Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-06-02

| iOiu. INV AclCI On MS IuOlHcr NOI
! thar
The Lord did have mercy on ler, but
net in my way. lie took her homo dat
next winter. and I've thought many n
tine that III like to "a been by when he
explained to hcr-as I'm certain he would
some things that we down here waited
years and years for. aud many more,
belikcs. that we've never founi out at
all.
Poor little Jock got well agan--iu his
body-lhat WAS all. Ills mind was clean
gone. lie used to 60 about gentle and
/ harmless as lamb. While his mother
lived, he'd follow her every step she took, f.,
but more like 4 dog than human child.
l! she sat down. he'd just drop down at
her lcct, AM rub his head on her knee,
like dumb thing. Not bat that he talked
yct--a good deal sometimes all in
u weak, senscleSS fashion, that'd half
break your heart. lie didn't seem to
know the reason OF anything-he might
be halt starved and yet never think OF
ealin' unless You put tho yictuals before
him.
There was while after Mis-. Willis
ton died that had little hopes OF him
lie used to wander around as if hc was
scarchin' for something, and sometimes,
all to once, an odd look'd como into his
flce for half second-you'd "a said, TO
look at him. that he was just gcin' to
Gnd it. whatever twas. Ii was then he
took the habit that stuck TO him ever after,
Of clIppin' both hands to his head aud
sayin', 'Il'S COMM What's comm.
Jocky Z: uscl 10 say sometimes and he
poor boyd stare up into my face with 4
dazcd, 'wiIdcrcl look for u minute, and
then break out into one OF his weak.
Seuseless smiles.
There was little or nothin' left to take
care OF him with; but not man or wo
man on the island would ever a let q
child O Cap'n Willis,on's come to want.
let alone his bein' a poor unfortunate like
jock. So we all adopted him, rs you
might say. aad he used TO 90 and come
from one house to another just as suited
him. Ga the whole, lie seemed to stick
to rae the most. You'll wonder Mt il.
maybe. but the poor boy was real com
PIny FOR me, after all, bein' alone so
much when Zebcdee-lhat was my man
was gone of or his whaIm' voyages
al used to be master hand 10 read my
Bible in them days, though my Old eyes
have been too dim for it now this m my
year. Thank tho Lord, thou h, that
cin sec The page Almost as well as ever
in ny mind had habit of realm ont
loud great deal, sccmin' to get better
sense so-especially in the Psalms and
queer rs you might think ii. there Jock'd
lay stretched on the rug, before the fire.
place, lislcnia' by the hour. used to
think twas the sound % my voice he
liked, for he didn't know enough to un.
dcrslaud single word rightly. Bat
howsocvor that was. hearken;n' 10 me
reaJia' was one OF the two things he
seemed to like beS: in The world. The
other was to go out with the men in the
boats OF course he wasn't of any par
ticu.ar'usc, but they all humored him, and
sometimes, in the mackerel season, lhey
would keep him out for days and weeks
10 4 Tine.
But must hurry along. ma'am, or
I'll be firing you ou'. All this while Jock
WAS CROWN up. and at twenty he was Il
great, strong fellow, standin' good six
foot in his stockin's He didn't look that
tall, though, OWN to his stoopin' some
and walkin' with shuill;n', shamb in
sort o G lit, such as you've minded in
others, maybe, when the brain didn't hold
the liIler.
belle Devere1x first came to the Island.
Her father was French gentleman who |
hal lived great many ycalS in this !
country. Bein' out of health. he thought
to try the sea air for awhile. I'm an old |
woman, and I've seen many fresh face
in my time, but never another that was
tit to set alongside Mabelle Dcyereux'.-
There was picture ia Parson Ellets par
lor, over The manlel piece, that came from
over seag,-a Madonna he called it,-and !
Eve heard tell that il was copied alter the |
greatest picture of the creates painter
that ever lived. But that's neither here |
nor there, only when first set my eyes
on MaLclle, sittin' one Sunday in Deacon
Prices pew,-Mis. Price was aunt 10 Ma
bellies mother.-I leaned over tho for
ward pew before though; what | was
doiu', and whispered to 'Bijah Porter's
wilc. Look there! There's Parson EIlel's
picture stepped out o The lramer
"Mabcllc was as good as she was prct.
ty. | used to tell them that all the young
men on the coast just stood alar oil and
worshippcI her. The girls doled on er
too. she seemed too different from al |
the res, to be the least bit jealous OIL
Old Mr.. Dcvereux WAS mastery pleased |
with The Island, and heard him talkin
with Parson Ellct once, at clam bake,
about The hospitality OF the Inhabitants,
and their remarkable sympathy with an