Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-09-17
BRAVE JEAN McGREGoR.
A True story Of "rhe Ringing o. tho Klrl


A True Story Of "The Ringing o. tho Kirk
Bell"
[, was Jean McGregor, tho fishormans wlfc.
and she stood Mt her cabin door,
And shudderod 10 SEQ the angry storm that
ragged on the Scottish hh0ro.
For ohl twas dark and fearsome night,
and Willie her man, away,
And Robin. her one Weo BARN, 80 Ill no WoulO
hardly see the day.
And only sho and her dying babe alono in
her homo that night.
While the wind and waves camo roaring up,
and nllod her soul with fright.
sho turned for comfort 10 stlll her fears, and
kissed hor baby 80 fair,
when, lol the sea. tho sky and the rocks
were Ut up with lurld glare.
Up sprang poor Jean with pallid faco, and
u cry that had no sound,
As she gaZcd beyond the breakers where
vessel had run aground.
She saw the flames shoot up on high but
she heard no signal gun,
And she knew tho crew In tho burning snip
must perish, every one,
Unless from tho Little village Just half milo
away,
Came help from the sleeping fishermen, 50
IIth WIN Ahu Aoil al uaJ'
Ono moment OF agonlzing thought for the
fshermnn's wife. and then
Tho struggle was DER: she must leave her
child for the sake. OF the shipwrecked men
Back to the bod where baby lay went Jean in
hor agony,
Crying: 20 barno. dour M gang, lest thou
doc ava from mol"
Then down on her knees she knott, and
prayed: 80 our ain Father aboYe,
Take care q my wee sick balrnie, do. for the
sake o Thy tender Lowell
Oh, baud hlm frac IN whites gang AVA, and
gin Il please Thy will,
Let him ma doe this nlcht, that COON back
10 him living stlll''
Thon out in the storm the path she took was
the nearer way by the sea-
And on sho sped from rock 10 rock, bravo
jean, so fearlesslyl
She had left hor child In tho Fathers care so
she sent no backward thought
To the lonely cabin, lest strength and VIII
should fail in tho help she sought
Tho village reached at last-ah mel could
she over waken its menY
20 silent II lav IN slumber deop, her spirits
sank; but then
Twas only an instant OF despair; "Tl ava
10 the kirk myself.
And God bc giving mo strength to pull wi
my ain twa hands tho bollr'
Above the roar Of the elements tho clang Of
the bell rang out!
Tho tired scamcn nwoko from sleep with
many call and shout,
Tho glare from the ship It's own tale told !;
strong arms pulled sturdily
Across the waves. and neUer Il man ffOM tn
ship rds lost at sea.
who rang the belf" was the crv at last
All, there on the floor OF the kirk
Lay Jean MoGroqor, the bonny lassl Well
had she done her work.
And now thoy bore her all tenderly to the
ittiu cabin door
Where they suspected her child had died
alone on the rocky shore.
Hut what saw she when they entered in. as
she opened her Dyes again
Her BARN alive and greeting herl her Robin
relieved from paint
"Nno deid? nae deld2 Alive the morn2 o
God he prniscdl" laughed she.
For Williell ma loso his ladd,e moo; Gods
owcr guld 10 MOI
Tho ilshormon took themselves away: but
Jean young willle'swfe.
| Was on her knees md giving thanks for the
gift OF her bnirnes life.
Long yenrs have passed since that "dcid O.
nloht," whom rang the old kirk bell.
But the danes OF the Scottish hamlet love
the story con yet 10 toll
MARY D. Rriicc, IN COngfoJdtiondiist.