Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-12-02

ways. Sillabil had mover seen country
ways, a room high up in house con-
stituting his world. With the Captain
it was different. While the Captain
never said anything about it, yet he
had once looked after sheep.
1t was quite dark now, and the houses
were not so close together. Then the
Captain suddenly let 1t be known that
supper would not be undesirable. Sill
labil looked about him. Here was a
brightly lighted house. People were
going in and coming out Sillabil went
in too. There was table spread with
all sorts of good things. A pleasant
being stood beside 1t smiling till the
ed Sillabil of the star outside.
Help yourselves, gentlemen" said
the pleasant being.
or course Sillabil helped himself, and
his host was so polite as to feed the
Captain with delicate morsels.
"A delegate. of courseY' he whisper
ed to Sillabil. you seem to be cooler
headed than most Of the others.
hope your ward is going all right"
Sillabi had had sufficient experience
with his wise manner to see that 1t
usually succeeded, so he now tapped
himself on the forehead. At that his
host laughed and slipped roll Of bills
In his hand.
"For your ward or yourself" he
said.
Sillabil wondered, and it made him
suspicious, so he moved toward the
door, Here gentleman accosted him.
What did he give you for the
wardY this gentleman asked. OF
course Sillabil knew what ward was,
for the good lame man had told him
that they were coming to the ward to
get the Captain and drown him. So
he showed the gentleman the roll of
bills and tapped himself Oh the fore
head.
"Of course he is,' the gentleman
said, "for he'll never get in."
Sillabil edged his way out into the
night. And there was the star. He
followed the gllnting light. All at
once it disappeared. He stood there
lost He was In the dark, no houses
near, only trees. He had never before
been alone In the dark. His mother
had taken care Of that.
Captain
The Captain rubbed up against him.
Sillabil peered about him. Then he saw
the star and made for it. The Captain
growled. This had ever been note Of
warning. so Slllabil went more care
fully. Then he discovered that what
he had taken for star was only a
small light down upon the ground.
"Who is thereT' sharp voice cried.
1t was a woman's voice.
Tie light was feeble fire made Of a
few sticks. A woman was warming
her hands over it.
81 am looking for my mother" Silla-
bill said. "She is where the daisies
are"
The woman looked at him. Then she
laughed shrilly.
"Poor fool!' she said. "There Is on
ly one mother in the black world.
Don't you know 1t Is raining and cold ?
Come nearer and warm yourself.
Eere is your mother'-and she tapped
the ground Mother Earth"
"No! laughed Sillabil.
"Then here" said the woman and In
dicated some tall walls, part Of which
were tumbling down. This Is Mother
Church. Unfortunately she is crum-
bling away She was not fine enough
for her children, so they deserted her
for new palace Come in. No one will
drive us out of the church now. This
Is a place where people used to pray
for what never came to pass. Did you
ever pray"
For answer Sillabil got down on his
knees.
Lord" he said, as his mother had
taught him, protect us poor. clouded
wanderers in the night and lead us to
thee at last. where the rough places
shall be made smooth"
The woman rubbed her hands to-
gether over the flaming wood.
"YOu are tired" she said. You are
worn out"
She took off her shawl and spread 1t
upon the ground.
81 don't need It," she said TRY to
sleep"
The light of the fire showed Sillabil
a figure carved in the wall. 1t was the
figure Of man on cross. On the
cross. on the mans outstretched arms,
on his thorn crowned head, multitude
Of sparrows were huddled.
"He was the friend Of the sparrows."
| the woman said. "He was despised
and rejected. He wrote with his finger
| In the dust. Let him that is without
sin cast the first stone he said. He
was poor and homeless. as poor and
homeless as you and /"