The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-01-25
A WAIF.

The great yard of the King George I'M
at Cornchester was almost emptied o
mon, horses and vehicles when Jeremiah
Mott, the Willowmere carrier, entered
| 1T. IL was then s o'clock of winte,
evening, and nearly everybody had gone
home from market. The stables Of the
King George were almost empty. In 1t:
accustomed corner stood old Farmer
Scrooby's gray mare, but that was moi
unusual, seeing that Scrooby never went
home until he had finished his "market
| day 1owance."
He was sitting in the bar parlor Just
then, leisurely soaking his capacious
body with gin and water, and the 'ostler
knew that the gray mare would have to
stand in its stall for good hour yet.
But 1t was something very unusual to
see Jerry Motifs stout pony in the sta
bles at that time, and the 'ostler was
curious to know the reason of the car
rier's delay. Asa usual thing, Jeremiah
was off and away before g.
few be late tonight, Master Mott,
said the 'ostler rs Jerry approached the
stable door. "You'm away home afore
this In general"
"Ahl' Jeremiah heaved long sigh,
"Ahl You be right, William; yes, you
be right. Outward at 12 and inward at
6-them is my rule, as hewsual thing
yes, oh, dear. yes."
We'll, yew be two hours late in going
hinwards tonight, then, Master Mott,
for It's 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. "But 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, Willu,n?"
"Ah, yew be right, Master Mott. Yes.
man as Is born Of woman'-very power.
full, etfectin words them be. Somebody
dead, Master Motif"
"Yes," said Jerry, heaving another
prodigtous sigh. ooh, yes, Willum. My
little grandowter.'
Nay. What, Bob's little gel? ! be
sorry to hear on 7, Master Mott And
the only one they had tool Dear, dearr'
"AhP sighed Jerry. "Ten month old
this very day, and as fine child as ever
yew did see. Tho way it took nourish-
ment! Oh, but it's world O trouble ia
this, uow-ain't it, Willumf"
"Yew be right there" said William.
There do be deal o deaths. Old
Simon Brown died last week-matter O.
ninety -fower he were. All, very sad is
this world-so it is"
Aye" said Jerry, climbing into his
cart end swinging his lante1n over its
contents to see that they were all safe;
"aye, Willum, we be all born to trouble.
acoordin to 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,
lhe way 1t were dressed--like quality
infant. All sore trouble indeed.n
Aye, Wiilum, and, ye see, all the
moro so cause Bob and his wife hns no
more. Oh, Il very desolate house in
deed, | assewer you, Willum, when |
como away. Bob, my lad says, 'yew
Dear up. Listen to parson, Bob, | says.
Let him speak comfortable words
says l."
10 be sure, agreed the hostler. "'Tis
very seasonable Is bit o. religion when
a mans in trouble
tAye!" said Jerry. gathering up the
reins. "Ayel Buried it today they did. |
Willum. Alongside my old woman it is
God rest 'em bothl Well, good night,
Willum-a very sad world is this here"
Jerry went rumbling out Of the yard
lnd through the archway into the Qlar
ng lights of the market place. Usually
le had stopped his pony at the sweet.
'tuH shop and purchased marketing
or Bobs baby; tonight he drove sadly
oast, for the baby was dead and beyond
he reach of lollipops. He could see the
little green grave in Willowmere
'hurchyard in his minds eye as he
lrove slowly out of Cornchester and
urned into the dark country lane that
ed holneward. Such tiny mound
was-how strange that it covered SO
much OF human love and sorrow!
IL is six miles from Cornchester to
Sillowmere, and between the market
own and the sleepy village lie two other
laees-one rather large colliery vii
age called Pitmouth, the other a tiny
anlet called Little Ashby 1t was old
erry's duty to call at both these places.
here were parcels TO deliver and com
nssions to give an account Of. Pres
1tiy therefore he pulled up at the Blue
lg in Pitmouth, and after collecting
ali dozen miscellaneous parcels from
Is cart disappeared into the inn. His
1ny remained quietly outside. Il was
'customed TO stay in the same spot ev-
y Saturday evening for at least half an
our.
Everything was very quiet inside the
n. The village lay Il hundred wards
rther along the road, and the Blue
g was therefore comparatively lonely.
has 1t happened that no one was about
hen woman, carrying square bas-
u hamper, came cautiously from the
rection of the village and approached
remiah Motifs cart. She looked around
see that no one watched her. aud then
Id tho basket very gently among the
raw in the body of the vehicle For
oment she fingered, then she drew the
awl closely about her face and hurried
ay.
At the end of half an hour Jerry
erged from the inn, climbed to his seat
ie the pony proceed and rolled away
ain. He left the colliery village be-
i'd him and was soon in the open
lntry. Left 10 himself once more the
lie green grave in Wiilowmers
lrchyard began to haunt him again.