A Daughter of the Land

Kate turned and placing the baby on the front seat, she knelt and

put her arms around the little thing, but her lips only repeated

the words: "Praise the Lord for this precious baby!" Her heart

was filled with high resolve. She would rear the baby with such

care. She would be more careful with Adam. She would make heroic

effort to help him to clean, unashamed manhood. She would be a

better sister to all her family. She would be friendlier, and

have more patience with the neighbours. She would join in

whatever effort the church was making to hold and increase its

membership among the young people, and to raise funds to keep up

the organization. All the time her mind was busy thinking out

these fine resolves, her lips were thanking the Lord for Little

Poll. Kate arose with the benediction, picked up the baby, and

started down the aisle among the people she had known all her

life. On every side strong hands stretched out to greet and

welcome her. A daughter of Adam Bates was something new as a

church member. They all knew how she could work, and what she

could give if she chose; while that she had stood at the altar and

been baptized, meant that something not customary with the Bates

family was taking place in her heart. So they welcomed her, and

praised the beauty and sweetness of the baby until Kate went out

into the sunshine, her face glowing.

Slowly she walked home and as she reached the veranda, Adam took

the baby.

"Been to the cemetery?" he asked.

Kate nodded and dropped into a chair.

"That's too far to walk and carry this great big woman," he said,

snuggling his face in the baby's neck, while she patted his cheeks

and pulled his hair. "Why didn't you tell me you wanted to go,

and let me get out the car?"

Kate looked at him speculatively.

"Adam," she said, "when I started out, I meant only to take some

flowers to Mother and Polly. As I came around the corner of the

church to take the footpath, they were singing 'Rejoice in the

Lord!' I went inside and joined. I'm going to church as often as

I can after this, and I'm going to help with the work of running

it."

"Well, I like that!" cried Adam, indignantly. "Why didn't you let

me go with you?"

Kate sat staring down the road. She was shocked speechless.

Again she had followed an impulse, without thinking of any one

besides herself. Usually she could talk, but in that instant she

had nothing to say. Then a carriage drew into the line of her

vision, stopped at York's gate, and Mr. York alighted and swung to

the ground a slim girlish figure and then helped his wife. Kate

had a sudden inspiration. "But you would want to wait a little

and join with Milly, wouldn't you?" she asked. "Uncle Robert

always has been a church member. I think it's a fine stand for a

man to take."