The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-11-19

or grounds, yet we kept going to the same
places dozen times, all tremulous and
CRYING. "Oh! :" said nurse, breaking out
into sobs, "to think that / called that
blessed, darlint, little hangel, me LIES
torment this very morning." and Bridget
prayed heaven to forgive her for saying
he was "spalpeen." Grandma thought
we "naiQht hare kIiOirn he was too love-
" and precious to be spared to u.s." and
fhad called him nuisance but MAN.
ma only moaned, "Oh! my baby, my
baby!" Papa and the men went i'll diff
ferent directions, extending the search.
1t was ten o'clock. The women were
alone. Grandma's dear, wrinkled hands
were clasped in prayer. Mamma paced
the house with wild eyes and white lips.
Bridget and / were sobbing and praying
by turns. Oh! was that dear little body
whirling in the deep, dark waters9 Had
some treacherous hole swallowed him
upl Had some wretch taken HIM away
forever from our sightl Was our
dear baby, our chief blessing,
ours no more! Father in heaven
how much one can love, how much one
can suffer for little child The terri
BILE time moved ONT was past eleven.
With agonizing steps we were pacing
up and down, now out of doors, now in
the house, listening, dreading, fearing.
Suddenly we heard n cry. Our hearts
seemed to stop beating as we listened.
Again 1t vast was the baby's cry!
We flew to the door, and, running from
side to side, heard a little sleepy, sob
bling voice, Il want TO get down.. 1t
seemed coming from the sky. We
looked TO the trees, TO the roof, amazed
and wondering. He was alive, thank
God, but where was he9 There
was bright moonlight, and on
coming to the far end of the house
the appalling sight met us. For
two or three days men had been painting
the house. They had stood upon mar
row staging, only two or three boards
bound together, and upheld by ropes.
AS the next day was holiday, they had
left work early, and had taken down the
long ladder, leaving the little platform
hanging far above the upper windows,
and there on that narrow ledge sat our
baby, our darling. Oh what an agony
of despair was ours We never thought
how he came there. We knew that only
He who cares for little birds had saved
him, could save him. / uttered cry and
came near falling. Only the dear mother
love was strong to comprehend, to think,
to act. Mamma, mamma, walled the
little dear, @ | wants to get down" Clear
and sweet rang mammals voice no
trembling now: Eyes, darling, sit very
still. Mamma is coming for you" go,
God what shall we dol" What can
hai Il och RI n1Ir
feet Now he would move abont, and
now peer over. We could see the little
sweet, white face, all sleepy and com
posed and crying. What groans and
prayers We uttered, Still mamma went
on so bravely Mamma is coming for
her baby keep very still do not
move; he is mammals little man"
Then she called, "Mother, mother,
come and talk to him while
we bring the ladder" for the rest
OF us seemed paralyzed. 1t was all we
could lift-mamma, Bridget and ]. Oh,
with what beating hearts we dragged it
on Would he sit there until we could
put it up and some one go to him ?
There stood grandmother weak, feeble
voice sounding strong and cheerful
encouraging him, calling him every pet
name :" Keep very still, Neddy
mamma is coming. Do not try to see
gamma-don't-move :" We somehow
got the ladder there, and somehow, with
wonderful strength, we lifted it up
carefully lest it should jar the platform
and even before it was fairly placed
frail, timid mamma was half way up.
Who else should go TO her lamb Who
but the mother could save him. Bridget
and l held the ladder with all our
strength, but it waved from side to side
as though ii would fall, and mamma
going up and up. l heard voices at the
gate-papa and the men coming. ran
to them "Oh, hush hush no noise,
no talking !" and pointed to the APP
palling scene-our treasure hanging be-
tween heaven and earth, and mamma
swaying back and forth on the shaking
ladder grsndma's dear voice still
shouting, Yes, dear, be brave little
man mamma is coming-sit still. =" In
an instant strong hands were holding
the ladder, but they spoke no word.
Mamma is almost up. Can she reach
him Slowly she stretches out her
hand-the platform swings-the ladder
totters, 1t is so badly placed. No groans
nor prayers now. We do not seem to
breathe. She can just reach the little
dress-she draws him toward her-she
has HIM in her arms. Oh, thank God
She is so trail and unused to climbing,
and baby is so very heavy, we tremble
as we watch her slow descent No one
can go to help her, the ladder is so inse-
cure. The men brace themselves, hold
ing it with all their strength. Slowly,
cautiously-holding Kim with one arm,
the other grasping the rounds--she
steps down round after round. Slowly,
YEARLY, another and another step-one
more now papa has gone up far enough
TO reach her. He takes the dear lamb,
gives him to my arms, then helps mamma,
but as she reaches the foot she sinks
fainting to the ground. But before that
such shouts, such cries of Joy some on
their knees, some wildly dancing, and
the big clock strikes-twelve. 1t is the
Thanksgiving morning.
The baby looks rather astonished at
the connection as he is passed from one