The Bossier banner., 1893-01-12

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tiny little mound it was-how strange
that 1t covered SO much of human love
and sorrow!
1t is six miles from Cornchester to
Wiilowmere, and between the market
town and the sleepy village lie two
other places-one rather large col
licry village called Pitmouth, the other
tiny hamlet called Little Ashby. 1t
was old Jerry's duty to call at both
these places. There were parcels to
deliver and commissions to give an ac-
count of. Presently, therefore, he
pulled up at the blue Pig" in Pit
mouth, 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
every Saturday evening for at least half
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 woman, carrying a
square basket-hamper, came cautiously
from the direction of the village and
approached Jeremiah Motifs cart. She
looked round to see that no one watched
her, and then laid the basket very
gently among the straw in the body of
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, clim bed to his
seat, bade the pony proceed and rolled
| away again. He left the colliery vii
| 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.
Eth" sighed Jerry to himself,
'what a deal O difference little
'un dew make, surely! I'd gil a 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 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
somewf at Presently it got over the
stones and on to smooth surfaces again.
Then Jerry was suddenly aware of a
child's faint cry somewhere close at
hand. He started and pricked his ears
like a watchdog.
Seems to me like a child a-cryin',"
said he. ''Yes-'tIs a child, surely.
Whoa, Robin, lad-lets 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 'tain'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, dearr' said Jeremiah. Here
be strange work. misdoubt. l didn't
never put that i 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
amer
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 when hush
|
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 laudlady followed him to
| the cart
"Look zee there, missis," said Jerry,
holding his lanthorn over the sleeping
baby's face. Look zee there!'
The landlady nodded and sighed.
"Ah, poor dear!" said she. ''Tis just
dispensation O. Providence. Master
Motif 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
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