The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-09-19

ly, as we all DO IN Sickness or trouble
to woman's aid.
So we improvise a sort Of hsmmocf
Of the blankets, and gently and cen
derly the men prepare to carry theil
poor helpless burden over the snow
81 am afraid your mistress will bs
in bed" l say, as we begin to re
trace our steps.
Never fear, Sir" says Donald with
q triumphant glance at John: "the
mistress will be up and waitin' for Us
She kens Laidie didna bring US oul
in the snaw for naething"
I'm never say nought about believ
iog a dgwa again." says John, grace
fully striking his colors "You were
right and was wrong, and that's al
about it; but to think there should
be such sense in an animal passes
me !"
As we reach the avenue gate
dispatch one of the men for the doc
tor, who fortunately lives within q
stone's-throw Of US, and hurry on
myself to prepare nv wife for what
is coming. She runs out into the
ball to meet me. "Well ?" she asks
eagerly.
"We have found a poor oil wo
ma1," | say; but do not kno "
whether she is alive or dead"
My wife lhr Jws her arms around
me and gives me great hug
you will fad dry things aud q
jug of hot toddy in your dressing
room, dear" she says, aad this is all
the reTenge she takes on me for my
skepticism The pjor old woman is
carried up stairs and placed ip q
warm bath under my wife's disec-
;ion; and before the doctor arrives
she has sh ,wn some flint symptom.
Of life; so my wife sends me word,
DR.. Bruce shakes his head when be
sees her. Poor old soul," be says;
''how came she out on the moor on
such fearful night? I doubt she has
received shock, which at her age
she will not easily get over"
They manage, however, to force a
few spoonsfals of hot brandy and
water down her throat; and presently
a faint color flickers on her cheek, and
the poor old eyelids begin to tremble
Nv wife raises her head and makes
her swallow some cordial which DIR.
Bruce has brought with him, and then
lays her back among the soft warm
pillows. IL think she will rally now,
says DR.. Bruce, as her breathing be
comes more audible and regula
"Nourishment and warmth will do
the rest; but she has received shock
from which, | fear, she will never
recover" aud so saying be takes his
leave.
By and by I 60 up to her room and
find my wife watching alone by the
aged sufferer. She looks up at me
with tears in her eyes. Poor old soul
she says; II am afraid she will not
rally from the cold and exposure"
20 round to the other side of the
bed and look down upon her. The
aged face looks wan and pincbed, and
the scanty gray locks which lie on the
pillow are still wet from the snow.
She is a very little woman, as far as
can judge of her in her recumbent
position. and l should think must
have reached her allotted three.score
years and ten. who can she be-" |
repeat wonderingly. "She does not
belong to any of the villages herea-
bouts, or we should know her face;
aud cannot imagine what could
bring a stranger to the moor on such
3 night"
As | speak a change passes over
her face; the eyes unclose, and she
ooks inquiringly about her. She
.ries to speak, but is evidently too
weak. Ny wife raises her, and gives
1er a spoonful of nourish ment, while
she says soothingly: Don't try to
speak. You are among friends; and
when you are better you shall tell us
ali about yourself. Lie still now anG
Try to sleep"
The gray head drops back wearily
On the pillow; and soon we have the
of bearing by the regular
respiration that our patient is asleep.
You must come to bed now, Jes-
sie," | say.
ii shall ring for Mary, and she can
sit up for the remainder Of the night"
But my wife, who is a tender-hesrted
,oul and a born nurse, will not desert
ler post; so l leave her watching
and retire to my solitary chamber.
When we meet in the morning /
ind that the little old woman has
spoken a few words and seems stron-
ysr. "Come in with me now" says
nv wife, "and let Us try to find ont
IS no she is. 1--WE find her propped
nto a reclining posture with pillo ows,
md Mary beside ber feeding her
How are you now ?" asks Jessie,
BENDING over her
Better. much better, thank you.
rood lady" she says in voice which
rembles from age as well as weak
hess. "And very grateful to you for
7our goodness"
/ hear at once by the accent that
he is English. Are you strong
enough to tell me bow you got lost
N the moor, and where you came
rom, and where you were going ?"
continues my wife.
"Ah. | was going to my lad, my
,oor lad, and now / doubt | shall
Iever see him more" says the poor
oul, with 9 long sigh of WEAKNESS.
Where is your lad, and how far
ave you come? ?"
my lad is soldier at Fort
ieorge and have come all the way
rom Liverpool TO zee him, aud give
i'm his old mothers blessing before
Ie goes TO the IDdies." And then.
with long psoses Of weari-
ess and weakness, the little old wo-
nan tells Us her pitifOl story.
Her lad, sbe tells as is her only
emainiog child. She had six, and
bis. the youngest. is the only one
Who did not die Of want during the
.sncasbier cotton famine. He grew
- fine, likely boy, the comfort and
ride of bis mothers heart, and the
tsy of her declining yesrs. Bot .