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


child's faint cry somewhere close n
hand. He started and pricked his carr
like watchdog.
"Seems to me like a child a-cryin,
said he. Yes; It's child, surely
Whoe, Robin, ladl Let's see what thi:
may be. Whoa, thenr
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
| INN curiously but saw nothing. "bfust
bo on t'other side" said he, and went
stumping across tho lane. Then the
| faint cry came again, and the carrier
Strengthened himself up in a1nazement.
Blessed it 'tain't in my cartl" 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 collec-
ton Of baskets, bags and parcels ar
ranged there. And then his face grew
troubled, for he saw hamper and did
not recognize it.
Dear, dearl' said jeremiah. Here
be strange work, | misdoubt. 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 which presented
itself. For there. warmly wrapped in
various ancient garments, lay baby
girl, fair haired and blue eyed, who
stared at Jerry's wrinkled and weather.
beaten face, and smiled contentedly.
Dear a-me!" said the carrier. Dear
a-ine!"
He stood staring at the baby until it
began to whimper again. There was
feeding bottle in the basket with it, and
Jerry FASTENED to thrust the tube into
the little rosy mouth, at the same time
giving voice to certain soothing chuckles
which he had used when hushing his lit
tledead granddaughter to sleep. Then he
covered the baby up again and went for
ward TO Little Ashby and pulled up at
the door Of the Brown Cow" He staid
inside little more than two minutes, and
when he came forth again the stout,
comfortable looking landlady followed
him to the cart.
Look ee there, miseis," said Jerry
holding his lantern over the sleeping
baby's face. Look zee there!"
The landlady nodded and sighed.
'tAh, poor dear" said she. IT'S Just
a dispensa'ion o Providence, Master
Mott--it il indeed. Take it home 10
Bob's poor wife-may be it'll comfort her
for the loss Of the ether"
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 ap-
preached him.
Now, my lad, said Jerry, chow do
zee feel now like, and hows poor MaryY"
"Bad-very bad, fsyther, is Mary"
said Bob. Her sits by the hearthstone
and don't say word to nobody. Mis-
tress White-she says at if ony Mary
nd cry a bit t would do her good, but
her don't cry-not tear"
Bob, said the old man, ''look thee
herel"
He held the lantern over the sleeping
baby. Bob, opening his eyes and mouth, |
stared and gs2ed in amazement. The |
old man set down the light, and lifting |
the child from its 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 ba by on her knee
1t suddenly woke and shed the full light
OF Its blue eyes upon her For second
she gazed at 1t wonderingly; then sho
clasped it IN her arms, and the hot tears
began to ram down upon It's round little
face Old jeremiah watched the little
group wonderingly; then he turned,
sighed and went back to his cart