Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-07-25
A Touching Story---A True Heroine.

| he Irish as nation are oiten accused oil
insncerity and it must be confessed that
Judging by the standard of our duler tenn
permanent, their vehement professions Of at
tachment, do often appear uncalled-for and
exaggerated Yet where in truth do we ey-
er meet with more touching instances of
real, unsefish devotion, than are sometimes
exhibited by the poor uneducated sons and
daughters of Hibernia?
A case in point occurred, not many weeks
ago, in this city. A young physician great
" beloved by his friends and associates, was
taken suddenly i'll after remaining day or
two at his own office, deprived, unavoidaby,
Of all those soothing attentions which none
but woman can offer in the hour Of sickness,
the young man grew rapidly worse, and the
kind lady at whose table he took his meals,
generously insisted upon his instant removal
to her own house, that he might be within
reach Of that careful attendance which the
alarming peculiarities Of his case demanded.
| The disease was scarlet fever of the most
malignant and dangerous type.
On the day Of his arrival, among other in
quirers there came tidy, respectfully dress
ed girl-an Irish girl-with MANY very
many, aud most anxious questions as to the
patients condition and when they had all
been answered-when every thing had been
told her of good or bad, connected with
his disorder, she fingered still, still hesitated
as though there was yet something in her
heart that could not find its proper utter
ance.
Are you acquainted with Dr., my
good girlP asked the lady. DO know
him is TT Oh yes-she knew him we'll
quite well-knew him long before he came
from the old country. He had once attend
ed her through a long and dangerous ill
ness and-now burst forth the pent-up Sc
cret-he had surely saved her life by his
skill and care, and she had come to ask the
kind lady-could she-might she, only be
permitted just 10 stay in the house until his
recovery, and in her turn watch over and
wait upon him
She had been living out, it appeared, in
the neighborhood, as nursery maid but her
employers, in their dread of scarlet fever,
objected to her daily visits of inquiry at the
Doctors office, SO the allectionate creature
had unhestatingly given up good place
and fastened away delighted at the thought
of being useful TO her benefactor, and show
ing her gratitude for his former kindness by
rendering her services to him as nurse
A look of scrutiny, turned upon her as
she told her sinnle story was met by Quo en-
thoroughly pure and honest IN its expression,
that after moments pause, willing COLI
sent was given to the arrangement, aud with
noiseless tread, but with an expression of re-
lief as if the weight of world had been lift
ed from her bosom, the warm-hearted girl
bounded up stairs aud took her station at the
bed side Of the patient.
1t was melancholy case altogether
The mother and three sisters of the young
man, though written TO, were as yet far away,
and his weary hours were still farther embit-
tered by the knowledge that if he died they
would be left utterly destituie-the property
upon which they all lived being entaied up
on him, the only son, and reverting at his
death TO the next male heir of the family.
But TO return to the more immediate sub
ject of this sketch. From the hour of her
first assuming the duties of nurse, she never
left him, day or night, for single moment,
unless to bring for his comfort and relief
such things as the other girls Of the house,
for the fear of infection, were too much ter
rifed to carry up to his ROOM The symp-
toms soon became too marked to leave any
more than faint hope ofultimate recovery,
but the courageous girl never suffered her
feelings 10 overcome her her manner is de-
scribed as calm and selEpossessed to singu-
lar degree, the features generally motionless,
and the voice without trace ofagitation in
its tone.
Once indeed, and once only, toward the
last, she was seen outside his room door, her
hands pressed convulsively against her eyes,
and her bosom heaving with emotion. But
the tears were resolately forced back-the
feelings bravey guped down and in one mo-
ment more the devoted girl had turned the
handle with quiet touch, and resumed her
duties by the bed of DEATH
| The poor sufferer was attended by host
of medical friends, but the fiat had gone
forth still small voice had whispered
to him, and he knew that he must die. And
he did die, calling upon his mother and won
dering how she would bear the tidings Of his
loss.
Amid all the acclamations of sorrow and
CONSERVATION around, not one word was spo-
ken by the poor girl who had been his untir-
ing watcher so long A stranger might have
imagined her an uninterested spectator of
the scene-'a hirelng who cared not for
her chargc-but those who knew her better
could observe that she never moved from
his side-never lost sight of him for
single instant; 1t was she who closed the
starting lidsAbound up the head and pre-
pared him for the coffin. And all in utter
silence-not word of sorrow came from
her. The pale cheek and trembling hand
were the only interpreters ofthe feelings with