Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-07-11
From the New York Commercial Advertiser.
A TRUE HEROINE

~ "A TRUE HEROINE.
Inc Irish as nation are often accused Of insin
ee',y, una II mast De confessed that, judged by the
standard OF our duler Temperance It. sne,r very va
hement professions of attachment do often a1pea,
uhcalled-for and exaggerated Yet whore in iruil
40 we ever meet with more touching instances nj
more real, unselfish DEVOTION than are sometime.
eNhihlcd Dy The poor uneducated SOILS and daugh
tiers of Hiberna " p"o ="
~ case III point occurred, not many weeks AGO. il
inls Guy young physician, greatly beloved b,
us tlendseud nssoc1teS, was taken suddenlv IN
aIier remaining day or two at his own Office do
prlVed' uhlv0ldlbly Of all those soothing atton
uons winch none but woman can offer in tho hon,
OF sickness, the young man grew rapidly worse and
'he KIND lady at whose table he took his meals
generously insisted upon his instant removal to her
own house, that he uIght be within reach uf than
careful tendance which the ALARMING pocnIioritie.
OF ms case demanded. The disease was scorei
IeVer OF the most malignant and dangerous tvpn.
On the day OF his arrival, among other inouirers
there came a tidy, respectfully dressed rirl-an I.
flsh glrl-wlth many very many and most anxious
questions as TO the patients condition-whep thew
h3I an been answered-when every thing had been
told her OF good or bad, connected with his disor.
der-she fingered still, still hesitated. as though
there were yet something in her heart that could
not md It's proper utterance.
Are you acquainted with DR.. - my GOOD
girl F.! asked the lady. DO know him, is il :; Oh
yes-shc knew him well-quite we-knew him
long before he came from the old country lie had
once attended her through a long and dangerous
illness and-now burst forth the pent m secret
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 to STAY in the
mousse until his recovery, and in her turn watch
over, and wait upon him?
She had been living out, it appeared, in the
neighoorhood, as nursery maid but her emf loyers,
IN their dread of scarlet fever objected to her daily
visits Of inquiry at the Doctors Office. 50 the nf
good place and hastened away, delighted at the
thought of being useful to her benefactor. and
showing her gratitude for his former kindness BIZ
rendering her services TO him as nurse.
look of scrutiny, turned upon her as she told
herslmp'e story, was met by one so thoroughly pure
and honest IN It's expression, that after moments
pause, wiling consent was given TO the arranro
ment, and with noiscless tread but with an expires
sion of rcliefas if the weight of a world had been
lifted from her bosom, the warm hearted girl boun-
ded up stairs and took her station at the bed side of
the patient.
1t was melancholy case altogether. The mo-
ther and three sisters Of the young man. written to-
were as yet far away, and his weary hours were
still farther embcred by the knowledge that if he
died they would be left utterly destitute the prop
erty upon which they all lived being entailed upon
him, the only son. and revertng at his death to the
next male heir of the family
But to return to the more immediate subject of
TINS sketch From the hour of her first ASSUMING
the duties of nurse she never left him. dav or nipbt
for single moment, unless to bring for his com
fort and relief such things as the other girls of the
house, IN their fear Of infection, were too much ter
rhed to carry up TO his room. The SYMPTOMS
soon became too marked to leave any more than a
lalht nope OF ultimate recovery, but the courage
Gus girl never suffered her feelings to overcome
hp Tor mai &c ,,.l-
sessed to singular degree, the features generally
motionless and the voice without trace of agita-
ton in lis tone.
Once indeed, and once only, toward the last she
was seen ovts lie his room door her hands tressod
convnlsively against her eyes and her bosom heav
ing with emotion. But the tears were resoluely
forced back-lhe feelings bravely pulDbed down
and IN one moment more the devoted girl had turn
ed the handle with quiet touch, and resumed her
duties by the bed of DEATH
The poor sufferer was attended by host of med.
zeal friends, but the fiat had gone forth: "sti
small voice had whispered to him. and he knew
that he must de- And he did die calling upon his
mother ana wondering how she would be able tc
bear the tidings of his loss
Amid all the EXPLANATIONS of sorrow and con.
sternaton around not one word was spoken by the
poor girl who had been his untirinr watcher So
long stranger might have almost marined her
an unlnterested spectator of the scene" hreno
VINO cared not Tor" her charge -but those who
knew her better could observe that she never moved
rom his side never lost sight Of him for sinule
instant. 1t was she who closed the starting lids
bound up the head, and prepared him for the coffin
Ana all In utter sllence-hota word of sorrow came
from her. The pale cheek and trembling hand
were the only interpreters of the feelings with
which she did it at all.
AT length the last sad offices were to be perf,rr
Cd. lhey persuaded her to leave the room for .
] CHI inn anil, ,l,, -
/ removed from the bed, and the conin-oh hitter
/ d'soppontment!-the coffin was screwed down
Then indeed wall Of despair escaped her Inns
she could see no reason for such haste-there WIS
time, plenty of time before them and what had She
! done that she should not be allowed one ook--onc
last iook-belore they took hin away and shut hiu
/ up for ever?
Being made to understand, after time the ne
cesslty in such cases of immediate burial. she sui
fcred the men to depart without further remon
| STRANGE; but within the next half hour she ho1
qnletly borrowed screw driver-shut herself int
the room-withdrawn every screw in the coffin Ii,
and ga2ed, Oh. who shall say with what bitter
ness OF feeling upon the face within; then fas
tenng the lid down again, AIMED iranouil. ma,
almost happy, in the thought that her hand was thu
last that had been laid upon his brow-her eve the
very last that rested upon his features
Alter the funeral when the few valuables belonr
ing to the deceased were collected together. s6,
was asked whether she would not like 10 keet
something in remembrance of him; and was tol,
that she might take for that purpose any thing sh,
pleased.
May I?-sure then I'll take ths'-layinr he
hand eagerly upon it. 1t was an old handkerchie
solled and rumpled, which the young man bat
worn round his neck during the last hours of hi
illness, ard which, in the hustle and confusion hat
been left on the bed just where it had been throw
nier his death.
The friends urged her TO make another choice
No she would have that, and only that.
They asked her to take something in addition u
all events; something of more value.
NO, no. nothing but that--she wanted nothin!
;, more
one gentleman pointed out the possible DANCE
OF her selection, and warned her at least not to ho
ii so near her person.
But by this time tho poor girl had become i'm