The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-09-25

doubt made by Abei'> hardy hand.
with tenderness placed her baby -E r..
resting place. \ soft flush covered ll-r
lace. and her calm. sweet eyes 1T Up s-
she looked at her hu,band-Jhe lcvs-u.
H-r youth, the one for whom she la-
.--- h-r hOme-Jhe father Of her cia.a-
aHi. drawing her slight form - it. s-..
A..i-llJ. she said:
Doctor the child shall not die. for l.
myself. will 90 and nurse Nancy J...e-
baby"
The doctor looked at her radiant face
foran instant; the tears came to his eyes
and his voice Jremblei with emotion.
"lou are an angel, 5irs. Stearrs." and
he lifted her hand reverentiy TO his lips
ami kissed it.
Then the wife, with an iudescribah.a
grace. turned 10 her husband and SAID:
Abel, have your consent TO go" And
the great, strong, bearded creature
picked her up in his arms ike a child
while the big manly voice shook aHI
trembled in reply:
Yes. Jessie. my wife. God forbid that
stand i'll the way OF your angel mission.
Go. my love, and God bless YOU" And
the doctor, after sundry coughs. osi.n-
sibly for the purpose of clearing his
throat, managed at length to say:
If you two young people don't have
luck / shall turn iniiei. d-di don't.
Excuse me. Mrs. StearnS, but | cannot
help it,
The preparations were soon complet-
ed, Jessie bent over the cradle IL mo-
ment. kissed her husband, charged 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 a knife, but still they labored
on, sometimes breaking through the
frozen crust, never stopping until they
had reached the Log House" Jessie
here spoke for the first time.
rs there any one with her, doctor"
YES, the old negress. Judith, and as
he spoke he opened the door.
Jessie for a moment stood on the
threshold d,-Only for moment. hOwcv-
er, for the faint cry of a child was heard.
and then all the women came TO her r.
lief and she stepped quickly into the
room. The cry of the child came again.
Going to the bed, she took it into her
arms-it mOaned; she seated herself ina
low chair. the doctor turning his face
away a feeble cry of content from the
child, and then all was quiet, and Nan
cy Jones baby was saved.
Five years have come and gone since
that night, and time has made many
changes. Abel Ste rus and Jessie are
no longer on Rabbit Cre-h One mis-
fortune after another has happened
them, until starvation stiires them IA the
face. They have one more mouth to
feed since We saw them la-:. and Christ
mas night. 1855. sees them in san Fran
cisco. without food
Jessie, unable 10 see hpr Invalid liIs-
band suffer any longer, has made up her
mind 10 beg. Out into the street she
goes trying 10 gain courage for her task.
Faint and tired from fasting and over
work. she reached the corner Just &~
iine carriage IS daSiiin- past; >l:, tries to
avoid II, but her foot slips and Size fails
on the crossing. The carriaSe stops. tire
window is lowered, and "a mans voice
asks:
w nat j. the matter.
The bystanders reply that II woman
bad tainted, and th-u !; y.0mlI'> voice
''is she hurt"
'.She Is in the drug store the same
persons reply. and i in-eu,iJic."
The soft voice from tine carriage speaks
TO lier companion, saying:
Il should like to see her. dear"
The door Is opened. and passing inrO
the store, and asking to see the lady
who tainted. she. j. shown into the room.
She giides up 30 the lounge and casts
one look at the white face and drops on
her knees and puts the poor head Jo h"E
shoulder. Only Tor moment does she
remain there, then turning to the cIe:k,
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 StearHs waits for his wife. bat
she does not return. Fear at last over
comes him. and he resolves to start ont
and find her. when there IS heard a knock
at the door. Il mans voice asks If Mr.
StearnS lives there. and If 50. he Is re-
quested to come with him at once. aS his
vile IlaS been taken ill., but i withfrieuIS.
Abel hardly rrcOyerS from his surprise
when he finds himself within a tine
apartment, and in few moments has
his wife III iIiS arms. pale. but smiling. in
her night dress. There Is heard a rustic
of silk, and Abel turns and sees baau-
tiful woman behind him. amused at his
embarrassment. She comes toward him
Offering her hand as She saws:
''Why, Mr. SJcarus. don't you know
me! Am | 50 changed in five ycursL'
and she looked at him wiki her great
black eyes full OF tears
Abel still stands in doubt. She steps
to the door anu leads in "a -O!dsu-igired
little girl, beautiful a. "a dream, She
lifts the child up to Abel and says:
Don't you know Nancy Jones babyE'
Comfort aud plenty have come 20 Abel
Stearns and Jessie since that might when
Nancy Jones found her ia the street
Nancy Jones no longer. but Nancy
Morse. She gave Abe. the Inaaus TO p
start in life, and now na has ou. Of the
finest ranches in California. and. he
says, the finest wife and children: and
all because Jessie saved Nancy Jones
baby.