The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-12-26

Gle me the BARN, lady Z" said a
quivering voice at her side; and the
girl (she was scarcely more), after a
glance at the old woman bending above
her, complied with the request.
A beautiful face it was that the fire
light glanced and cleaned upon, when
the worn hood was removed.
An old-young face, with a certain
grace lingering and clinging still about
it that told how fair it once had been.
There are many such in the great city.
God help them
In few hurried words she explained
her presence in the cottage.
q She was on her way to ION some
friends, " she said, ''and the dark had
oyertaken her, and SO she begged for a
nights lodging" which was readily
granted.
"Ah, me it's lang, lang day sin
there cam BARN to this house, lady, "
sighed Nurse Martha, as she looked
down at the sleeping infant. "'The
last ain | rockit was little Elsie, poor
wean.
What become of her. Did she
die asked the girl, in suppressed
voice.
81 dinna know, lady. It's an over
true tale, and a sad ain, and mayhap
'twould weary you to hearken to it.
But | knaw it a by heart [ knaw it
a by. heart!" And the old woman
glanced wistfully at the bent head and
dropping form of her visitor.
81 should like to hear the story,
Nurse Martha" she answered. in a
strange, dreamy way, without looking
up or changing her position.
All Lady! the aud hame is sal
gloomy moo, but [ mind me weel the
time when the dear Smelling rang wi
sangs and laughter the lee lang day.
But the birds a winnied from the
nest, and the musics aye silent moo
Hush my babe. lie still and slumber.
Holy angels guard thy bed"
This house and the land belonged
to the Cameron's then, and / served
them. And a dear, kind heart was my
lady; more's the pity, for the master was
but a hard man.
She didna want to leave bonnie Scot
land, but he willed it, and so she left
hhme, and kinsfolk, and crossed the
Wild water to the stranger land, and d
for him. | think, tho, she pinned fol
the free air Of the highlands, for sht
never was well and strang again. Blu
she made no moan, an alwa' had :
smile an word OF cheer for Allen Cam
eron an the BARNS They were boys
all, the BARNS, except ain-Elsie, an
she was aye the flower o. the race
lis just twenty four years agopc to
night when she was born-the hi
grille, All weel | mind me how the
storm did howl and beat against the
house that night, and how the light an6
smile III the young mither's eyes grew
fainter and faiuter until it went out al
thegether.
1t was just in the grey dawn of Christ
morn, and Allen Cameron was sitting
by her bedside holding her hand
Shed been wand ring like a night
ABBOTT the wilds at hame, an til,
flowers an the water, but moo she com
menced to sing;
= Ye banks and braes and fields around,
The castle o Montgomery
and then she stopped and smiled, ant
said softly to herself:
Allan used to sing that for me-
poor Allan an then it was all over
Weel, that was a ! Poor Allan
1t had been Just that a her life lang
She'd never ain Thought for herseP.
Those were hard times, lady. For
right after the mither fitted the tive
Oldest laddies, and then there was on :,
young Master George an Elsie left
The master was aye bit rover, bu
he fairly stunned the hame moo, and
dinna knaw what he would haze doom
hadna it been for Elsie. An Master
George 1t would d made your heart
lass to see how tender and protective
like he grew to the mOtherless wean
1t was like a picture to see the twf
thegither toddling ABBOTT, hand-in hand
puir little bairnsl
Weel, time passed on, an Elsie grew
a lovely maiden, an her father was sail
proud Of her sweet face an winsome
ways, an he would haze her at a the
joustings an merrymakings o the nee
bors, an where'er she went his cen fol
lowed her.
But for a his love, he ruled her wi 8
rod O iron, an she darena' sac moocl
as smile glance at ain unless he willed
it. Sac my birdie feared rather than
10 ed him, an chung wi a her loving
heart to Master George an me.
For she was aye gentle an humble
at heart, like, an a Allan Cameron's
gifts an praises could ia max hel
., hn ho' Il =
her DOT wi Draw claes, and biddenhertc
the ball, an she's left a the proud
company am the grand ladies to steal
into "Nursie' for few moments. An
then she would sing in her blithe voice
the Scotch sangs her mither lo'ed All
she Was aye wee bonnie lassie p
GA wee bonnie lassie 81" the girl re-
peated, softly, as one who loved the
sound
"Ah, weel-a-day, lady we Gamma ban
the wind frae blawing, nor the heart
frae loving, an sac ain bright simmer
day our birdie sped ava an welded
vie a stranger-a pale faced, dark-eyed
laddie, that naebody knew nor cared
for, barring our poor grille.
Ye mama blame Elsie, lady, sin
syne she had nae mither, an she lo'ed
him dearly! Oh, but Allan Cameron
was in stound when he harked o the
fitting She's nae chiel o mine 2 he
swore IN haze nathing to do vie her
moo an he kept his word, an we darena
speak her name for years
1t WIS warm simmer weather with
out, but cold an dour as winters night
within, after that, lady. FOrbye,
Master George was across the water
when it a happened, an the master
sent nae word. He came not hame for