Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-09-01
VOLUME Il--NCHBER a

tn' mcul' shc sald' "dinna gang, dInna
gang. She kens maistly naebody, pur thing.
and il's awlu to see her greet aud she's whiles
no sensible forby, aud Gamma lholc onybody near
her"
So waited to hear that the first violence or
her despair had worn itself out. for very much
doubted my own powers Of consolation: and
who but One. lndcel ], couH console in such grief
as hers! However, after time, hard she
had been partly brought to her senses by the III
ness ol her baby, who deprived Of its natural
Sustenance by the blow that had shaken the We.
ry hear'.srings Of its poor mother, had been nj
the point Of death. However, il was now bet
ter; aud the young widow. recalled to the con-
sciousness that there existed yet a greater depth
OF at gulsh than that in which her reason had
almost lorsaken her, became calmer and more
composed, at least in outward appearance; and
hearing his, set outonG day, about three weeks
alter the fatal accident, to visit her.
II was IT The beginning of December; vet the
weather in this filul climate takes no heed of
the ancient division of the seasons, and the dav
was bright and balmy as in early spring. Ii
seems TO me as if nature had assigned 10 these
northern regions as many fine days, or nearly
So, during the year; as fall to the portion Of hap.
pier climates; but they are in some mysterious
manner so strangely iumblcd, that many win
try day chIIs US in the midst Of summer, while
those belonging to a more genial season some-
times make their appearance unexpectedly a.
mong the blasts and lrosts Of autumn or winter.
One of these stray children Of summer were
gliding and bcautiiying the wild country thro'
whIch had to pass, on my way to the little fish
lng-town OF -. The level beams of a De-
cember sun threw rich golden light over
large extent of bare but highly cultivated coun-
try; the plough was merrily a-feId among the
slubble, the lark was singing high in the clear
AIR, and the smoke asceudcd from many hum
Bile hearth and scarcely wavcred in It's upward
course, while the scene was bounded by the blue
and wayclcss ocean, dotted here and there with
white sail; and in the far distance, the outline
Of the hills of Calhncss stood out sharp and de-
fined againstthe cloudless sky. As neared The
sea, and caught fuller view of the coast, the
whole of the Moray Firth opened before me in
a panorama scarcely to be surpassed on British
shores. But thought little of these familiar
scenes as drove on; my thoughts were be mt on
the errand had undertaken; and as | slowly
descended the precipitous road leading TO the
picturesque seaport Of -, tried TO arrange
IN my mind Il few consolilary sentences. feeling
all the while how Intellectual my own happy ex-
perence would renderaught could sayto soothe
such sorrow as Twas about 10 wneSs-for here |
must speak to heart in grief; and if the cores
pondlng chord have not been awakened in our
own bosom, II is in vain we strive TO calm the
throb Of anguish which vibroles to agony in the
breast of another. So | resolved 10 speak onIv
the words that should suggest themselves at the
moment, and TO attempt nothing more.
! The little town of - is very remarkably
situated: nesting. rs it were, under high and
beeIIlng cragS, which scarcely leave room for
the cottages of the fishermen 10 stand, dotted
here and there in picturesque confusion, under
the precpitous cliff. The one to which bent
my steps stood on high bank leading up from
a terrace buIwark, which had been built to resist
the encroachments of the mighty waters, now
slumberng, with scarce ripple on the surface,
in the broad bay before me. As turned TO as
cend some steps leading to the door, saw a
gathering Of many persons, and ropes, nets,
iishngboots and gear of that description Iying
on the green, round which the crowd had assem-
hed, talking earnestly, but in subdued lones.-
Not thinking thai this had any connection with
the object of my visit, | knockedat the low door,
: and an elderly woman, the mother Of the dead
man, appeared.
"Eh, mem, but it's real guide O. you to come
and see us in our sorrow-comeb ben 10 the fire."
and she busted herself in placing chair for me
in the kitchen, where peat fine, burning in an
open lam, which allowed more than half the
: smoke to find its way into the room, rendeted
it so dark, that seated myself before percei-
we'd, close to me in the single neuk," the figure
apparently of young girl, who, loosely wrap
ped in a dark-buo bed-gown, with her long dark
hair half concealing her face, was sitting on
low stool, and holding liule infant in her arms,
over which she was murmurlng a faint sound
that might have been faint fragment of song.
started at finding myself Unexpectedly SO
close to another person, and the girl fixed pair
OF large dark eyes steadlaslly upon me for mo-
ment, and then dropping her head again on her
: bosom, resumed her low chant. turned to the
woman who was standing near me. and said, 81
called to see poor Jessie-how is she?"
"'Deed an it's a sair day wi her the day.
Nc but a days are sair and heavy moo; but ye
see they're roupin'. puir Geordo's bits o. nets,
an sic-llko an it aye brings back the sorrow up
on her."
"Can see her?" | said.
"SureIy, mem, surely. She's there out.Jyr
All luucScrlOaOe leellnS came over me as
turned to the poor creature, and again met her
steadlast gaze. tried to speak, but choking
: sensation in my throat told me the attempt
would be vain; and for a moment nothing was
heard in the cottage but that low grooming sound
the wall of broken heart.
"Shes quite quiet moo, mem, an SENSIBLE"
said the mother, who lanced attributed my E.
motion to fear of the poor creature. "She has
ma graf ony sin the bairnie took Ill: but she's
hantIe better noo;'' and then saw that the poor
baby was attempting to find the nourishment of
which its mothers agony had deprived it.
"She is a heathy-ooking little baby" said l.,
feeling must say something; and taking the Ii
ny hand in mine, "How old is she!"
"Ten weeks, mem. She was seven weeks
the day her father went"