The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-01-14
A WAIF.

A WAIF.
The great yard Of the King George inn
at Cornchester was almost emptied Of
men, horses and vehicles when jeremiah
Mott, the Willowmere carrier, entered
it. It was then 8 o'clock Of a winter
evening, and nearly everybody had gone
home from market. The stables Of the
King George We're 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 "markat
day lowance.'
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 a good hour yet
But it 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. As a usual thing, jeremiah
was of and away before G.
"Yew be late tonight, Master Mott"
said the 'ostler as Jerry approached the
stable door. ''Youm away homie afore
this in general"
"Ahv' jeremiah heaved long sigh.
"Ah! You be right, William yes, you
be right. Outward at 12 and inward 81
6-them is my rule, as a hewsual thing
yes, oh, dear, yes
"Well, 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 ponyinto the
shafts Of the carriers cart. Bat l was
two hours late in startin from Willow
mere, we see, Willum. Oh, ah-yes of
course. Trouble, Willum, trouble it
was that did it. All flesh is grass amt
it, now, Willum?"
"Ah, yew be right, iIaster Mott. Yes,
man as is born of woman'-very power
| ful, effectin words them be. Somebody
dead, Master MOTIF
yes" said Jerry, heaving another
prodigious sigh. "Oh, yes, Willum. My
little grandowter"
''Nay What, Bob's little gel? be
sorry to hear on t, Master Mott And
the only one they had tool Dear, dearl"
"Ah!' sighed Jerry. "Ten month old
this very day, and as fine child as ever
| yew did see. The way it took nourish-
ment! Oh. but tbs world o trouble is
this, uow-ain't it, Willumg"
"Yew be right there" said William.
There do be a 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 and swinging his lantern over its
contents to see that they were all safe;
"aye, Willum, we be all born to trouble,
accordin 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!
The way it were dressed-like quality
infant. All, a sore trouble indeed
."Aye, Willum, and, ye see, all the
more so cause Bob and his wife has no
more Oh, very desolate house in
deed, | assewer you, Willum, when |
come away. Bob, my lad says, 'yew
bear up. Listen to pars0n, Bob l says.
Let him speak comfortable words,
says l.
ITO be sure, agreed the hostler. '"Tis
very seasonable is a bit O religion when
a mans in trouble"
"Aye" said Jerry, gathering up the
reins. AYE! Buried it today they did
Willum. Alongside my old woman it i.
God rest 'em both Well, good night
Willum-a very sad world is this here
Jerry went rumbling out of the yard
and through the archway into the glar.
ing lights Of the market place. Usually
he had stopped his pony at the sweet
stuff shop and purchased marketing
for Bob's baby; tonight he drove sadly
past, for the baby was dead aud beyond
the reach of lollipops He could see the
little green grave in WillowmerI
churchyard in his minds eye as h,
drove slowly ont Of Cornchester ant
turned into the dark country lane thai
led homeward. Such a tiny mound
it was-how strange that it covered 81
much of human love and sorrowl
1t is six miles from Cornchester I,
| Willowmere, and between the marke
town and the sleepy village lie two othel
places-0ne a rather large cOlliery vii
lage called Pitmouth, the other tiny
hamlet called Little Ashby, 1t was ol(
| JeTys duty TO call a. both these places
There were parcels to deliver and com
missions to give an account of. Pres
emily therefore he pulled up at the Blu
| Pig in Pitmouth, and after collecting
half dozen miscellaneous parcels from
his cart disappeared into the inn. Hi
pony remained quietly outside. It wa
accustomed u stay in the same spot sv
cry Saturday evening for at least half al
hour.
Everything was very quiet inside tn
inn. The village lay hundred yard
farther along the road, and the Blu
Pig was therefore comparatively lonely
Thas it happened that 40 one was abou
when a woman, carrying a square bas
ket hamper, came cautiously from tn
, direction ut lhe village and approaches
jeremiah Motifs cart. She looked aroun'
TO see that no one watched her, and the
laid the basket very gently among tn
straw in tine body of the vehicle. For
i moment shc fingered, then she drew tn
shawl closely about her face and hurrie
away.
At the eud of half an hour Jerr
emerged from the inn. climbed 10 his seat
babe the pony ur0real and rolled ava