The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-08-14
BRAVE JEAN McGREGOR.

A True Story of "The Ringing o. the Kirk
Bell"
1t was Jean McGregor, the f1sherman's wife,
and she stood at her cabin door,
And shuddered to see the angry storm that
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 would
hardly see the day.
And only she and her dying babe alone in
her home that night,
While the wind and waves came roaring up,
and filed 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 a lurid glare.
Up sprang poor Jean with pallid face, and
cry that had no sound,
As she gaSed 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,
Came help from the sleeping fishermen, so
tired with the toll all day.
One moment of agonizng thought for the
The w wfe and s then must
child for the sake.of the shipwrecked men.
Back to the bed where baby lay went Jean in
her agony,
Crying; so bairnie, dour ma gang, lest thou
dee ava from mel"
Then down on her knees she knelt, and
prayed: 80 our ain Father above,
Take care o my wee sick bairnie, do for the
sake O. Thy tender Lowell
Oh, baud him frae i'll whites gang ava, and
gin it please Thy will,
Let him ma dee 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, so fearlessly!
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 lsst-ah mel could
she ever waken its men?
So silent It lay in slumber deep, her spirits
sank; but then
Twas only an instant of despair; 'In 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 clements the clang of
the bell rang out!
The tired seamen awoke from sleep with
many call and shout,
The glare from the ship its own tale tod :;
strong arms pulled sturdily
Across the waves, and never q man from the
ship 1OdS lost at sea.
"Who rang the bell?" was the cry at last
All. there on the floor of the kirk
Lay Jean McGregor, the bonny lassi 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 painl
Nae deid? nae deid2 Alive the morn? o
God be praised!' laughed she.
For Willie'll ma lose his laddie moo; Gods
over guild to mel"
The fishermen took themselves away; but
Jean, young Willie's wife,
Was on her knees and giving thanks for the
gift of her barnes 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 toll.
-Mdru d. Bruce, in COngre11ttondlist