The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1913-08-22
IN MEMORY OF A BABY.
BY CARL MAYER.

udAs NhGA dAA @tAiD 80
soft with a scarcely perceptible na2e
which gives October that pensiveness
which is not sadness. and yet which
tempers Joy.
Miriam sat on the porch grooming
a lullaby to her baby as she gently
rocked back and forth and contem-
plated the quietude OF the country AZ
It lay before her in glory of crimson
and gold.
A woman came slowly up the street
and paused as she caught sight o.
mother and babe. A woman, haggardS
faded, dust-stained, young in years.
but with youths bloom gone from The
pale cheeks and wretched eyes. lash.
ing suddenly with a wild light 90 shS
held out her arms in supplication.
Miriam shrank back in her chair
and held her baby closer. thinking
the woman insane; but seeing her
mistake, leaned forward q bit, inquiE~
ing II the woman was Ill or needed
help.
mo, madam, not Ill, but 1t has been
so long since I've seen a babyl 1ou
are good, you are so happy, you havS
not seen sin; you don't know what
It is to have lost your baby and 60
about the world with empty arms ana
despairing heart. My baby is goneI
If you viii only let me kiss your
baby, let me hold it just once-I wculG
be more At to die"
Intuitively, Miriam saw that this
woman had suffered much; wronged
her womanhood, perhaps; but suffer-
ed. Pity flashed tears into her eyes
sin shocked her-but she could not
send a fellow-creature away perhaps
to death, without giving what help She
could
j Hesitating but moment, she saids
Come. sit here beside me; baby -
almost asleep" and rising, she LAID
the little bundle of warmth and ira
GRANGE in the strangers arms.
With a stifled cry the woman sank
into chair, while tears coursed down
her wan cheeks. She wept-wept with
grief unspeakable-with that agony OK
an oyercharged spirit, until in the full
ness of compassion Miriam put her
arm around the shaking shoulders ana
tried in her gentle may to sympa-
thize.
The baby slept.
Miriam brought light refreshment,
dainty sandwiches and cool, rich mix.
Refreshed, the woman, now calm, SOFT
" whispered: III you knew what
have been you would despise me- You
would not let me touch your pure,
sweet baby. You have been SO good,
now let me go"
But Miriam gently detained her ~
it will help you to tell me your
trouble, may be able to aid you, she
said.
Then the woman wept again, but
tenderness prevailed, and bit by bit
the story Of young girl, born Ead
brought up on q farm far from the
city's whirl. lured away from home on
promise of marriage, then deserted,
came. How her baby had been born
in charity hospital; how she had
searched and searched for her faith
less lover, only to find him emerging
from a great church with a radiant
bride on his ARM how she had walked
the streets night and day searching
for work no one would give; how rea-
son had left her when her baby died
: in her arms; how she was nursed
back to puny health by others who
had suffered, who gave her home
J and certain rough but tender care;
how she was led on to life Of shame
because she could find no other means
to earn bread, and how sickened by
the revolving life, she had cast aside
her gaudy raiment and was on her
way to join her dead baby
Miriam felt the truth OF her story;
felt that she could not turn away q
soul so soreIy distressed.
IT think you were more sinned
against than SHINING, and God has
brought you to me. Will you stay
with me and help me care for baby?
have great need of some one who
will put love into this work, and per.
haps, after a while, my baby Will
comfort you as your oyn." =
you will take me; you will keep
me; you will let me tend your baby?
oh, it is too much, too much!y -
II will do more, by giving you love
and great trust. You can help or
harm me much; If you are loyal and
faithful to baby and me you viii give
me surer confidence in all humanity
but if you fail me, shall never dare
to listen to the voice of my OWN soul
again. 1t is trial for us bothl" -
When the woman lifted her bowed
head there was a new light III her
4 eyes; a rested look
Il thought there was, nothing for me
to live for, no work for me to do but
will 1--we since you think me worthy
Of such a trust will prove To yoa1
that there fs something true ID me
still. I will be faithful
The next spring In far away CITY
over little mound in the churchyard
a white stone was placed which bore
the inscription: I'm Memory Of 1
Baby end the tiny grave was blue
with myrtle and vIolets.
The woman lived all her long wears
with Miriam and the baby. She came
TO BE- IKE one Of the family, respected.
trusted. loved, looked up to. She