The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-02-06

up with her. AT first this kind of novelty and
there were several ready to offer themselves But
only few days had passed before this one was not
well, and that one had some other excuse, un-
til the whole task of watching by the bedside of
Martha Wild devoved upon the nurse ard Ann Stacy
who performed the task night after night alternately
Skilful medical treatment and careful nursing at
length subdued the disease and the sick girl began
slowly TO For several days during the height
of the fcver,sh but mperecty conscious of any
thing that passed around her. But as she did
become able to notice she observed that the gentle
hand that was so busy about her, and soohed often
her pillow, and the tender voice that inquired daily
how she felt, were the hand and voice of the very
girl towards whom she had permitted herself to in
dulge unknd feelings and these, too, without any
real At first, her heart smote her severely as
she remembered how wantony she had thrust at her
feelings and how often she had rdicued her appear
ance and pecularities Of dress and manner; but as
she gained strength to perceive and more
rowy and to feel the warmth of her pure heart going
out unselfshly towards her, that emotion gave way
to one Of affection.
When Martha Wild had so Gar recovered as to be
able to sit up in bed tte and feel interest
in what going around her, Ann would come
to her after her recitations at school, and read
interesting books to her, and in other ways exert her.
self to beguie the tedious hours. Others
ready to join in rendering the time less wearsome
Martha; but no face welcome, voice so
pleasant, as that of Ann Stacy. She seemed no
longer plain in her features longer singular in her
appearance, no longer ungentee in her manners
'You have been with the sick before ,have you not,
,bo bo.o L., a., H., ko.l
ed an hour for her with some ingenious device.
80! yes; for months-I might say for years re-
piled the gentle girl, looking up with expression of
interest into Martha's face, while her eyes became
dimned with tears. 81 have been familiar with sick
ness since my earliest recollection. When little
girl cannot remember how long, how very long my
mother kept her room, and then her bed before she
was taken away. Only few years passed after that
before my elder and onlyS sister dropped about for
time with the same, fatal, lingering disease with
which mother died, and when she shut up in
i room and became her For two years was
4Hnh-her night and day. 1t is now only few months
since we separated and her body buried out of
my sight forever
The voice of the young girl had trembled she
told briefly the sad history of her bereavements.-
When she alluded to the recent death of her sister
her feelings overcame her'and she gave way to gush
Of tears Recovering herself soon, with effort she
said, Il cannot tell how much felt drawn towards
you, Martha, the moment saw you. You are the
very image Of that only sister of whom ] have just
spoken. Often and often, since you have been sick,
have bent you, aud gazed and gazed upon your
pale face,s scarcely able to convince myself that
you were really that dearly loved and lost one.'
sThen it is because | resembled your sister so
much that you have been to me so kind nurse?
| THAT may have influenced me some, but l trust
not entirely. To those who need the attentions OF
friend whether in sickness or in health, we should
| ever be ready to offer those attentions.
Sand young as you are, Ann, you are learning to
act from such unselfsh princples!' Martha said, in
tone of surprise and admiration.
sThat dear sister, who much resemhlcd you,
replied Ann looking in the face of the invalid taught
from my earliest years to regard others; to think
| Of their comfort and happiness more than my
own. And those lessons enforced by her steady eX-
| ample, can never forget
| sWould that were like her in spirit well rs
in reatures was the fervent soliloquizng ejacu
| laton of Martha Wild.
went out a changed girl. She saw with new eyes,
| and estimated others by and higher standard
of estimation For Ann Stacy she ever after enter
! tanned the warmest affection.