The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-10-16
BRAVE JEAN McoREooR.

BRAVE JEAN McGREGOR. i.
A True Story of "rhe Ringing o. the Kirl
It was Jean McGregor, the fshermaus wife
and she stood at her cabin door,
And shuddered TO see the angry storm tina
ragged on the Scottish shore.
Forohl twas a dark and fearsoms night
and Willie, her man, away,
And robin her one wee BARN, 20 Ill he would
hardly see the day.
And only she ana her dying babe alone in
her home that night. ~. s 49,.
while tine wind and waves came roaring up
3 and filled her soul with fright.
/ She turned for comfort to stlIl her fears, and
kissed her baby 80 fair.
When, 10! the sea. the sky and the rocks
were liz UP with iurid glare. .35
Up sprang poor Jean with palIid face. and
acry that had no sound, - =
AS she gazed beyond the breakers whore {
.f.i vessel had run aground. tlr lH
Z She saw the flames shoot up ON high. but
=, she heard no signal rum, ~
And she knew the crew in the burning shin
q must perish, every one, 5i
Unless from the little village just half mile
away, 80 =
Came help from the sleeping fishermen, 20
tired with the toll all day. ~ i zIfir 4.
! One moment Of asoniziue thought for the
nsherman's wife, and then f ~
Inc struggle was Der; she must leave her
Back To- the bed where baby lay went Jean In
Crying: % bairnie. I dour ma gang, lest thou
dee ava from mel" 80 = -
J Then down on her knees she kneIt 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 IN vhiIes I rang ava, ana
gin 1t please Thy will,
Let him a. dec this NIGHT, that 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, 30 fearlesslyi
She had left her child in the Fathers care. 20
she sent no backward thought
10 me lonely cabin, lest strength. and will
should rail- IN the help she sought.
The village reached at last-ah me, could
O. she ever waken its men? fB
% silent Z lay IN slumbcr deep, her spirits
Twas only an instant of despair; sFn AVA
And God be giving me strength to pull VII
my ain twa hands the bell!"
Aboye the roar Of the elements the clang Of
the bell rang out!
Tho tired seamen awoke from slccp with
many call and shout
The glare from the ship its own tale to:d:
strong arms pulled sturdily
across the waves. and neucr q man from the |
ship tcds lost at sea- ~ ~ |
who rang the belfs" was the crv At last. /
An. there on the floor of the kirk iU |
Lay Jean McGreRor, the bonny lass! We'll |
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. N I
she opened her eyes again? f t7
der DARN alive and greeting her! her Robin
relieved from painl - go
Nae deid? nae deid? Alive the morn? q |
God be praisedv' laughed she.
FOR Wiiife'it na lose his laddfe moo: Gods
over guild to mel" 4-f-s (. go
The fishermen took themselves avav. hut
Jean. young Wfliie's WIFE, fls' = =
W a. on her knees and giving thanks for the
girt OF her bairnie's life.
Long years have passed since that ssdejd a.
n;cht" when rang the old kirk bell. |,
nut tue danes of the Scottish hamlet love
the story cen yet 70 tell
--Mdsr ID. Bruce, IN Congreodtionalsst.