Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-12-10

accustomed to stay in the same spot every Saturday evening for at least hal1 an hour.
 Everything was very quiet inside the inn. The village lay hundred yards farther along the road, and the Blue Pig" was therefore comparatively lone ly. Thus it happened that no one was about when a woman, carrying a square basket-hamper, came cautiously from the direction of the village and approached Jeremiah Mott's cart. She looked round to see that no one watched her, and then laid the basket very gently among the straw in the body o1 the vehicle. For a moment she lin gered, then she drew the shawl closely about her face and hurried away.
 At the end of half an hour Jerry emerged from the inn, climbed to his seat, bade the pony proceed and rolled away again. He left the colliery viii lage behind him and was soon in the open country. Left to himself once more the little green grave in Willow mere churchyard began to haunt him again. He sighed as he pictured the lonely cottage at home. Bob and his wife would be there waiting his return, and, no doubt, still sorely troubled by their bereavement
 "Eh," sighed Jerry to himself, "what a deal O difference a little 'un dew make, surely! I'd gr hun. dred goold guineas to have it back"
 The road grew rather rough. They had been laying down a course of dross upon it, and the pony staggered a bit as he picked his way in the darkness over the sharp points. The cart had no springs, and it began to jolt'and shake somewhat. Presently it got over the stones and on to smooth'surfaces again Then Jerry was suddenly aware of a chiId's faint cry somewhere close at hand. He started and pricked his ears like 8 watchdog.
 ''Seems to me like child a-cryin'," said he. "Yes-'tis 8 child, surely. Whoa, Robin, lad-let's see what this may be. Whoa, then.'
 The pony stopped and Jeremiah got down, and having lighted his lantern went over toward the hedgeside. The cry had stopped then. He looked about him curiously, but saw nothing. 'Must be on t'other side," said he, and went stumping across the lane. Then the faint cry came again and the car rier strengthened himself up in amaze ment
 Blessed If 'Sa1n't in my cart!" said he. ''Well-well-this do be very per tickler strange. A child cryin' in my cart"
 He held the lantern over the cart tail and looked at the miscellaneous col lection of baskets, bags and parcels arranged there. And then his face grew troubled. for he saw hamper and did not recognize it.
 Dear, dear!" said Jeremiah. Here be strange work, 1 misdoubt. l didn't never put that r my cart"
 The hamper lid was loose, and Jerry turned it back and gazed with aston ished eyes on the sight that presented itself. For there, warmly wrapped in various ancient garments, lay baby girl, fair-haired and blue-eyed, which stared at Jerry s wrinkled and weather beaten face, and smiled contentedly.
 Dear. a-me!" said the carrier. Dear a-mer'
 He stood staring at the baby until it began to whimper again. There was feeding bottle in the basket with it, and Jerry hastened to thrust the tube into the little rosy mouth, at the same time giving voice to certain soothing chuckles which he had used whe hush- ing his little dead granddaughter to sleep. Then he covered the baby up again and went forward to Little Ash by and pulled up at the door of the Brown Cow" He stayed inside little more than two minutes and when he came forth again the stout, comforta- ble-looking landlady followed him to the cart
 Look 'ee there, missis," said Jerry, holding his lanthorn over the sleeping baby's face. Look 'ee there!'
 The landlady nodded and sighed.
 "Ah, poor dear!' said she. "Tis just dispensation O Providence. Master Mott-it is, indeed. Take it home to Bob's poor wife-maybe it'll comfort her for the loss of the other" So Jeremiah set forward over the last mile of road to Willowmere. The baby slept quietly all the way, for the road was smooth and the motion of the cart was soothing.
 Poor Bob, his eyes red with weeping for the dead baby, was at the gate to welcome 'his father. Jeremiah got down from his perch very softly and approached him.
 ''Now, my lad," said Jerry, "how do ee feel now, like, and how's poor Mary2"
 'Bad-very bEd, feyther, is Mary" said Bob. Her sits by the hearthstone and don't say word to nobody. Mis- tress White-she says at if on'y Mary d cry bit t would do her good, but her don't cry-not tear"
 "Bob," said the old man, "look thee here!'
 He held the lanthorn over the sleep ing baby. Bob, opening his eyes and 1 mouth, stared and gazed in amazement. The old man set down the light, and, lifting the child from it's nest, turned with it toward the house. Mary sat by | the hearth as he entered, her eyes dry and burning, her face full Of despair.
 Mary" said old Jeremiah, very softly. "Mary-look thee here, my | dear"
 He laid the sleeping baby on her | T Al,o