drown it!" Female friends of Mrs. Ginx bruited his intentions about the neighborhood, so that her "time" was watched for with interest. At last it came. One afternoon Ginx, lounging home, saw signs of excitement around his door in Rosemary Street. A knot of women and children awaited his coming. Passing through them he soon learned what had happened. Poor Mrs. Ginx! Without staying to think or argue, he took up the little stranger and bore it from the room---- "O, O, O, Ginx! Ginx!!" She would have risen, but a strong power called weakness pulled her back. * * * * The man meanwhile had reached the street. "Here he comes! There's the baby! He's going to do it, sure enough!" shrieked the women. The children stood agape. He stopped to consider. It is very well to talk about drowning your baby, but to do it you need two things, water and opportunity. Vauxhall Bridge was the nearest way to the former, and towards it Ginx turned. "Stop him!" "Murder!" "Take the child from him!' The crowd grew larger, and impeded the man's progress. Some of his fellow-workmen stood by regarding the fun. "Leave us aloan, naabors," shouted Ginx; "this is my own baby, and I'll do wot I likes with it. I kent keep it; an' if I've got anythin' I kent keep, it's best to get rid of it, ain't it? This child's goin' over Wauxhall Bridge." But the women clung to his arms and coattails. "Hallo! What's all this about?" said a sharp, strong man, well-dressed, and in good condition, coming up to the crowd; "anothe r foundling! Confound the place, the very stones produce babies. Where was it found?" CHORUS (recognizing a deputy-relieving officer). It warn't found at all; it's Ginx's baby. OFFICER. Ginx's baby? Who's Ginx? GINX. I am. OFFICER. Well? GINX. Well! CHORUS. He's goin' to drown it. OFFICER. Going to drown it? Nonsense. GINX. I am. OFFICER. But, bless my heart, that's murder! GINX. No 'tain't. I've twelve already at home. Starvashon's sure to kill this 'un. Best save it the trouble. CHORUS. Take it away, Mr. Smug, he'll kill it if you don't.