The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-07
A WAIF.

ut Cornchester was almost emptied of
men, horses and vehicles when Jeremiah
Mott, the Willowmere carrier, entered
it. 1t was then 8 o'clock of winter
evening, and nearly everybody 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."
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 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 off and away before g.
"Yew be late tonight, Master Mott"
said the 'ostler as Jerry approached the
stable door. "You'm away home afore
this in general"
'Ahw jeremiah heaved a long sigh.
"Ah! You be right, William; yes, you
be right. Outward at 10 and inward al
6-them is my rule, as hewsual thing
yes, oh, dear, yes"
"Well, yew be two hours late in going
hinwards tonight, then, Master Mott.
for it's y 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, yo see, Willum. Oh, ah-yes Of
course. Trouble, Willum, trouble it
was that did it. All flesh is grass ain't
it, now, Willum?"
.'Ah, yew be right, Master Mott. Yes,
man as is born of woman'-very power
full, effectin words them be. Somebody
dead, Master Motif
EYES," 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 too! Dear, dearr'
"Ah!' sighed Jerry. Ten month old
this very day, and as fine child as ever
yew did see. The way it took nourish-
mentl Oh, but tits a world o. trouble is
this, uow-ain't it. Willum?'
"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 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. r.
Human natur, Master Mott, human
uatur. Yes, reckon Bob and his pore
wife1l take it very hard. Dear, dear, a
deal they did think O. that child, sure-lyl
The way it were dressed-like quality
infant. All, sore trouble indeed"
AYE, William, 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 parson, Bob,' says.
Let him speak comfortable words.
says L"
ITO be sure" agreed the hostler. "'Tis
very seasonable is a bit o. religion when
II mans in trouble"
Aver said Jerry, gathering up the
ielns. AYE! Buried it today they did,
Willum. Alongside my old woman it Ii
vGod rest 'em both! Well, good night,
.Nillum-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.
s5atf shop and purchased a t-marketing'
.or Bob's baby; tonight he drove sadly
L.ast. for the baby was dead and beyond
40 reach of lollipops. He could see the
little green grave in Willowmere
,hurchyard in his minds eye as hi
Grove slowly out of Cornchester and
turned into the dark country lane thai
led homeward. Such a tiny mound
il. was-how strange that it covered se
truch of human love and sorrowi
Ii is six miles from Cornchester tt
Wlllowmere, and between the marke
tYwn and the sleepy village lie two othei
placeson rather large colliery vii
iage called Pitmouth, the other q tin,
hamlet called Little Ashby. II was oil
.jerry's duty to call at both these places
There were parcels to deliver and com
missions to give an account of. Pres
cnriy therefore he pulled up at the Blu
Pig In Pitmouth, and after collectin,
half a dozen miscellaneous parcels from
his cart disappeared into the inn. Hi
pony remained quietly outside. II wa
accustomed to stay in the same spot ey
cry Saturday evening for at least half q,
hour.
Everything was very quiet inside th
i'm. The village lay hundred yard
farther along the road, and the Blu
Pig was therefore comparatively lonely
Thss it happened that no one was abou
when q woman, carrying square bas
iAts hamper, came cautiously from til
t4scction OF the village and approache
Jeremiah Motifs cart. She looked aroun
X, see that no one watched her. and the