The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-12
BRAVE JEAN McGREGOR.
A True Story of 1.-THE Ringing o. the Kirk
ReJIo

A True Story of "The Ringing o. the KirI
Bell"
1t was Jean McGregor the fisherman's wife
and she stood at her cabin door,
And shuddered 10 see the angry storm thai
ragged on the Scottish shore.
For oh! twas a dark and fearsome night
and Will G, her man, away,
And Robin. her one wee BARN. so i'll he would
hardly see the day.
And only she and her dying babe alone in
he home that night.
While The wind and waves came roaring up,
and filled her soul with fright.
She turned for comfort to still her fears, and
kissed her baby so fair,
When, 10! the sea- the sky and the rocks
were lit up with lurid glare.
Up sprang poor Jean with pallid face, and
acry that had no sound,
AS she gazed beyond the breakers where a
vessel had run aground.
She saw the flames shoot up on high, but
she heard no signal gun,
And she knew the crew in the burning ship
must perish, every one,
Unless from the little village just half mile
away.
Game help from the sleeping fishermen, so
tired with the toll ali day.
One moment of agonizng thought for the
fishermans wife. and then
The struggle was DER; she must leave her
Child for the sake of the shipwrecked men.
Back to the bed where baby lay went Jean in
her agony,
Crying: 20 ba'rnie. dOur ma gang, lest thou
dee ava from me-"
Then down on her knees she knelt, and
prayed: 20 our ain Father above,
Take care o my wee sick bairnie, do. for the
sake o Thy tender love!
Oh, baud him frae III whites l gang ava, and
gin it please Thy will,
Let him M dee this nicht, that COON back
to him living still!'
Then out in the storm the path che took was
the nearer way by the sea,
And on she sped from rock to rock, brave
Jean, so fearessly.
She had left her child in the Fathers care, so
she sent no backward thought
To the lonely cabin, lest strength and will
should fail in the help she sought.
The village reached at last-ah me! could
she ever waKen its men?
so silent il Law in sumber Deep her spirits
sank; but then
Twas ONLY an instant of despair; TN AVA
to the kirk myself.
And God be giving inc strength to pull wi
my ain twa hands the bell!"
the bell rang out!
The tired seGmen awoke from sleep with
many call and shout,
The glare from the ship its own tale roId:
strong arms pulled sturdily
ACROSS the waves. and IlcUer a man from The
ship Irds lost at sea.
''who rang the help" was the crv at last.
All there on the floor of the kirk
Lay lean Mctiregor, the bonny lass! Well
had she done her work!
AND now they bore her all tenderly to the
little cabin door
where they suspected her child had died
alone on the rocky shore.
But what saw she when they entered in as |
she opened her eyes again? |
Hcr bairn alive and greeting her! her Robin |
relieved from paint
Nae deid? nae deid? Alive the morn? o |
God be praiSed"' laughed she.
FOR Wllliell ma lose his laddie moo; Gods |
over guild to me!'
The fishermen took themselves away; but
Jean. young Willies wife,
as on her knees and giving thanks for the
gift Of her bairnie's life.
Long years have passed since that "deid o.
n,cht. when rang the old kirk bell
But the danes of the Scottish hamlet love
the story cen yet to tell.
-AIIH ID. RT'tcc, in COngrcJGtiOndlist