Page 9 - Another Twist in the Tale

“Why, who d’you belong to?” said Baggage, looking around, trying to see where this miraculous infant might have sprung from – for, having no mother to educate her on such matters, she was still a little hazy on where babies actually came from. But, seeing nothing and no one to whom the babe might belong, she bent down to pick up the child.
“You poor little mite, you!” she declared. “Ain’t got no one to love you, nor feed you – leavin’ you out in the snow on this terrible night. ’Tis a shame, tha’s what it is!”
The baby seemed to agree with her, for she was placated to be in Baggage’s arms and even more contented when Baggage tore a strip of bread from the package she was carrying and gave it to the babe to suck on.
Baggage looked around again. Several good citizens of the parish passed by, turning their eyes hastily away as good taste dictated. Baggage knew why and she did not judge them. For her fourteen years had impressed upon her strongly that girls were baggage to be discarded.
But somehow she found it impossible to act upon this incontrovertible law of the land.
“Why, what am I to do wit’ you?” asked Baggage, as if the baby might have an answer. “Can’t leave you
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