The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-29

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She said no more. There was
such reproach in her tones, that the
man blushed; she had been kind TO
him and his many a time. But, as
one who had some justification, he
called:
"Janel Janew
Out from the crowd stepped his
wife. the ghost Of a woman. holding
in her phantom arms the very ghost
of child. There was no need for
James Lawrence to speak, nor did
he. 1t was sight TO make an an
gel weep. The tears came to Helen's
eyes. From her pocket she drew a
purseful Of coin. Slipped it into
Lawrence's hand, she said
"Buy what you can with this for
yourself and the rest of t.rse starv-
ing men and women" Addressing
the crowd, she went on, MY father
is as powerless as the poorest among
you, this night. He has always
dealt honorably with you, and you
should have trusted him-not tried
force. He is powerless but | am
not. have money, and the mills
shall be started to morrow. give
you my word.
What a cheer went up! What
tears steamed down wan facesl
James Lawrence, sobbing like a
child, said:
"Miss Helen, ! viii never forget
this till my dying day"
Turning toward the crowd ne
asked:
Are we thankful, all ?"
"Yes, yesl God bless hcrw they
roared the answer.
"Will we ever forget her kind
ness ?"
"Nol no. nol"
So. by the bravery and charity OF
Helen Gathers, the riot was over
Peace and plenty were once more
in Greenfield.
Five years have gone by. Mi
ehael Gathers had long since been
laid away in the church yard.
Helen, no longer a Gathers, is mar,
ried and mother. Happily mar
ried. too, is she, as one can see at q
glance upon the face of her husband
And that babyl Was there ever
such q baby since the flood?
Its mothers eyes, its fathers nose,
It's mammals mouth, its papa's toes -
Why, five dared to tell all that
baby knew, all the concentrated
wisdom in its face, people would
laugh at US. 1t never, no nevel
cried. Helen said so repeatedly
and certainly she knew all about it
But the merits, mental, physica
and moral, of this baby cannot be
enlarged upon, or a simple little
story would swell to the dimension:
of a book. You may be sure tht
father and mother loved it as they
loved each other and their lives
YOU must be sure the mother fel
that if time should come when she
must bury the child, she would bury
her own heart with it.
It was beautiful spring day
/ The prospect of a walk in the fores
near the town had been too great ;
temptation for the nurse girl. Sh'
disobeyed orders in going there witt
the baby. There were rumors of
roaming wildcat; two or three mel
claimed they had seen it. The girl
though not knowing this, went dee!
into the forest, the baby in he
arms.
1t was sunset. The sun was go
ing down in that golden glory whicl
has been the inspiration OF poetr.
from all time, vet whose gorgeou
coloring shall never fade one shade
in its dream-like beauty, till tim
is more. Helen and her HUSBAND
were seated on the voranda, ant
wondering what had become o
nurse and the baby. Suddenl,
they saw the girl with white fac
running toward them, but the chilt
was not in her arms.
Please. num-" she sobbed out
Il was a walkin' in the woods, whel
I seed a great cat, and | runned anc
4 il follered. 1t would have killet
both baby and me | know, but jim
Lawrence, him as lost his wife ant
child a month ago, steps up ant
meets it. / was so scared | left tn
baby on the ground and run"
This, not very lucid account a
best, was so interrupted by the girl
sobs, that father and mother under
stood nothing more than that thei
child was in danger from a wild
cat.
Helen did not scream or faint
As upon that night of danger fv
wears before, she was all action. Sh
! followed her husband as ne rushed
to the woods, pushing the girl be
( fore him that she might show hin
where the baby was lying. In wha
seemed to be an age TO the agonizeC
parents, but was in fact but a few
minutes, they were upon the spot
There lay the baby unhurt; littit
distance off, the wildcat, dead
Terribly wounded, James Law
rence&as stretched upon the ground
death stamped on his face.
From wound in his breast (the,
could see it through his torn cloth.
ing) blood was flowing in a stream
which no skill could stop. Momen
by moment, swiftly and surely, i
was bearing his life away yet ther,
was a smile upon his lips, and or
his face glow of expectation-ex
pectation of that which 'eye hatl
not seen, nor ear heard"
Husband and wife took each ;
hand of the dying man.
Il am going to see Jane and The
boy" he murmured.
"0hl" sobbed Helen, what clr
we say to you. James, this hour? ?"
What a smile was upon his fac,
as he answered:
"You need say nothing; I have
only paid debt"
do not say that, James Law
rn-oo NNkat dalt la ,.o,, o.ro ~.