Janet's Baby.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 156, 12 June 1886, Page 1

Janet's Baby.

When a young man — now; alas ! many years ago—l had been oketching in one oi the most lovely and most lonely parts oi Arran, when just as I was bundling up my things to return home, I was overtaken by a sudden and violent Btorm, which swept down from one of the glens, ' changing the blue August sea to v murky blackness, and bringing with it such thick; blinding mist that it became impossible to see more than a few yards in front of me. Getting my I things together as quickly as I could, I set off tramping through the heather ; for I knowing the country pretty well, I hoped to find the road in spite of the dim light, and once on the road I should be safe. I But the darkness deepened so rapidly that i I was soon brought to a standstill. I i remembered that there was a long reach oi | cliffs somewhere not far off, and the sen sounded so near that unguided I dare not move j but perhaps there might be some cottage near, whose inhabitants were within hearing, and might hear if I shouted. I shouted. Nothing but the echo answered. With somewhat unreasonable impatience I shouted again, and yet again. The third time a voice answered me through the mis — a real good honest voice — the voice of ■ collie dog. Once more I hallooed, to mak a 3ure of his direction. Once more he answered, and so led by his voice, I grope c my way towards him. Having evidently, after careful consideration, made up his mind that I was a human being and no gjhost, he presently came bounding towards me through the half light, u gurred " at my heels, smelt me, wagged his tail and trotted on before voe, looking back from time to time to make sure that I was following. Soon a small white cottage loomed large through the mist, and as we n eared it I 3aw an old man standing at the door, peering through the silver shimmer with his keen gray eyes. " Welcome !" he said. "It is good that you have found my home. It would not be pleasant to sleep this night out on the moor. lam glad you found my home." "I did not find it," I answered with a laugh ; " your dog found me." "He is a good dog come of a good family. I could tell you many a story of that dog and his ancestors. But come in out of the wet."