The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-07-17

of clearing his throat, managed at
length to say:
eff you two young people don't
have luck shall turn infidel, id if
1 don't. Excuse me, Mrs. Stearns, but
1 could not help it"
The preparations were soon COM
pleted, Jessie bent over the cradle for
moment, kis sed her husband, charging
him to be careful of the boy" and
then went out into the night.
The wind had ceased, and the moon
shone bright and clear; the cold, sharp
air cut like knife, but still they la
bored on, sometimes breaking through
the frozen crust, never stopping until
they reached the "Log House." Jessie
here spoke for the first time:
els there anyone with her, Doctor ;"
eyes, the old negress, Judith, and
as he spoke he opened the door.
Jessie for a moment stood on the
threshold-only for a moment, how
ever, for the faint cry of child was
heard, and then all the woman came to
her relief and she stepped quickly into
the room. The cry of the child came
again. Going to the bed she took it in
her arms it moaned she seated herself
in low chair, the doctor turned his
face away, feeble cry of content from
the child, and then all was quiet, and
Nancy Jones baby was saved.
Five years have come and gone since
that night, and time has made many
changes. Abel Stearns and Jessie are
no longer in Rabbit Creek. One mis-
fortune after another has happened to
them, until starvation stares them in
the face. They have one more mouth
to feed since we saw them last, and
Christmas night, 1858, sees them in
San Francisco without food.
Jessie, unable to see her invalid hus-
band suffer any longer, has made up
her mind to beg. Out into the street
she goes, trying to gain courage for her
task Faint and tired from fasting and
overwork, she reached the corner just
as fine carriage is dashing past she
tries to avoid it, but her foot slips, and
she falls on the crossing. The carriage
stops, the window is lowered, and a
mans voice asks
What is the matter ?"
The bystanders reply that {" a woman
has tainted, " and then a woman's voice
asks if she is hurt ?"
"She is in the drug store" the same
persons reply, "and is insensible."
The soft voice from the carriage
speaks to her companion, saying:
" L should like to see her, dear.
The door is opened, and, passing into
the store and asking to see the lady who
tainted, she is shown into the room.
| ha oil 20, he nd ctc
one look at the white face, and drops
on her knees and puts the poor head to
her shoulder. Only for moment does
she remain there, then, turning to the
clerk, she said:
Garry this lady to my carriage she
is an acquaintance OF mine will take
charge of her"
The unconscious woman is lifted into
the carriage and it rolls away.
Abel Stearns waits for his wife, but
she does not return. Fear at last over
comes him, and he resolves to start out
and find her, when there is heard a
knock ut the door. A mans voice asks
if Mr.. Stearns lives there, and, if SO,
he is requested to come with him at
once, rs his wife has been taken i'll, but
is with friends. Abel hardly RECEIVERS
from his surprise when he finds himself
in fine apartment, and in a few mo-
ments has his wife in his arms, pale,
and smiling, in her night dress. There
is heard rustic of silk, and Abel turns
and sees a beautiful woman behind
him, amused at his embarrassment.
She comes toward him, offering her
hand as she says
"Why, Mr. Stearns, don't you know
me? Am | so changed in five years "
and she looks at him with her great
black eyes full of tears.
Abel still stands in doubt. She steps
to the door and leads i'll golden-haired
little girl, beautiful as a dream. She
lifts the child up to Abel and says
Don't you know Nancy Jones
baby 2"
Comfort and plenty have come to
Abel Stearns and Jessie since that
night when Nancy Jones found her in
the street-Nancy Jones no longer, but
Nancy Morse. She gave Abel the
means to re-start in life, and now he
has one of the finest ranches in Cali
fornia, and he says the finest wife and
children, and all because Jessie saved
Nancy Jones baby.
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