Late one evening last week, as a young gentleman was passing by Scotland-yard, in a heavy shower of rain, a woman decently dressed begged the favour of him to hold a child she had in her arms whilst she shook the water off her cloak: the gentleman good-naturedly complied with her request. She then took off her cloak and shook it, and retired a little way up the gateway, which the gentleman imagining to be occasioned by a circumstance she did not choose to mention, waited contendedly with his face to the road, and the child in his arms, till he thought a sufficient time elapsed; and then turned round to re-deliver the child to her, but no woman was to be found.
The watch coming up, the gentleman informed him of the trick, and he with his companions made a diligent search for the woman, but in vain; and the unwary young fellow was obliged to carry the child himself to the workhouse in St. Martin's-lane, none of the watchmen choosing to relieve him from his burthen.
It is remarkable the infant continued in a found sleep till brought to the workhouse, where, on examining it, it proved a fine boy, supposed to be about half a year old, very neatly dressed, and with a supply of all the necessaries for a child of that age.
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