The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-06-28

"No"
Maybe you didn t speak to him sort
er tender afore you horned him, same
as I did my little girl"
"No"
"Yet 'twor my chile that was born
dead"
aye" the girl answered fercely,
land aim mine born dead too?'
The elder woman glanced at her in
establishment. "What ails you, Nan?"
she exclaimed. "Why, the poor lamb
is calling for the breast.
ct don't Lear it call, - the girl an
swered stonily.
Martha looked down with sad eyes at
the child on her knee "You don't love
it terrible tendersome, she said
The girl, turning away her head,
made no reply. Without the storm
clamored more fercely and the faces Of
the listening women grew white and
tense.
Pray for them at sea-" exclaimed
Martha, glancing at her mother.
And amt l praying for 'em?" ex-
postulated the old woman passionately.
Say the word aloud, mother, and
let us join in.
The old woman clasped her hands,
worn with toll, lnotted with age, and
sank ON her knees. Her thin lips trem-
bled, but no words broke from them.
Wind and sea, as if in derision at her
helplessness, burst into more hideous
combat, and the thunder heaved its way
through their clamor with noise like
the splitting of mountains.
80 Godp sobbed the woman, she
wor good son to me, good son to
me. = She was silent moment, and the
storm without upreared itself against
the cliffs, rocking the cottage in its
heavy embrace. 80 GodP' she burst
forth again, 'Ye would have spared
Sodom for the sake O. ten righteous men,
and 'twor terrible big and wicked city
spare the boat cause O. JOSH
wouldn't have axed so bold if 'twor a
ship, but it's nought but boat, mortal
small and tiddleliwinkie, wi only dree
men and a lad in it, and the lads de-
cent lad come o. respectable church
folk, no chappelites asserting O. their
selves up above their betters Happen
you're angered ag'in Rab Tapp, and
well you might be, for he's not over and
above conspicuous in good works Still
he's young-and youth S farming time
but if ye be terrible set on cutting him
of-and I'll not deny the temptation
then, o Lord God, speak to JOSS through
the mouth O. the winds, same as We did
the men O. Joppa so that he shall rise
and cast Rab forth into the deep and
the sea shall cease her ragingp'
AS she uttered the last words the sick
girl sprang from the bed and caught the
old woman by the shoulders. Elbow
dare zee mind the Almighty o. Rab's
weaknesses at such time, " she cried
passionately
And do you reckon that the Lord
has forgotten 'em?" replied the old wo-
man in a hard voice. ''Ain't they all
written in the book O. Judgment"
There be scores and scores O. folk
on the sea tonight, " the girl answered,
ideal wickeder folk than Rab, and why
should the Almighty be special took up
wi he? Oh. twas cruel, cruel O. yer to
put him in mind O. the lad. +"
Amt the names O all sailor men
written on the same page, that the Lord
may read and choose i'll the winking O.
an eye? And shall see my own cast
away for fear O. speaking out?" remon-
strated the old woman fercely. my
firstborn, that lay at my breast and
MIXED me trustsome Shame on you to
think O. stranger folk afore your own
welded husband.
While she spoke there was the sound
of heavy knocking on the door without
Martha crossed the room, shot back the
great bolts, and a man, pale faced,
drenched and battered, staggered in.
The old woman gave an abrupt, keen
cry. "My sonr" she exclaimed, and
would have taken him in her arms but
he put her gently aside and came to-
ward the girl, who stood barefooted on
the cold stone floor, her long brown
hair curling over her coarse nightgown.
''Nan, he cried, sweetheart, wom-
an, wife, Gods has given me back to
'ee.'
"And Rab?'' she said hoarsely.
1.-THE sea has taken its toll Rab's
drowned, he answered.
Twas he I loved, not you, she
sried and fell at the man feet as dead.
81 ,oDdoD Outlook