The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-08-11
BRAVE JEAN McoREooR.
A True Story Of "Ths Ringing o'the Kir
He'll"


A True Story Of "rhe Ringing o'the Kirl
Bell.''
II was Jean McGregor. the fisherman's wife
and she stood at her cabin door.
And shuddered to see the angry storm tha
ragged on the Scottish shore.
For oh! twas dark and fearsome night
and Willie. her man, away,
And Robin, her one wee BARN, SO Ill he woul'
hardly see the day.
And only she and her dying babe alone II
her 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, ant
kissed her baby SO fair,
When 10! the sea, the sky and the rock
were Lit up with lurid glare.
Up sprang poor Jean with pallid face, ant
a cry that had no sound,
As she aazed beyond the breakers where
vessel had run aground.
She saw the flames shoot up on high, bu
she heard no signal gun.
And she knew the crew in the burning shiI
must perish, every one,
Unless from the little village just half mile
Came help from the sleeping fishermen, SC
tired with the toll all day.
One moment of agoni. ~ thought for the
fsherman's wife, and then
The struggle was DER: she must leave hel
child for the sake of the shipwrecked men
Back to the bed where baby lay went Jean in
her agony,
Crying: 40 bairnie. dOur na gang, lest thou
dee ava from me!'
Then down on her knees she knelt and
prayed: 80 our ain Father above,
Take care q my wee sick bairnie, do, for the
sake o Thy tender love!
Vll, hi 4
gin it please Thy will,
Let him ma dee tbs nicht, that I COON back
to him living STILL"
Then out in the storm the path she took was
the nearer way by the sea,
And on she sped from rock to rock, brave
Jean, so fearlessly!
She had left her child in the Fathers care, Sc
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?
30 silent IT lay In slumber deep. her spirits
sank; but then
Twas only an instant Of despair: 'I'n ava
to the kirk myself.
And God be giving me strength to pull wi
my ain twa hands the bell!'
Above the roar of the elements the clanp of
the bell rang out.
iHc iTcu seHmen uWOke from sleep Win
many call and shout.
The glare from the ship its own tale told
strong arms pulled sturdily
Across the waves and nerer a man from tn,
ship aras lost at sea.
who rang the bell?" was the crv at last.
All. there on the floor Of the kirk
Lay Jean McGregor, the bouny 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?
Her BARN alive and greeting her! her Robin
relieved from pain!
'Nae deid? nae deid? Alive the morn? o
God he prnised!" laughed she.
For WilGell ma lose his laddie moo: Gods
over guild to mel"
The fishermen took themselves away; but
lean young Willie's wife,
Was on her knees and giving thanks for the
gift of her bairnie's life.
Long yenrs have passed since that "deid O.
n'cht," when rang the Old kirk bell.
Hut the danes of the Scottish hamlet love
the story cen yet to tell.
Mary ID. Bruce, in CongregdtiOndlist.