St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-12-13

= hope you do not think the child
has anything catching, Doctor, for
there are my own children, You know,
poor dears."
Starvation is not contagious" was
the laconic reply. {
Sarah was dispatched for the milk, {
and received the assurance in the hall
that she should pay dear for this dis l
turbancc," a threat which she needed {
less than the idle wind, for dawning
hope that her child might yet be saved i
thrilled every fiber Of her heart with
Joy, and lent wings to her feet. l
The grateful nourishment was slow ;
" administered by the steady hand of {
the physician, till the little one seemed
much refreshed. 1t ceased it's rest
less tossings and sank into a state of
dreamy langour. Once the sunken
eye Frightened with something of its I
old, merry lovc-light, and the one s
word, nanny" fell from the wan
lips.
"Herc, mavournccn," and the moth
or bent over her little faded blossom
The tiny hands reached up to touch
her face so lightly, it might have been
a snowflake resting there.
Lie down beside her if you like,
Sarah, while | prepare little medi-
cine. 1t may soothc her to sleep"
The mothers head bent down upon the
pillow, and the great tears fell softly
from her eycs--tears of gratitude and |
joyful hope.
The little powder was nicely dis
guiscd in delicious guava jelly, and
very soon the little child was sleeping
peacefully.
Mrs Harding returned to her tea
table, and was obliged to give an &C
count of the singular proceedings of
their fclow-boardcr.
Very eccentric isn't he ?" said the
lady with brown curls, nervously
lingering her bracelet.
Yes" said her husband, dryly,
humanity is an ccccntricity nova
days"
Il am glad lac did go to see it,"
said his sister Carrie, a good, warm
hearted girl. at is a nice, rosy, lit
tie thing. | saw it once in the yard,
and am going to call at his room and l
see if | can not do something for. it. !
Can't !, brother ?" :
"Yes, dear, if you choose but
Louise will call you eccentric too, if
YOU are not very discreet"
Carries knock was answered at
once, and half tirnidly she approached
the bedside. She gazcd with aston :
ishmcnt at the emaciated figure, SO
different from the plump, bounding :
creature of few short weeks before, Z
and then q tear of tender pity filled
her soft blue eye. The physicians
quick glance saw the tear, and he cX-
tended his hand with the words, 8"
know we are friends, Miss Carrie" .
Il think you must be akin to the i
Samaritan we read of. But can't | do +,
something here? Can give you any p
thing, Sarah, to make your dear little :,
baby more comfortable Z"
Il think she is very comfortable :.
now, thanks to the blessed gentleman
! have no words to express my thanks ,
to him, and to you, my lady, for the
blessed tear you let fall for my swatc
Katy"
"Wci1, when she wakens, let me
know, and we will battle her nicely in a,
warm water, and will get one Of my
little nephew's clean slips for her. 1t
will refresh her very much"
As the two sat alone in the quiet
room, watching the little sleeper, the
kind physician sought to direct the
darkcned mind of the mother to the
only sure rcsting-place for all the
weary and heavy laden" lie point,
cd out the way Of salvation so clearly
that child might understand, and
then offered up fervent simple pray
or that Gods Spirit might reveal the
truth to her soul. Late in the evening
the babe awoke, and Carrie, true to
her word, came in and dressed her
neatly in little soft, white robe, finer
than she had ever worn before. The
baby's eyes grew suddenly brighter,
and the whole frame seemed strength
ened. She even sat up in the bed and
played with the sparkling jets which
the lady unclaspcd from her wrist to
amuse her Once little gleeiul
laugh rung out from the sweet lips,
filling the mothers bosom with food ,
of sunshine. But the physician alone ,
looked grave and sorrowful, for he a
saw too plainly III the sudden ANNA $
ton the Frightening which precedes i,
dissolution. Yet he could not turn to I
agony the few short minutes of bles-
sedness which were the last the moth n
er might ever take with her beloved .
one. 1t was over, all too soon; few /
convulsive gasps, and sudden shiv- n
or, as she felt the chill hand of Death
upon her, and then the shining ones" j,
closed their bright wings tcnderly W
about her, and bore her away to the b.
Savior's bosom.
The "gaunt wolf, Famine" had In
drank up the sweet blood in her young w
veins, and Death followed in his train e.
g lie broke tie fairy lutte OF
That light with laughter used to play, Hi
And left al dull and mute a.
The silver strains that warbled forth so gay; .
Then with his finger cold
IL, shut the CHANGING windows to,
With fringe of dropping gold
lie darkcnci the sweet paacs Of blue J,
Sheer from the marble Goor "
He swept the flowers Of crimson hue;
lie closed the ivory door
And DER the porch the rosy curtains drew"
A low, heart-brokcn wall arose all =,
night from beside the dead babes pill T
low, and the next day little grave i;
was followed ont in the village grave =
yard not i'll the paupcr's corner but ,,
in a pleasant spot where the low
pines whispered, and in the summer \,
time the sweet birds sang. Il
The ladies' hearts were touched, -,
and, melted by Carrie Gleason, provi- 81
ded a warm, substantial outfit of =,
clothing for poor Sarah, who was very r.
destitute. ~,
Mrs. Gleeson called at DR.. Ross -
room, and laying a ten-dolar note on in
the table, said, If that trifle will be w.
of any service to the poor woman, s,