The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-07-26

u GA/ TSE~rS1\ covering all but a
IG@MNss>S portion of its tiny
NeS9&%NNNlMSG face AS it lay like
9S&%NAAEAgM a mummy in its
M-1%SG1UIGNg wrappings, it con-
w N~aR~dNH tinued to cry loud
NGyMTANAHt1k0N ly, and the cry
wv went at once to the
M n ister's tender
heart.
But in moment the old man guess
ed the truth-that the hapless crea-
ture had been left there by some one
who had knocked and fled Still hold
ing the child IN his arms, he ran out
in the garden and looked on every
side.
Come backr' he said; whoever you
are, come backr'
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 anG
looked up and down the road, but
could see nobody. AS he stood in per-
pleXity the child cried again loudly
ana struggled IN MS arms.
BLESS me!' he murmured, 81 must
take it in, or it will die of cold!"
lie 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
word the minister ran into the lobby
'Losh me, meenister, is it yourself 2"
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 sitting-room Solomon
closed the door, struck match, and
lighted a candle, and followed him i'm
mediately. Then his anlazement deep
ened. To see Mr.. Lorraine standing
by the fireside with crying infant in
lis arms was indeed enough to awaken
perplexity and wonder.
WY COuOCIOHCo, lACC1lDtC1J WAldC udt
We gotten there?"
"a child! Some one left it in the
porch, knocked, and ran away. Run
Solomon, search up and down the road.
and see if 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
look at the infant, left the room, and
ran from the house.
Left alone with the child, the min
lister seemed puzzled what to do. He
held it awkwardly, and it's cries con-
tinued; then, to still it, he rocked it
to and fro in his arms.
Finding it still troublesome, he
placed it down in the armchair, and
softly loosened the shawl in which it
was wrapt, freeing it's little arms.
It's cries ceased for a time, and it
lay with eyes wide open, spreading its
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; it's 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 foreinger, which it
gripped with it's tiny hands, blinking
up into his face
"Poor wee miter' he murmured, 81
wonder who your mother is? A wick
ed woman, I'm thinking, to cast you
away on such night as thisp'
AS if in answer to his words, the
child began to cry again.
81 can see naebody," cried Solomon,
re-entering the room; II haze searchit
un and doom, as far toOnways as Mysie
Simpsons door, and beyont to the
waterside, and there's name stirring.
It's awfu' stranger
He looked at the caild, 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