In the basket, snuggling in the nest of white clothes, lay little Dan.
He was robed, in the much-worn garment of the Longman child, and
Tessibel had looked at him with pride as she settled him in his bed
preparatory to her trip.
She passed swiftly through the city, and crossed Dewitt Park. How
vividly she remembered the many midnights she had taken the same way,
turning toward the jail to visit "Daddy"!
Tessibel paused before Minister Graves' church, and heard him read in
deep tones from the Scriptures: "Suffer little children to come unto me,
for of such is the kingdom of Heaven." The harmonious voice floated
through the window to the fisher-girl, now crouched in the sun. Every
word fell distinctly upon her ear.
She lifted the basket cover, and peeped in upon the babe. He looked
bluer and thinner than Tess had ever seen him; his lips rested upon the
rag with no indrawing movement. Unblinkingly stared the wide gray eyes
when the sunbeams flashed upon his face. The vivid birth-mark grew
fainter in the yellow light. Tess drew him into the shade, and waited.
The tones rolled out like thunder when Dominie Graves bade the members
of his flock bring their children to the Holy Font, that they might
receive the blessing of God, and everlasting life. Tess heard him say
that the Father in Heaven demanded that all children should be baptized
in the name of the crucified Saviour--that to put off such a duty might
prove dangerous to their eternal welfare. Many of the long words the
squatter did not understand, but she gathered enough to know how
necessary it was to obey the minister's commands. She glanced again at
the babe, with a worried pucker between her eyes. There was the same
stare, the same unmoving lips. But he was quiet, and Tessibel let him
lie.
"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy-laden--" rang forth the
powerful voice. It fell upon the red-haired girl and soothed her.
Tess knew that Teola would be expecting her, and that Frederick would
turn his face away when she presented the child for baptism, but no
cloud gathered into the downcast eyes, for Tessibel's faith had grown
since she knew that Myra's prayers had been answered. Had she not seen
the girl clasped in the arms of the fisherman, who had once said that he
hated her? Had she not seen the smile upon the dead lips which dripped
with lake water? Tessibel had never before been so confident in prayer,
and upon this beautiful Sunday morning, in the white light of day,
kneeling under the church window, she believed that God would give her
back the student--some time. She thought of the pain that would rest in
the proud dark eyes of the boy when he saw her; but she smiled, because
she knew that God lived, heard and answered the prayers of the
heavy-laden.
An anthem rolled up from the church choir, chanting out the love of
Christ, chanting His crucifixion and death for a dying world.