Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1871 — An Original Name. [ARTICLE]

An Original Name.

Bam Alive Oh! at first sight, would hardly strike one as a Christian name or names. But I once believed that I had baptized an infant by tjiis name, peculiar aa it looks iu -print. • Ih a Warwickshire village, where I Was the curate for many years, tlp-rc was a charitable custom among • the ladies of lending bags of linen ana other necessaries to the sick poor. When the bag was returned, after an addition to the family circle, the benevolent lady wag requested to “ pick ” a name for the little struugor. This was considered the proper compliment to pay on all such occasions.

One Sunday afternoon a fine infant was brought to me at tho font. The sponsors were the father, a collier, a friend of like calling, and the baby’s mother. All went on smoothly till I said, to tho godfathers and godmothers, “ Nn&C this child.” With hearty voice, all three shouted out, “ Sam Alive Oh!” To make sure, I repeated my question, with like result. The name was not inappropriate to the bouncing boy I held kicking and struggling in my arms. I had, however, some difficulty in preserving a proper and decorous gravity, but controlled my rising smile, and duly christened the little fellow “ Sam Alive Oh.” The registering puzzled me, and I asked who it was that had chosen the name. The godfather, bciDg well nudged on the arm by both parents, at last spoke out boldly: ‘‘Missß , sir, picked the name.” My own daughter call a baby by such a name. I Was now more puzzled than before. On my return home I asked for an explanation. “ Oh, papa,” said my daughter, “ I can easily account for the mistake you have made. When Mrs. L was ill, I read a little book called ‘ Ivo and Yerena ’ to her, and then as Ivo was a character that charmed us both, we agreed to have the baby christened after him. The father's name, Samuel—which they pronounce Sam’l—has been added to our former choice; and now you see why you have ch istened poor baby ‘ Sam Alive Oh!’ ” —Once a Week.