The Bossier banner., 1893-01-12
A HIGHWAY WAIF.
How It's Coming Comforted a Sor.
rowing Mother.

The great yard of the King George
inn at Cornchester was almost emptied
of men, horses and vehicles when Jere-
,niah Mott, the Willowmere carrier,
entered it 1t was then eight o'clock
of winter evening, and nearly every
body had gone home from market The
stables of the King George were almost
empty. In its accustomed corner stood
old Farmer Scrooby's gray mare; but
that was not unusual, seeing that
Scrooby never went home until he had
finished his ''market-day 1owance."
lie 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 it was something very un-
usual to see Jerry Motifs stout pony in
the stables at that time, and the ostler
was curious to know the reason of the
carriers delay. As d usual thing, Jere-
miah was off and away before six.
"Yew be late tonight, Master Mott"
said the ostler, as Jerry approached
the stable door. ''You'm away home
afore this, in general"
"Ah!" jeremiah heaved long sigh.
"Ah! You be right, Willum; yes, you
be right. 0utwards at twelve and in
wards at six-them is my rule, as
hewsual thing-yes, oh, dear, yes"
well, yew be two hours late in go
ing hinwards tonight, then, Master
Mott, for It's eight 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
Willowmere! ye see, Willum. Oh, all
yes, of course. Trouble, Willum,
trouble it was that did it. All flesh is
grass, amt it, now, Willum?"
"Ah, yew be right, Master Mott.
Yes, man as is born of woman'-very
powerful effectin' words them be.
Somebody dead Master MOTIF"
YES" said Jerry, heaving another
prodigious sigh. 'Oh, yes, Willum. My
little grandowter."
Nay. What, Bob little gel? | be
sorry to hear ont, Master Mott. And
the only one they had, too! Dear, dear!"
All" sighed Jerry. Ten months
old this very day, and as fine child as
ever yew did see. The way it took
nourlshment! Oh, but It's a world o.
trouble in this now, amt it, Willum?"
"Yew be right there" said William.
mere do be deal O deaths. Old
SIMON Brown died last week-matter
ninety flower he were. All, very sad
this world-so it is"
Aye" said Jerry, climbing into his
cart and swinging his lantern over it's
contents to see that they were all safe;
aye Wltlum, we be all born to
Trouble, accordin' to the Scripcher.
lake 1t very bad, do some on us. too.
"hen We be called to kiss the rod. too"
Human natur', Master Mott. human
hatur- Yes, l reckon Bob and his
pure wife IL take it very hard. Dear,
uedr' a deal they did think O. that child,
surely! The way it were dressed like
Equality infant. All, sore trouble,
indeed"
Aye, Willum; and, ye see, all the
nore SO cause Bob and his wife has no
more. Oh, very desolate house. in
ueeo' assewer you, Willum, when l
onie away. Bob, my lad says, You
uea' up; listen to parson. Bob saws.
Let him speak comfortable words
says l." i"''
.,,,. 10 be sure" agreed the ostler.
us very seasonable is bit O. reli-
gun when mans in trouble"
Aye" said Jerry, gathering up the
.,.l .e,nS. Aye! Buried it to-day. they
ad' Willum. Alongside nv old woman
II s-God rest 'em both, Well GOOD
night, Willum-a very sad world is this
Derry went rumbling out of the ward
aha through the archway into the glar-
lug nights of the market place. Usual
y pc had stopped his pony at the
,s@set-stuff shop and purchased a "mar-
ds sslng for Bob's baby; tonight he
a aroSe sadly past, for the baby was
Isao' rs and beyond the reach of lollipons,
~ could see the little green grave in