The Lincoln County herald., 1868-11-12

SGteuVS uut % UekKSVs WV W0 UuCNV
for my BARN, and III pray day and night
for yo."
"uin ys had prayed for yourself, Jean.
long ago, 'twould have been better for yc."
said Mrs. Glenburn. "And as for the
BARN, it's . sin, as ye NO weel. Jean
M'Comb, that he's there At q. But its
not his fault, and that's Why III cen lis
ten toye. Maggie 6ll the sack with the
same you gavo Ann Hol. ruir honest body,
and gle II 70 jean. Ye keep the sack,
for its old"
And the broad back was turned, and
the stern eyes bent upon. the knitting,
determined not to see the tear-stricken
face again. ".
Poor Jcanl Once she had been vel.
come guest beneath that roof. Formerly
she had often sat before tho Gre, with her
arms around Jcssie's waist, for thsy had
been frieuds, though she was six years
the elder. No one made her cit, no one
gave her hand or smile. Even Jessie
only hid her face and wept.
Maggie filled the sack and put IL on
Jeans shoulder, and the girl crept o1t
into the night with anguish 10 her heart
She had been very proud once, and now
it was only "the bairu" that kept her
from fiuging the cold gift Of charity upon
the floor, aud going away to starve. But
the bairn was remembered, aud for bit
sake thanked them as she went.
But on the porch the keen wind cut
her like knife through her thin clothing,
and she drew back shivering, only for q
moment, as one shrinks from the cold
plunge into a bath but in that moment
two arms were thrown about her, and a
warm cheek touched her own Jessie
had followed her. She had rough frezc
cloak on her arm, and this she folded
softly about jean, aud whispered:
"Oh, poor lass! poor lass? Twill
break my heart to think Of you to night
I can't forget the old times If the rec,
can." And then she wep; on her breast
"Ye werc ayo an angel jessie" she
said sadly. "lve been an i'll woman, bu,
I've never learnt not to love ye."
81 dare not stay" said Jessie, but I'll
not forget ye. III see ye soon so,ne-
where. All, If I had not had :hother's
mother to care for me when my own
mother died, / / might have known no bet
ter than you"
"No, no." said Jean. II knew better
but / listened to the devil when he
tempted me. The good Lord bless ye
Jessie. Yer pity is warmer to my hear,
than the warm cloak 20 have wrapped
about me-"
Aud Jean kissed her once more aud
stole away she trampcd throu. h the snow
along the dreary road.
All through the dreary night Jessie
thought Of her wretched friend, and il
the morning she roe be,imcs, full o
plans for her good-plans in which she
knew the old people would not CO oppc
rate. Jean had once said that If she wer'
away from the place where all knew he1
she would be able to work enough to kceI
herself from want. But she could no
travel renni'ess to great city with th'
boy. and at s.. the very children knew
that Jean tlComb was to bo stunned as
ia evil thing.
| Up in Jessie Glenburn's chest wer
three silver pounds boarded, for she ha,
earned them with her own hand, spinnin:
fax. they were her very own aud two
} Of ,hcm would perhaps save Jean M'Co.nb
who wanted, jessie knew, to bc good, bu
could not make any one believe it VIII,
J knew about the BARN. Jessie had Scotcl
blood enough in her veins to value money
II was q struggle to take two Of thes
! pounds from the piece Of snow white line
in which they were folded, but she di'
it, aud then saying nothing to any on
, wrapped herself 10 hood aud plaid, an,
: crossed the hill to Jean M'C,nib's hut.
The wind was rising, the clouds gre,
darker aud darker. but Jessie thought .
nothing but her errand, and when Vt las
the miserable little hut was reached, Jea,
\ saw her smiling at the DIOR, with goldel
hair blown back by the wind, aud almo,
thought the was an angel.
Then kneeIing beside her, Jessie tol,
, why she had come, and laid the none
on her knee. and Jean this time did no
weep. She only casped her hands !
. both Of hers and trembled from head I
foot.
"I'll take your two pounds, Jessi
, Glsnburn," she said, 'and I'll gang
Edinburgh with ms BARN. aud I'll wor|
and pray and the good God helping m
some day III pay you back tie silver
t And if don't. He will in His ain way
Aud one thing l will swear, Jessie Glen
: burn; Ill die before I'll sin more, exceE
as We all must. I've had dark hours an
sore temptations. I'll have them ys
belize, but I'll resist them"
] And in her face Jessie saw somethin
I better than her spoken vow.
S And that day, and that hour, wrappe
10 her trieze cloak, but baretooted au
barcneaded, poor Jean M'Comb o. me
: into the stage that went towards Edit
T burg, aud Jessie from the roadside "a
. her 70. Then she turned to see her ow
comfortable house once more. It ",
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