The Yale expositor., 1897-06-18

ed the truth-that the hapless crea-
ture had been left there by some one
who had knocked and fed. Still hold
ing the child In his arms, he ran out
in the garden and looked on every
side.
Come backw he said; whoever you
are, come back"
But no one responded. The wind
moaned dismally in the trees that
lifted their black branches overhead,
that was all. He ran to the gate and
looked up and down the road, but
could see nobody. AS he stood in per-
plexity the child cried again loudly,
and struggled in his arms.
BLESS mey he murmured, "T must
take it in. or it will die of cold!"
He ran back to the door and knocked
loudly again and again. 1t was some
time before he was heard. At last,
however, he beard footsteps coming
along the passage, and redoubled his
knocking. The door opened, and
Solomon Mucklebackit, half dressed,
appeared on the threshold. Without
a word the minister ran into the lobby.
''Losh ne, meenister, is it YOURSELF"
calculated Solomon, in amazement. 81
thought you were in bed"
Come this way-quick!" shouted
Mr.. Lorraine. Bring a light"
And still carrying his burden, he
ran into the sittiHg-room. Solomon
closed the door, struck a match, and
lighted candle, and followed him i'm
medately. Then his amazement deep
ened. To see Mr.. Lorraine standing
by the Preside with a crying infant in
lis arms was indeed enough to awaken
perplexity and wonder.
my conscience, meenister, what hac
we gotten there?"
"a child Some one left 1t in the
porch, knocked, and ran away. Run
Solomon, search up and down the road
and see il you can find them. Shame
upon them, whoever they are. Don't
stand staring, but run"
Perfectly bewildered, Solomon stood
gaping; then with one horror-stricken
ran from the house.
Left alone with the child the min
lister seemed puzzled what to do. He
held 1t awkwardly, and its cries con-
tinued; then, to still it, he rocked 1t
to and fro in his arms.
Finding 1t still troublesome, he
placed 1t down in the armchair, and
softly loosened the shawl in which 1t
was wrapt freeing its little arms.
It's cries ceased for a time. and 1t
lay with eyes wide open, spreading it's
little hands in the warm twilight.
The minister put on his glasses and
looked at it with solemn curiosity.
1t was a tiny infant, about two
months old; its little pink face was
pinched with cold, and it's great blue
eyes dim with crying. A common
linen cap was on it's head, and it's
gown was of coarse linen. But it was
so small, so pretty, that the minister's
tender heart melted over it at once.
He offered it his forefinger, which 1t
gripped with its tiny hands, blinking
up into his face.
poor wee miteT he murmured, 81
wonder who your mother is? A wick
ed woman. I'm thinking, to cast you
away on such a night as thisr
AS if in answer to his words, the
child began to cry again
81 can see naebody," cried Solomon,
re-enteling the room; 81 haze searchit
up and doom, as far toonways as Mysie
Simpsons door, and beyont to the
waterslde, and there's name stirring.
It's awful stranger
He looked at the child, and
scratched his head; he looked at the
minister, and nodded it ominously. A
curious conjecture, too irreverent for
utterance, had passed across his nat
urally suspicious mind.
(To BE coNTINUED.)