Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-07-23
bury's quiet retort.
"One of ems dead, though"
"Cho didp,t d;o +;I1 zbo ~,roxvod =,

it was"
This was a trifle conciliatory, but
Felix's mother was hurt, and the Wild
ow Dickson was put into an attitude
OF defence as to her rights over her
daughters child.
The next day, when the doctor
came, the Widow Dickson forestalled
Mother Danbury in questioning him,
and took all the responsibility Of car
ing for the child upon herself.
Il don't want to take the child from
you, Martha Ann Dickson, only want
to help you. It's my sons child as
we'll as your daughters" said Moth
er Danbury.
MY daughter had all the pain O.
bearin' this child"
''Well-well-" The other old lady
stopped. She had nothing to say that
quite fitted the occasion.
Day after day Mrs. Dickson bathed
and cuddled the baby while her visit
or was compelled to stand by and
look on. Finally one morning when
the baby was nearly three weeks old
wagon wheels were heard in the yard,
and Mother Danbury came into the
room with her bonnet strings tied
and her duster on.
"Well, / guess I'll be goin., Marthy," :"
she said to her daughter-in-law.
'sWhy, Mother Danbury, you amt
a-goin', are you?"
"Oh, the babys doin' first rate, an
it seems 1 amt needed here any
more"
Marthy begun to cry "But l want
you," she said.
Then Mrs. Dickson broke in with
many tears. "It does seem strange
to me. Marthy, that you should be
a-cryin' after somebody else after the
mother I've been to ye! That's all
the thanks mother gets"
Never mind, never mind, you'll
get along all right, both O. you, an
you know there's Melissy an the chill
dren. at home to look after"
"But what will Felix say?" moaned
Marthy, for Felix's mother had chos-
en- safe time, when he was away, to
take her departure.
Felix is my son, too," said the
widow, sternly.
Then Mother Danbury turned on
her for one brief moment.
Fair exchange is no robbery, Mar
tha Ann Dickson" she said, and went
out at once to the wagon, where she
tied down her veil, though the day
was hot.
The baby smiled in its sleep. 1t is
pretty fallacy that says babies
smile thus because angels are whis-
pering to them. In most cases, as
in this, the little ones, wise from, 9TH
er scenes, are smiling at the foibles
of those greater infants whom we are
pleased to call grown people.
The return of Mother Danbury was
a source of great wonder to the COM
munity, and again tongues flew freely
and inquiries were rife. The flying
rumors could not but come to the
ears of their subject and some Of the
overbold even went so far as to ques-
ticn her. But they could elicit no
more definite reply than: "Marthy an
the baby was a-gettin' along all right.
an l could do more good at home" )"
Then she closed her lips.
The voice of the croaker was de-
cidedly suspicious as she said: 81
smell rat"
After that Mother Danbury paid no
more visits to Baldwin's Ford, nor
did she speak Of its people unless
she were compelled.
On a morning, though, other news
was brought, and the old lady's indif-
ference fell from her like a cloak
With fearful eyes she made her way
towards the forbidden place, and as
she stepped into the wagon there
were none who had the heart to be
there and wave a good-by, for the
word said the baby was dying.
She came like an angel of peace to
the stricken household. The widow
was ready for scene, but firmly and
gently the stronger woman put her
away She kissed Martha and soothed
her as the hysterical widow could
not do. Then she turned to her son.
Felix" she said, "ain't there no
hope?"
mo, none"
"'The Lord giveth an the Lord
taketh away" But she could go no
further. An hour later the child
breathed its last in her arms. 1t was
she who bathed it and put it in it's
little gown and laid it silent in the
cradle. The widow had no remon-
STRANGE to offer, but she came later
and said: "Oh. Mother Danbury, I'm
afeared it's jedgment. was so hard
an jealous about the pore little cree
ter. I've done wrong, an the Lords
took it. Fergive me, fergive mel"
She fell upon her knees Mother
Danbury lifted her, and her own tears
fell now. you see how little all our
feelin's an wills air compared to
his" she said. ''The child wasn't ours.
it was his, an he has showed us his
sign"
The afternoon sun stole in and
kissed the little, wax-like face as the
old women stood with clasped hands
looking down upon the dead grand
child.
Life 100, 1000 Years Ago.
0y1.< I i