The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-07-17
fore 1t was half gone l saw Nixon
could not win and that the priest would

be too late. so l sent for Mr.. Craig.
From the moment he entered the room
he took command of us all. He was So
simple. so manly. SO tender, the hearts
of the parents instnctvely turned to
him.
As he was about TO proceed with the
baptism the mother whispered to Mrs.
Mavor. who hesitatingly asked Mr..
Craig If he would object TO using holy
water.
ITO me It is the same as any other"
he replied gravely.
"An' will he make the good sign"
asked the mother timidly.
And so the child was baptized by the
Presbyterian minister with holy water
and with the sign of the cross. ! don't
suppose it was orthodox, and it render
et' .'aaotic some of my religious no
tics. but thought more Of Craig that
moment than ever before. He was
more man than minister. or perhaps he
was SO good a minister that day be-
cause so much q man. AS he read about
the Saviour and the children and the
disciples who tried to get In between
them. and as he told us the story in his
own simple and beautiful way and
then went on to picture the home Of
the little children and the same Saviour
In the midst Of them. ! felt my heart
grow warm. and could easily under
stand the cry OF the mother:
"Oh. mon .Iesu. prenez moi aussi, take
me wiz mon misnon!"
The cry wakened Slavin's heart. and
he said huskily:
"Oh, Annette. Annette.'
"Ah. oui. an Michael too" Then to
Mr. Craig: "You tink he's tax me some
day? En-"
"All who love him." he replied.
"An' Michael too?" she asked, her
=, es searching his face. AN Michael
too"
But Craig only replied, "All who Lore
him."
"Ah, Michael, you must pray lie bon
Jesu. He's garde notre mignon.' And
then she bent over the babe, whisper
ing, "Ah, mon cheri, mon amour, adieu,
adieu, mon nnge." till Slavin put his
prms about her and took her away, for
as she was Whispering her farewells
her baby, with little answering sigh,
passed into the house with many rooms.
"Whisht, Annette, darling, don't cry
for the baby" said her husband. Sure
it's better off than the rest of us it is.
And didn't you hear what the minister
said about the beautiful place 1t Is?
Aud sure he wouldn't lie to us Il; all
But mother cannot be comforted
for her tirStborn son.
An hour later Nixon brought Father
Goulet He was little Frcnchman
with gentle manners and the face of a
saint. Craig welcomed him warmly
and told him what he had done.
THAT is good. my brother" he said,
with gentle courtesy, and, turning to
the mother. 'Your little one is safe"
Behind Father Goulet came Nixon
softly and gazed down upon the little
quiet face, beautiful with the magic OF
death. Slavin came quietly and stood
beside him. Nixon turned and offered
his hand, but Slavin, moving slowly
back. said:
~ did you wrong, Nixon, and it's a
sorry man am this day for It,"
Don't say a word, Slavin," answer
ed Nixon hurriedly. 81 know how you
feel. I've got baby too. want to
see 1t again. That's why the break
hurt me So"
"As Gods above" replied Slavin ear
nestly, "I'll binder you no more"
They shook hands, and we passed
out.
We laid the baby under the pines,
not far from Billy Breen, and the sweet
spring wind blew through the gap and
came softly down the valley, whisper.
ing to the pines and the grass and the
hiding flowers of the new life coming
to the world. And the mother must
for as the priest was sayir the words
of the service she stood with Mrs. Ma
vor's arms about her. anl her eyes
were looking far away beyond the pur-
pie mountain tops, seeing what made
her smile And Slavin, too. looked diff.
ferent. His very features seemed finer.
The coarscncss was gone out Of his
face. What had come to him l could
not tell
But when the doctor came into Sla-
wins house that night 1t was the old
Slavln | saw, but with a look of such
deadly fury on his face that tried to
get the doctor out ut once. But he was
half drunk. and his manner was hid
eously humorous.
"How do, ladies? How do, gentle
men" was his loud voiced salutation.
"Quite professional gathering, clergy
predominating. Lion and lamb too!
Ha, ha! Which is the lamb, eh? Ha,
ha, Very good! Awfully sorry to
hear of your loss, Mrs. Slavin. Did
our best, you know; can't help this sort
Of thing"
Before any one could move Craig
was at his side and, saying in clear,
firm voice, "One moment, DOCTOR"
caught him by the arm and had him