The Yale expositor., 1897-06-25

The wretched mother, whoever she
was, had indeed chosen wisely when
she had resolved, while determining
to abandon her infant, to leave 1t at
the gentle minister's door. Days
passed, and in spite of Solomon's pro-
testations, 1t was still an inmate OF
the manse. Mysie Simpson under
stood the rearing process well, and
since the child, as she had surmised,
had never known the breast, 1t throve
we'll upon "the bottle" The minister
went and came lightly, as II the bur-
den of twenty years had been taken
from his shoulders; had 1t indeed been
his own offspring he could not have
been more anxious or more tender.
And Solomon Mucklebackit, despite his
assumption of sternness and indigna-
ton, was secretly sympathetic. He,
too, had a tender corner in his heart,
which the child's innocent beauty did
not fail to touch.
One morning, some seven or eight
days after the arrival of the infant,
when the storms had blown themselves
hoarse, and a dull black thaw had sue
ceeded the falling and drifting snow,
news came to The manse that the body
of a woman had been found lying on
the brink of the AMMAN, just where its
waters meet the wide sands OF the
| Solway. and mingle with the salt
stream OF the ocean tide. Greatly agi-
tated, Mr.. Lorraine mounted his pony,
and at once rode along the lonely high
way which winds through the fiat
reaches of the Moss. Arriving close
| to the great sands, he was directed to
a dlsused outbuilding or barn, belong
ing to large sea-facing, and standing
some hundred yards above high-water
mark. A group of fishermen and peas
ant men and women were clustered at
the door; at his approach the men lift
ed their hats respectfully, and the
women courtesied.
On making inquiries, the minister
learned that the body had been dis
covered at daybreak by some salmon
fishers when netting the river at the
morning tide. They had at once given
the alarm and carried ''it" up to the
| dilapidated barn where it was then
lying.
The barn was without door, and
partially roofless. Day and night the
salt spray of the ocean was blown up
on 1t, incrusting its black sides with
species of filmy salt; and from the dark
rafters and down the broken walls
chung Shiny weeds and MOSES; and
over it a pack of sea-gulls wheeled and
! screamed.
The minister took off his hat and en-
tered in bare headed.
Stretched upon the earthen floor was
what seemed at first rather shapeless
mass than a human form; piece OF
coarse tarpaulin was placed over 1t,
covering it from head to foot Gently
and reverently, Mr.. Lorraine drew
back corner of the tarpaulin and re-
vealed to view the disfgured Inca
ments OF what had once been living
face: but though the features were
changed and unacceptable, and the
eye-sockets were empty Of their shin
ing orbs. and the mouth disfigured and
hidden by foulness, the face was still
set in a womah's golden hair.
With the horror deep upon him. the
minister trembled and prayed. Then,
drawing the covering still lower, he
caught a glimpse of the delicate hand
clutched as in the agonies of death;
and sparkling on the middle fingers
thereof was slender ring OF gold.
God forgive me-" he murmured to
himself; "if this is the mother of the
child. did he a cruel wrong"
He stood gazing and praying for
some time, his eyes were dim with
sympathetic tears; then, after replac-
ing the covering reverently, he turn
ed away and passed through the group
which clustered, watching him, at the
door.
| Iro mn roNrtNurnl