The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-06-05


'sBut tell me" are, continued, almost ifercely.
VIZ yoa give me some money! nn2 have Il
must have Il" IN, s.s,s.,..,s :
"H not for yourself, In the name 81 hesvea Sur
whom would you mako such . fearful SacriAoe.
Ii At Tor 0ue who 10 very near and dear 10 you p
ut is--is-my little sister, ssid ss.,. - Ia
The words dropped from her tongue a. they
might have from those Of an angel, and her hoe
wore as holy light a. If she had been alrsSdy
ssThen che is sick p.i t5 ssgJ - 'oa 81
''she is dying dying and am sitting ian,
herew -, ysf 90 -
''Why did you not tell me this before ?" -.
"Because had begged so long In vain. I had
no money to pay the doctor, and who would 20
forth on such night as this without itP" 81 Y
Ny blood boiled 20 that I could not snswsr.
Could there be such men 2 Alas !lreasonitold me
and almost cursed my race. Without delay I
gathered up such things rs thought niaht BE-
OF service, wrapped the delicate form In heavy
cloak. and, with q few whispered words of com.
tort, We sailed out together into the black night
and merciless storm and cold.
Fortunately the distance We had to travel was
but short one. A few blocks passed, and she
led me up several flights Of dismal, breaking
stairs, into room. y 59ss SD ss ~ n 80
~~~ASAoVb 40 suut yuu \ n08Io 8Hx00 0Y
what my ear convincedme was parrot childish.
almost infantile lips. as Ea0l - :. "a n f'anil
Eyes, my darling, lie stillior momeus.H y j
~ am 80 glad You have hsen y 20 ,long..-so
very long away, and am so sick, and cold, and
hungry. and it was SO dark; and have been 60
frightened at the strange noisesi"-
Ny fair guide had been making preparations
TO obtain light, but when she heard these words
ehe few to the other. side Of the room, and /
mi vIyay - 80.
turned. t,..,'| = ~ r. Al ~
Excuse me, sir" she said, ~ she turned and
lighted the remnant OF candle. ieii y .5sAi,sl1n
from Bessie ~ ~
Unanswered not. Her voice had melody in it
now attuned by love, that wished to linger un.
broken upon my ear, like the strains Of some
songs have heard, which haunted r1e for years.
An moment the candle shed sickly Light
around the little room. Little, indeed and
unfnrnished to nothingnessl One soantily-cov-
ered bed was all But within, I saw sweet
face that made me forget all else. approached
1t, and laid my hands on the pulse Of the little
sufferer.
alarm
"He is doctor, Bessie; dear, good, kindya
FRIEND" replied her sister; and from that mo.
ment she became perfectly passive in my hsndA
naase7Fo maedica to zee what was required Iinade
the proper prescription, saw that It was tenderly
administered, told the elder sister that would be
back in few moments, and resisting all attempts
70 light me down stairs, CROPPED my way into the |
street. had noticed an clearinghouse at but a
little distance, rs we came along, and, state
ment OF the case, backed by the all powerful
king Of the world, gold, soon procured the loan
OF disused stove, couple Of chairs. fuel, light
tie room wore something like an air Of comfort.
Another hour the eyes Of the child were closed
In sluinber, and urged her sister to seek repose,
but in vain. g eft ~
AT least lie down and let me cover you with
my cloak" urged.
"No, DOCTOR" was the constant reply, II can.
not, am so happy. It must have been God that
directed my wandering footsteps TO you" rE
And 50 we sat, with the night-wind roaring
without Watching the almost angelic lace Of the
peacefully slum bering child,-sat and TALKED Of
what was most anxious to hear. But the CON. |
versation of those long, dark hours can be con.
densed into very brief space. ie7
She who would have sold her body for the sake |
giving little longer life to her sister, was the
daughter Of at least supposed wealth. But a few |
years previously she could have held her head a
high as the highest. Both birth and education |
fitted her for it. But misfortune came-a series |
Of disasters upon land and sea, against which no
human forethought could guard, combined with |
treachery and ingratitude Of the deepest dye, |
swept away all. In their footsteps followed the |
death OF the mother, leaving an infant but q few
months old. The fond father struggled against |
the tide manfully, for brief time, when his |
health gave way, and he followed his wife thro' |
the dark valley, and beyond the shining river,
leaving the elder sister to provide tor the |
younger. AZ
"FOr a time" continued the poor girl, II was |
able 10 i've comfortably on the sale Of the furn-
iture and articles Of value that possessed Then
she asked, stopping suddenly, and looking me |
full in the face.
because" replied, with smile at her earn |
estnsss, 'sbocause you have found true heart, |
and one that can feel for you"
eyes, may heaven DO thanked! I feel that it |
is SO. Well, 1 struggled on-no, fought were
tho hotter wota," she continued, with the lines |
about her mouth suddenly becoming hard. II |
fought for life sometimes teaching, sometimes |
sewing--in short doing anything that my
strength permitted, until sickness came still |
did net give way to despair, Truly was bound |
to the s.ake--a sweet one--my darling sister. |
OF the insults received while seeking for work. |
shall neror speak. They must remain forever |
locked up in my own breast :" and her pallid face
flashed to scarlet, even at the thought.
Sand found no employment ?"
"Nono. Piece by piece parted with the lit |
tic furniture that was the possessor Of, until |
what yon see was all that remained"
"-Iy poor chtlG."
vt is true"-I saw that she was nerving her. |
self to tell me something that was painful, and |
would have stopped her, but she resolutoly con- |