Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06
An Euttrestins Storp.
THE TWO INvALIDs.
ny 7. 5. ARTHUR.

The chamber in which the sick wo
man lay was furnished with every
thing that taste could desire. or com
fort demand. Yet. from none Of ihes,
elegant surroundings. came there al
opiatc for the weary spirit. or "A balm
TO soothe the pain from which she suf
fcrcd. With heavy eyes. contracted
brow. and face almost rs white rs Oh,
lace fringcd pillow II pressed, canopiet
with rich curtains. she reclincd, sigh
ing away the weary hours, or giving
voice toher discomfort In fruitless com
plainings.
She was alone. A little while be-
fore. her attendant had left the room
taking with her child. whose glad
spIriis-glad because admitted tt
his mothers presence-had disturbed
her.
Take him out, she had said fret
fully.
You must 60 back to the nursery
dear The attendant spoke kindly
as she stopped to lift the child in he'
arms.
'No-no-no. / want to stay here
Do lot me stay here, won't your
Mamma is sick. and you disturb
her. was answered.
oh, no. / won't disturb her.
I'll be so good
why don't you take him out Al
once" exclaimed the mother, in q
harsh. excited voice. It's too much,
that l can't have little quiet He's
made my head ache already. What
does the nurse mean by letting him
come over here?
AS the screaming child vas borne
from the room, the sick woman clasp
ed her hands to her temples murmur'
ing
MY poor head! II was almost
quiet; but how 1t throbs as il every
vein was ready to burst! Why don't
they soothe that childP
But the child screamed on, and his
voice came ringing upon her ears
Nurse was cross and took no pains to
hush his cries; so the mothers special
attendant remained, for some time,
away from the sick chamber. By
slow degrees she succeeded in divert
ing the child's mind from his disap.
pointmsnt. hut il was many minutes
after his crying ceased. before he would
consent to her leaving him.
In the mean time. the suns bright
rays had found small opening in one
Of the curtains that draped the win
dows and commenced pouring in a
few pencils oflight. which fell, in a
bright spot, on picture that hung
against the WALL resting in fact, upon
the fair forehead Of a beautiful maiden
and giving hue Of life to the fea-
lures. Itwas a bit Of fairy work-a
touch, almost. ofenchantment. The
eyes Of the invalid were resting on this
picture. as tho magic change began to
take place.
How the lovely vision, IL it might
be so called, won her from thoughts oil
pain All, IL we could say so. Rails
ing herself she grasped the pendant
tassel Of the bell-rope. and rung with a
violent hand; then sunk down, with a
groan, exhausted by the effort, shut
her eyes, and buried her face in the
pillow. Leaving the only halfcom-
forted child. her attendant hastily obey
ed the summons.
The sun is binding me said the
unhappy invalid as she entered the
chamber. How could you be so care
less in arranging the curtains?'
A touch, and the sweet vision which
had smiled all so vainly for the poor
sufferer, was lost in shadows. Their,
was a subdued light, and almost
pulseless silence in the chamber.
DO take those flowers away; theil
odor is dreadful to mel
A beautiful boquet Of sweet flowers
sent by a sympathizing friend, was re-
moved from the chamber. Half al
hour after this-the attendant though
her sleeping-she suddenly exclaimed
'0h how that worries mel
What worries you ma'am? wa'
kindly asked.
That doll on the mantle. It's en-
tirely out Of place here. l wish yor
would remove it. Oh dear dear
And that toilette glass l wish yo,
would straighten, if you please.
can't bear anything crooked. Ant
there's Mary's rigolette on the bureau
the careles child She never put''
anything away
These little annsyances were remov
cd, and the invalid was quiet again
externally quiet, but within. all wa
fretfulnes and pain within
"There comes the children from
school, she said. as the ringing of tn,
door.bell and gay voices were heart
below. You must keep them from
my room. feel unusually nervou
to-day, anu my head aches badly
Yet, even while she spoke, two it'll
girls came bounding into the room
saying
"Oh, Mother! Dear MOTHER
We've. something good TO tell you
Miss Martin says we've been two o
the best--
The attendants imperative Hush
and the mothers hand waving to
wards the door. the motion enforce,
by a frowning brow, were successful
in silencing the pleased and excite'
children. who. without being permit
ted to tell the good news they ha'
brought from school, and which the
had had fcndly believed would prov
so pleasant to their mothers ears
were almost pushed from the cham
ber
Nomattcr Of surprise is i, that
quick revulsion took place in ,hei
feelings. IL the voice Of wranglin
reached. soon after, the mothers ear,
and PANIED her TO the very soul.
lessened not the pressure on her fee
ings to think. that n little self.denil
on her part, little forgetfulness Of h,
own feelings, and thoughtfulness {,