Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-12-31
A WAIF.

The great yard Of the King George inn
ut Cornchester was almost emptied Of
men, horses aud vehicles when Jeremiah
Mott, the Willowmere carrier. entered
| il. II was then 4 o'clock 81 q winter
evening, and nearly everybody had gone
home from market The stables of the
/ King George were almost empty. In It's
accustomed corner stood old Farmer
! Scrooby's gray mare. but that was no,
unusual. seeing that Scrooby never went
home until he had finished his market
day 'lowance.
He was sitting in the bar parlor just
then, leisurely soaking his cspacious
body with gin and water. and the 'or>4er
knew that the gray mare would have TO
stand in its stall for a good hour yet.
| But il was something very unusual 10
see Jerry Motifs stout pony in the sta
| bles ~ that time. and the 'ostler was
| curious To know the reason Of the car
riers delay Asa usual thing, jeremiah
was off and away before 8.
"Yew be late tonight. Master Mott"
said the 'ostler as Jerry approached The
stable door. "You'm away home afore
this in general"
"Ah" jeremiah heaved a long sigh
"Ah! You be right, William: yes. you
be right. Outward at l2 aud inward ~
6-them is my rule, as hewsusl thing
yes oh. dear, yes"
well, yew he two hours late in goin"
hinwards tonight, then, Master Mott.
for tbs now by parish church clock"
"Ah, dear, yes!" said Jerry, helping
the 'ostler to yoke the stout pony into the
shafts Of the carriers cart. "Butd was
two hours late in startin from Willow
mere, ye see, Willum. Oh, ah--yes Of
course Trouble, Willum, trouble il
was that did it. All flesh is grass amt
: it, now, Willumy
"Ah. yew be right, Master Mott. Yes,
man as is born Of woman'-very power
dead, Master MOTIF"
YES" said Jerry, heaving another
prodigious sigh. "Oh, yes, Willum. Ny
little grandowter."
NAY. What, Bob's little g'ell be
sorry TO hear on Z, Master Mott. And
the only one they had too! Dear, dear
"Ah!' sighed Jerry. "Ten month old
this very day, and as fine child as ever
yew did see. The way IL took nourish-
ment! Oh, but 'tis world O. trouble is
this. now-sin't IL. WillumY'
"Yew be right there" said William.
There do be a deal o deaths. Old
Simon Brown died last week-mstter o.
ninety.fower he were. All, very sad is
this world-so II is"
AYE" said Jerry, climbing into his
cart and swinging his lantern over its
contents 10 see that they were all safe
"aye, Willum, we be all born TO trouble,
accordin 10 the Scripcher. Take it very
bad. do some on us, too, when we be
called TO kiss the rod too"
Human natur, Master Mott, human
natur Yes, reckon Bob and his pore
wifell take it very hard. Dear, dear, a
deal they did think o that child, surely!
The way II were dressed-like a quality
infant. All, a sore trouble indeed"
AYE, Wlllum, and, ys see, all the
more so cause Bob and his wife has no
more. Oh very desolsts house in
deed, assewer you, Willum, when
come away. Bob, my lad. | says, 'yew
bear up Listen 10 psrson, Bob / says.
Let him speak comfortable words
says L.
ITO be sure, agreed the hostler. "'Tis
very seasonable is sxbit o religion when
a mans in trouble"
AYE" said Jerry, gathering mp the
reins. AYE! Buried it today they did,
Willum. Alongside my old woman il is
God rest 'em both! Well. good night,
Wilma very sad world is this here"
Jerry went rumbling out of the yard
and through the archway into the glar-
ing lights of the market place. Usually
he had stopped his pony at the sweet
stuff shop and purchased marketing"
for Bob's baby; tonight he drove sadly
past, for the baby was dead and beyond
the reach of lollipops. He could see the
little green grave in Willowmere
churchyard in his minds eye MS he
drove slowly ont Of Cornc hester and
turned into the dark country lane that
led homeward Such a tiny mound
il was-how strange That il covered SO
much Of human love and sorrow!
1t Is six miles from Cornchester TO
Willowmere, and between the market
town and the sleepy village lie two other
places-one rather large colliery viii
lage called Pitmouth, the other a tiny
hamlet called Little Ashby. 1t was old
Jerry's duty to call at both these places.
There were parcels to deliver and COM
missions to give an account Of Pres
emily therefore he pulled up at the Blue
Pig in Pitmouth, and after collecting
half dozen miscellaneous parcels from
his cart disappeared into the inn. His
pony remained quietly outside. It was
accustomed TO stay in the same spot ev-
cry Saturday evening for at least half al
hour.
Everything was very quiet inside the
Inn. The village lay hundred yards
farther along the road, and the Blue
Pig was thei efore comparatively lonely.
Thus it happened that no one was about
when woman. carrying a square bas-