Middletown transcript., 1897-04-10

L
committee, and cried, shrilly: "NC
body to pray over my babyI Oh, NJ
God, will nobody pray ovey my baby
She was SO little and SO sweet. Sh
never hurt anybody. Will nobody pra
over my babyP"
Swiftly she took che little body fror
the bed, wrapped shawl about it, ra
through the door and down the street
TO gambler, COW puncher and harlot-
every one she met-she held out tn
dead child, and said, beseeehinglS
"Pray over my baby; for Gods sake
pray over my babyl" Blind to tearfu
appeals, deaf to persuasions and en-
treaties, she wandered on, repeating
the cry. at nightfall her husband LEI
her home; but through the long dark
ness she shrieked, continuously; "Pray
over my baby; for Gods take, pra.
over my babyl
just before daybreak she quieted;s
the exhausted watchers slept. Whih
they slumbered she slipped out; and all
day Wednesday she wandered and wall
ed her sentence of entreaty. y ords werl
unheeded and unheard. The ravages o.
death so plain to themen andwomen who
pied with her, seemed unnoticed by the
crazed mother. 1t was an impossibility
to get the child from her. She held her
three years. old darling in grip nc
man could loose without rough hand
ling; and no man in Logan had heart
for violence. The town was sick of soul.
1t was ten at night before they got her
to the cabin. Then Buckskin Bill wiped
the cold sweat from head and hands,
and said to his mates: "If something
amt done qrick, we shall be as crazy
as she is."
All night they vainly talked and
planned. Thursday morning, about
eight~o'clock, Jim Steele. came oE the
group at Wheeler's corner. He was
excited and eager. "Say, boys, I've
got it. You remember Scotch Ike."
"Yes. Quit sheep-herdin,' and went
over to South Pass to work his claim, {"
Bob Stedman answered, listlessly.
"Well, you know, he left the old wo<
mal-his mother-behind. Too freez
ing cold over there. She lives out
here five miles, by the creek"
''Yes. Saw her in town last month
getting grub. How is that going to
help this lay-outP''
Jim shouted in his exhilaration of
spirit: "Why she's pious, don't you
see? Got Bible-a big one. saw her
reading it in the door last summer.
She can do the praying racket"
Bob's composure had been outwardly
undisturbed during thns days of dire
straiu; but there and then the hero of
five Indian fights whitened. muttered
"Thank Godl" and tainted.
By the time he vas resusciiated half
Logan had heard the good tidings. Bob
and Bill, Tom and Jim were the COM
mittee. Mrs, Marvin came while they
we're getting their horses. The news
had reached her, and there was agleam
Df rna room IN hor mild 6x,oc
"She can't go" said Jim.
"I WILL" she walled; "they are 60
ing to pray over my baby. Let me got"
"She shall go. Hitch up. Marvinl"
Bob spoke as having authority, and
no man demurred.
The Scotch grandam sat in her door.
way, rocking to and fro in the late
spring sunshine. She was short and
81 ender, with a scanned face and faded |
blue eyes, shaded by square-bowed spec
tacles. Her shabby black print gown
brought out her slight figure in sharp |
relief. The men hung back; not SO the |
mother. Her black hair had Ioosened |
In the wind, and hung about her in an |
lnkempt, tangled mass, as she ran for
ward. She dropped on her knees in
front of the old matron, laid the shawl
child on her lap. and reiter-
ated the plaintive appeal: "Pray over
my baby; for Gods sake, pray over my
oabyI"
Scotch Ike's mother looked puzzled.
The men came forward and explained,
10 Marvin referring brokenly to his
Rife's disturbed mental condition. As
hey talked the older woman cried
Ioftly and stroked the mothers hair.
sPuir lassl Puir dear lassleI'' she
luavered. "All ye hazel Yer first
,ornl"
She kissed and caressed the half
;razed creature, babbling on in her
oothing way. After while she spoke
,ently TO the men: "But couldna do
hat, ye ken. 1t wadna be RIGHT. Pm
Covenanter, and the dominies said:
Let the women keep silence.'"
Mrs. Marvin looked up at the wrink-
ed, tear-stained face with sane, an
ious yearning, 81 don't care what the .
minister's said," she asserted: "You
re woman. You've had children. {
Perhaps you have buried some. Would
ou want them put under ground like
ogs, without anybody praying over
hemP I never prayed. Nobody taught
le. My nother,,-she sobbed, and
er voice broke-"my mother died s
7hen | was little. You pray. Won't t
ou; for Gods rake won't you pray ]
yer my baby, as somebody prayed /
yer yourspp
Memories of three bonnie yellow
eads sleeping in the far-away kirk
ard stirred tie old mother. Her lips !
uiveIed and shook; the tears came in
swift shower before her answer, "I ]
m an ignorant auld woman, q pulr /
mple body. ) Ifit be wrong,
lay God forgie me. But L {
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