Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-01-26
A HIGHWAY WAIF.
How Its Coming Comforted q Sor-
rowing Mother.

HOW lJS coming COmtOrtod O SOr-
rowing Mother.
The great yard OF the King George
inn at Cornchester was almost cmpticd
of men, horses and vehicles when Jere-
miah Mott, the Willowmerc carrier,
entered II II was then eight o'clock
of n winter evening, and nearly every
body had gone home from marxet. 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 "marliet-day lowauce."
lie was sitting in the bar parlor Just
then, leisurely soaking his capacious
body with gin-and-wuter, and the ostler
knew that the gray mare would have
TO stand in its stall for good hour
yet But II was something very UNI
usual to sec Jerry Motifs stout pony in
the stables at that time, and the ostler
was curious to know the reason of the
carriers delay As usual thing, Jere-
miah was of and away before six
"Ycw be late tonight, Master Mott"
the stable door. "You'ln away home
afore this, in general"
"Ah" Jeremiah hcavcd Il long sigh.
"Ah! You be right, Willum; yes, you
be right. Outwards ut twelve and in
wards at six-them is my rule, as a
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, yesl" said Jerry, helping
the ostlcr 10 yoke the stout pony into
the shafts of the carriers cart. But
] was two hours late in startin' from
Wilowmcrel We see, Willum. Oh, all
yes, Of course. Trouble, Willum,
trouble it was that did Il. All flesh Is
grass, amt 1t, now, Willum?"
"Ah, ycw be right, Master Mott.
Yes, man as is born of woman'-very
powerful effcctin' words them be.
Somebody dead, Master MOTIF"
"Yes," said Jerry, heavinF another
prodigious sigh. "oh, yes, Willum- My
little GRANDMOTHER"
NAY What, Bob little g'el2 be
sorry to hear ont, Master Mott. And
the only one they had, too! Dear, deari"
"Ah" sighed Jerry. Ten months
old this very day, ahd as fine a child as
ever yew did see. The way IL took
nourishmentl Oh, but It's n world o.
trouble in this now, amt it, Willum2"
"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 H."
aye" said Jerry, climbing into his
cart, and swinging his lantern over its
contents to Bee that they were all safe;
AYE, Willum, we be all born to
trouble, accordin' TO the Scripchcr.
Take IL very bad, do some on us, too,
when we be called To kiss the rod, too"
Human natur'. Master Mott, human
nntur' Yes, | reckon Bob and his
pore wife IL take it very hard Dear,
dear, deal they did think O. that child,
sure-lyl The way II were dressed like
quality infant All, sore trouble,
indeed
AYE. Willum; aud, ye see, all the
more SO cause Bob and his wife has nc
more. Oh, a very desolute house, in
deed, assewer you, Willum, when
come away. Bob, my lad | says, you
bear up; listen to parson, Bob, ! says,
Let him speak comfortable words,
says l."
ITO be sure" agreed the ostler.
"'Tis very reasonable is II bit o reli
gion when a mans in trouble"
"Aye!" said Jerry, gathering up the
roins. "Aycl Buried 1t to-day, they
did, Willum. Alongside my old woman
it is-God rest EN- bothl Well, gooc
night, Willum-a very sad world is THU
here"
Jerry went rumbling out OF the yart
and through the archwny into the glar
ing lights of the market place. Usual
ly he had stopped his pony at thu
sweet-stuff shop and purchased mar
keting" for Bob's baby; tonight HI
drove sadly past, for the baby wa
dead, and beyond the reach Of lollipops
lie could see the little green grave IL
Willowmere churchyard in his mind
eve as he drove slowly out of Corn
chester and turned into the dark coun
try lane that led homeward. Such
tiny little mound II was-how strang,
that IL covered so much of human low,
and rrowl
II is six miles from Cornchester h
Willowmerc, and between tho marlSe
town and the sleepy village lie tw
other places-one rather large col
liery village called Plymouth, the othe
n tiny hamlet called Little Ashby, !
was old Jerry's duty to call at bot
these places. There were parcels Z
deliver and commissions TO give an aC
count of Presently therefore b
pulled up at the blue Pig" in Pit
mouth, and after collecting half :
dozen miscellaneous parcels from hi
cart disappeared into the inn. lii
pony remained quietly outside; 1t wa
. accustomed 10 stay ia the same spo
every Saturday evening for at least hal
: an hour.
Everything was very quiet inside thu
inn. The village lay hundred y0r,
farther along the road, aud tho ''blu,
Pig" was therefore comparatively lone
ly Thus 1t happened that no one wa
, about when woman, carrying
EnuaE-a hnAlte b-hnfu 0aE. came cAulio1Sl