The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-12-21

her, from nest 81 uowny flannel ana
cambria.
.Lord preserve u.s." she cried, re
treating so suddenly as nearly 10 upset
Joanna in the rear. Then she leaned
against the wall, looking white and
GREATNESS.
Joanna ventured near enough 70 take
4 peep into the basket. when she like
wise staggered back with = shrek Of
CONSERVATION, and the two women
stood and looked At each other in dumb
dismay. Nicodemus suspended opera
tons on the doorstep, and stood with
open mouth, staring into their faces;
but for once Joanna failed to observe
him, and he was permitted to stare on.
Joanna found her voice first. sslt's =
baby" she gasped, in hushed whis-
per.
Miss Grey lifted her head. ''Joan-
ma" she said sternly, 'were You at
home all night?"
AT home? To be sure I was.
ma ami
.sThen how came his here?"
.Oh, Miss Theodore. how can tell?
It's like as II spirit had brought it. l
never slept so soundly before that
something wouldn't have told me, il
any human thing had come inside the
gate. NIcoDEMrs,"
Nicodemus gathered himself togeth-
er and began 10 work with As much
alacrity as he was capable Of
. Get your bonnet and shawl. Joan
ma said her mistress, and take this
child 10 the p0Or-hOuSe
Joanna disappeared, and Miss Grey
went to the basket and looked in II
again. Curiosity got the better Of her
principles. and she stopped and drew
aside the blanket that enveloped the
rosy bundle, and gazed curiously at the
dainty embroidery that covered the in
fant's robes. Up came tiny banda
small fist full Of fingers came out and
grasped one Of hers, and . bird-like
note gurgled from the perfect month
She drew back half frightened; the little
one opened its blue eyes wider, seeking
hers with a wondering, wounded look,
and burst into \ low. grieved cry.
Something in the look Of those blue
orbs thrilled her with a tender pain, she
knew not why; dead memory awoke
in her breast, and stabbed her like a
knife
Joanna came back with her wrappings
on. The little ones piteous cry went
20 her heart.
"Poor bahy,- she murmnred. stoop-
ing and rocking the basket gently to
and fro.
There was something motherly in the
very touch OF her hand upon the basket,
and in the strangely softened tone Of
her voice, that awoke fierce jealousy in
her companions breast. She almost
pushed her aside, As though she could
not bear the sight.
"What do you know of children,
Joanna?'' she said; ssgive it to me-"
Then she took up basket and all, and
marched into her own room Joanna,
going back to the kitchen and to her
cooking, heard her telling Nicodemus
10 put more wood on the fire. Present
! " she came into the kitchen, got some
milk from the cupboard and warmed il
! in cup on the stove, saying never =
word: and after little, Nicodemus
brought the cup back from her room,
empty
When Miss Grey was called to break
fast. she came out looking A. serene ~
could be. She left Nicodemus in the
room with the baby, during her absence
During the morning. Joanna con
trived an errand into the sitting-roon,
and found her mistress busily working
= small garment of delicate texture
while the infant lay soundly sleeping
! in his strange cradle-the basket.
JOANNA said Miss Grey, . I have
named this child Emily Grey, after my
mother.-
TITS girl, then?'' said Joanna
Certainly. Did You suppose
wanted 70 raise up boy, 70 break m,
heart in my old ageP"
"No, ma'am-"
"Bring me the bible and pen ans
ink
Joanna lifted the heavy, richly bouns
volume from It's cushion on the table
and carried il to her, then brought pei
and ink from small writing-desk b,
the window. Miss Grey turned 70 tn
Family Record. and under the head o
= Births = wrote on the clean page, II
fair, clerkly hand:
Emily Grey. December 25th- ls-.'
All that morning, while the bells call
ed the people TO worship in the littl
white church under the hill, and tn
choir sang the Christmas anthems, Mis-
Theodore sat and wrought patiently o.
slip for little Emily Peter Brool
came over To eat his Christmas Dime
a. usual--the only Christmas hospital
ity she ever dispensed-and received Of
ders to bring up . neat crib from tn
village.
$50 she's going to keep the littl
one.- observed he to Joanna, over b
pudding. "Curious creatures thes
women are
ats blessed mercy there are won