Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-09-28

nnd out who your friends are.
Mrs. Bishop was right 10 this. FOR the trial
did come, and saw who my friend was, my
own friend .... ...
was taken very i'll very early in the spring
my sickness came on suddenly. | was
attacked with severe headache and sharp
pains 10 the back. The first two days Mrs.
Bishop spent in assi1unus care of me- though
to confess the trnth her attentions were
unwelcoma, and would far rather have been
abandoned to the tender nercies OF my
bouse Keeper who now very rarely came into
the room when my sister in law was there.
The third morning my physician pronounced
my disease smallpox.
IL wish could stay with you. Sapdie-
| wish | could. lit we're ou'y for myself
bot my children" -
81 would not have you stay" answered.
81 trnst you have not endangered yourself
Good bye sister Eliza"
She went out of the room. and turned to
Mrs. Smith who was standing near.
Now you must go also. The doctor will
hnd some one to nurse me, and you. too,
must look TO your children"
II must look out for you. sir. My duty
is here, now Live or die, shall stay with
| you while you need me-"
The little womans voice was firm, and her
| eyes shone with resnlute light. ] bad
not thought she possessed so much will oud
courage.
"Consider," said "Do you realize all the
| risk you run? or loathsome disease disfg.
urement, perhaps horrible death ?"
81 have considered all, and shall stay"
! Was | selfish to allow it? Perhaps so,
hnt even in that hour of deadly peril who
bad never loved woman before, logged to have
her at my side. to share my danger.
/ 4 4 - - IL.
which followed-the weeks of terrible suffer.
! ing when body and soul could scarcely cling
together. ] look back upon it, strong man
as AM. with shivering dread
1t wss owing under God, to her that
Death, who stood waiting at my pillow day
after day, at last passed me by. What
nurse she was !-vig,lant sleppless, untiring.
Perhaps it was owing to her culm courage
that she did not take the disease. She
seemed to be always near me, and yet she
! found time to make herself look as neat and
even tasteful as usual. Everything 10 my
room, after ] was able TO notice anything,
was in scrupnlous order. Delicate flowers, ss
fresh aud sweet as herself bloomed on my
table; pleasant. dreamy. baif,light filed
| the apartment. What change from the
| old boarding house days
| | was thinking of all this glorions care and
tenderness, as sat up for the first time at
my window. Mary had learned TO call
her SO Gurng my illness-was out Of the
room, bnt the tokens of her presence were oil
round me. Presently she came in and sat
down by my side
MARY" said. almost iuvountarily, 81
have been thinking ought to thank you for
saving my life. And yet DO no: know as |
am grateful Life will not he Of auy value
unless you will share il. With you for my
wife could be happy; Int if you cannot
love me. you might us well have let me go
the board"
bad spoken as felt, seriously and sadly,
but q merry twinkle glanced in her eyes.
80 you think, now you could stand not
only the children, but my having loved some
one else ?"
Then you heard the foolish speech. after
all? Ii wasn't meant for your ear. Forgive
it. You are too good for me any way. ! ask
nothing better, it you eau love me, than to
take yon-just as you are"
"Children aud all q
"Children and all I'll try to be father to
them Heaven helping me-"
IL shall he satisfied, sir, if you will be their
brother, since they are my mothers children
not mire"
And Mr. Smith is -"
"My father. II failed in business last
, year, through, ! am happy 20 say, is living
! nnd we'll. | wanted TO help him, but the
ouly thing knew was to keep house. il
seened proper enough occupation for q
woman like me- You see ] am not very
young, sir. When | found you, you thongh
me a widow with children determined Il
favor tho odd mistake. / thought it woul,
seem dignfed. | am not Mrs. Smtl
, though but simply Mury Smith, spinsier, a
. yonr servcp,--or at service 10 your family
n if you like that way of stating it better"
I And you will change your title, and retail
yOnr situation 7"
e Her answer is no ones business but m.
. own.
! Six weeks afterward my sister .in.iaw wa
! invited 20 my wedding. She Looked snrpri
= sed but she furebore any comment, save
5 reminder of her prediction that Mrs. SmitI
8 would conquer my prejndlces against widow
b with incum6r ances. The laugh was egans
her, however, when ] told her that the fu,nr
Mrs Sandie Bishop was to go TO the hyme
!, NAL alter for the first time.
q have been married five years. My preju
dces against children have yielded TO th
J. destinations of bold little Sandie, and
J winsome little Mary, and sitting 10y my o~
d peaceful hresdp bless the day and Prov
a deuce that FIRST made me known TO my houst
keeper.