The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-03-06
IN MEMORY OF A BABY
BY CARL NAVE r.
'Aos SIX

soft with scarcely perceptible haz'
which gives October that pensivenesI
which is not sadness, and yet which
tempers Joy
Miriam sat on the porch grooming
q lullaby to her baby as she gently
rocked back and forth and contem
plated the quietude OF the country as
It lay before her IA glory OF crimson
and gold.
A woman came slowly up the street
and paused as she caught sight OF
mother and babe. A woman. haggard,
faded. dust stained, young in years,
but with youths bloom gone from the
pale cheeks and wretched eyes, flash.
ing suddenly with wild light as she
held out her arms I'm supplcatlon.
Miriam shrank back in her chair
the woman Insane; but seeing her
mistake, leaned forward a Bit inQuir.
ing II the woman was III or needed
help.
No. ma dam. not i'll, but II has been
so long since I've seen baby! You
are good, you are 30 happy, you have
not seen sin; you don't know what
1t is to have lost your baby and go
about the world with empty arms and
despairing heart. My baby is gonei
II you will only let me kiss your
baby. let me hold It just once-I would
be more ut to die"
lntuitively. 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 fellow-creature away perhaps |
to death, without giving what help she
could.
Hesitating but moment, she said:
Come. sit here beside me; baby is
almost asleep" and rising, she laid
the little bundle of warmth and fra |
GRANGE In the strangers arms
With stifled cry the woman sank |
into chair while tears coursed down
her wan cheeks. She wept-wept with
grief unspeakable-with that agony OF
an overcharged spirit, until in the full
ness Of compassion Miriam put her
arm around the shaking shoulders and
tried In her gentle may to sympa-
thize.
The baby slept
Miriam brought light refreshment,
dainty sandwiches and cool. rich milk.
Refreshed, the woman, now calm, soft
ly whispered: IF 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 "If
II will help you to tell me your
trouble. may be able to aid you" she
said
Then the woman wept again. but
prevailed and bit by bit
the story of a young girl born and
brought up on 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 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 a home
and certain rough but tender care;
A IaH m fa - at, |
because she could find no other means
70 earn bread. and how. sickened by
he 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:
ielt that she could not turn away a
soul so sorely distressed.
Il think you were more sinned
against than SHINING. and God has
brought you to me. VIII 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 own
You will take me; you will keep
NE; you will let me tend your baby?
oh, 1t is too much, too much"
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 will give
me surer confidence In all humanity,
but II you fail me. shall never dare
10 listen to the voice of my own soul
again. II is a trial for us both"
When the woman lifted her bowed
head there was new light In her
eyes; rested look.
u thought there was nothing for me
10 live for no work for me to do. but
will live since you think me worthy
Df such Il trust. will prove to you
that there is something true in me
still. / will be faithful"
The next spring In far away city |
over a little mound in the churchyard |
\ white stone was placed which bore
The inscription: "In Memory Of a
Baby" and the tiny grave was blue
with myrtle and violets.
The woman lived all her long years
With Miriam and the baby. She came
- nlyn ono 81 thu fc ppily raanacfad