The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-01-28
How are you now 2 asks Jessie bend

her
How are you now 2 asks Jessie bend
ing over her.
Better, much better, thank you, good
lady, she says in a voice which trembles
from age as well as weakness. And
very grateful to you for your goodness
hear at once by the accent that she
is English. Are you strong enough to
tell me how you got lost on the moor,
and where you came from, and where
you are going?' continued my wife,
'Ah / was going to my lad, my poor
lad, and now l doubt ! never shall see
him more, says the poor soul with a
long sigh of WEAKNESS.
Where is your lad, and how far have
you come 2
My lad is a soldier at Fort George and
| have como all the way from Liverpool
to see him, and give him his old mothers
blessing before he goes to the Indies.
And then, brokenly with long pauses of
weariness, the old woman tells us her
pitiful story:
Her lad she tells us, is her only re-
naming child. She had six, and this
the youngest, is the only one who did
not die of want during the Lancanshire
cotton famine. He grew up fine like
ly boy, the comfort and pride of his
mothers heart, and the stay of her de-
clining years. But 'strike" threw him
out of work, and unable to endure the
privation and misery, in fit of despera-
ton he Sisted" His regiment was
quaitered at Fort George, and he wrote
regularly to his mother, his letters get
ting more cheerful and hopeful every
day: until he wrote to say that his regi-
ment had been ordered to India, and
begging her to send him her blessing, as
he had not enough money to carry him
to Liverpool to see her. The aged MOI
er widowed and childless, save for this
one remaining boy, felt that she must
look on his face once more before she
died. She begged from few ladies,
whose kindness had kept her from the
workhouse, sufficient money to carry her
by train to Glasgow; and from thence
she had made her way,now on foot, now
begging a lift in passing cart or wagon
to within a few miles of Fort George,
when she was caught in the snow storm;
and wandering from the road would have
perished in the snow-but for Laddie.
My wife is in tears, and Mary is sob
bing audibly as the little old woman con-
cludes her touching and simple story,
and walked to the window and looked
out for moment before | am able to
ask her sons name. As / tell her we
are but few miles from Fort George,
and that | will send over for him,a smile
of extreme content illuminates the with
cred face
His name is John Salter,' she says,
'he is tall, handsome lad; they will know
him by that
hasten down stairs and write short
note to Col. Freeman, whom know in
timatelY, informing him of the circum-
stances, and begging that he will allow
John Salter to come over at once and
dispatched my groom in the dog cart
that he may bring him back without loss
of time.
As / return to the house after seeing
him start / meet DIR. Bruce leaving the
house.
Poor old soul, he says; 'her troubles
are nearly over she is sinking fast. I al
snu ~ oa,os, nO ""''''' '''o ''''''' "'e I'LL 'ie'
'0u nIorn tU'eSi g. oo,.,, L
sroh ;onnno,, @ 'u ~ hon nav ",se aooonPl,sneu .
Jars,anS nr I" oisoua q. ne' "s' 1 ''i lo' u''-
.Nn,h;nn 10 ;nuo,s;h,o o..
answers Dr. Bruce. .but II has k;lled
her.
90 in; but I cannot settle to nv usual
occupations. Nv thoughts are with the
aged heorine who is diving up stairs, and
presently | Weld to the fascination that
draws me back to her presence.
As DR.. Bruce saws. She is sinking fast
She lies back on the pillows. her cheeks
as ashy gray as her hair. She clasps
nv wife's hands in hers but ber eyes orc
wide open. and have an eager expectan,
look in them.
SAT what t;me m.v wo oxnoot .ho,s
wb;snors mv VITA 60 NV W" peo' 'Ae'i'
"'S .Tpt bofore "u faur, ~ fnv so,,o
tone
He will be too late. fear, she saws.
she is getting RAPIDLY weaker.
Rrt Iowa l. a,noou .h.n aoo.h
sbe will NOT no unt;i har snn oomas All, All
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obed;ent,v toL;nn wha, nomr; o shma1t I S, !,
oiven bar hmt nevor " snoaIs axnant 80 %
sov. M Ia "a, ~; ~