The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-04-08

went to the old brown house in the
hollow. Not ray of sunshine could
penetrate through the panes OF glass,
often thick with the frost for days at
a time. Jed Humphrey bestirred
himself to get in the woods and
bring home some frewood, but he
took good care to sit down and see
it all nearly burned out before he
ventured to 60 into the cold again
to replenish his pile. The baby had
grown old enough to be tied in the
one EARNED high chair by the table
and to amuse itself pounding on it
with an old rusty iron spoon. The
children had about worn out their
comfortable clothes that came when
the new baby's did, the barrel of flour
was almost gone, and there was
only one lonely piece OF salt pork
left in the cellar.
One night DR.. Simmonds, the
only physician in the village, was
awakened by loud ring at his bell.
He had just fallen asleep having left
a patient dangerously ill only an
hour before. He put his head out
of the window, but it was so dark he
could not see the little figure of a
boy on the steps.
Who is there? he called out.
It's me, said the boy. Our baby's
awful sick, and mother wants you to
come as quick as you can.
Whose baby? asked the doctor in
a gruff voice.
Our baby. Don't you know? Jed
Humphreys.
Ike doctor hesitated a few mo-
ments, and then he said: What is
the matter! Perhaps | can sent
some medicine. | have just got in
and am very tired. and | don't want
to 60 down to the hollow tonight
unless it is necessary.
Oh, please do come, doctor, the
baby is awful sick. Pm so afraid it
will die, and it's so cunning and
cute. The baby is all the fun we've
had this whole winter.
The boys voice was choked with
tears The doctor dressed and put
on his heavy ulster which hung in
the hall, and went out with him.
| can't do anything to help that
baby, Jed, he said as he saw the
little one was lying SO silently in it's
mother arms hour later.
Can't you do nothing, doctor,
nothing for the little critter? Ii
seems like as if we couldn't stay here
nohow if the baby dies.
The doctor shook his head. 1t is
past all human help, Jed, he said.
The baby is dead.
The physician did not speak as
tenderly as he usually did when
patient had passed away. What a
mercy, he thought, that this child
had passed out of this miserable
home!
The tears that tell from this
stricken family as they stood around
the little body seemed mysterious to
him Why should they mourn tor
that baby? But when he heard the
mother say, as he was passing out
the door, oh, Jed, what shall we do
now? and saw her lean her head on
the arm of the husband who had
been so remiss in trying to provide
TOR his family, he was touched.
Can't you pray, Mary7 Jed asked
Mother used to pray, but l haven't
prayed for so long, l couldn't say
nothing the Lord would want to
hear.
can say, Oh, dear Lord, pity us
and comfort us, Jed that's all l can
say. l haven't said PRAYER for
ever so long, Jed. forgot all about
the Lord, and that's why he took
our baby. We've never been so
near to heaven before, Jed; the
angels have been in this old house
tonight and took off our baby; Jesus
has got her in her arms. You re-
member that picture in the book the
childred got in Sunday School of
the Good Shepherd with little
lamb in her arms? That's the way
he gets the mother sheep to follow
him. He takes their lambs.
It's amazing strange, Mary, how
little critter like that will take hold
of your heartstrings, and how like
tearing 'em to pieces 1t seems when
its took away.
The next day everybody in the
village had heard OF the dead baby
at the Humphreys. One after
another of Christ's messengers went
to comfort the sorrowing ones. The
little coffin, the flowers, the neces
sary garments for the family, and
the decent clearing up OF the shift
less looking home, together with the
kindly words the minister said to
them about the Saviour's love for
little children, appealed to the heart
OF Jed and Mary as nothing had
b efore.
We all want TO go where the baby
is, said led, every one ofus, and we
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