Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-07-14


''At least, lie down and let me cover you
with my cloak, y l urged
mo, doctor, was the constant reply, Il
cannot. l am so happy. 1t must have
been God that directed my wandering steps
TO you
And so We sat, with the night wind roar
ing without, watchidg the almost angelic
face of the peacefully slumbering child-sat
and talked of what | was most anxious to
hear. But the conversation of those long
| hours can be condensed into very brief
space.
She who would have sold her body for the
sake of giving little longer of life to her
sister was the daughter of wealthy parents
But few years previously, she could have
held her head as high as the highest But
misfortune came--a series of disasters upon
land and sea, against which no human fore
thought could have gui ride !, combined with
! treachery and ingratitude of the deepest
die, swept away all. In their footsteps
| followed the death Of her mother, leaving
an infant of but few mouths old. The
fond father struggled mantully against the
tide for brief time, then his health gave
and he followed his wife through the dark
valley and beyond the shining river, leav
ing the elder sister to provide for the
younger.
For time, continued the girl, II was
able to live comfortably by the sale of the
furniture and articles of value | possessed
Then--but why should unbosom myself to
stranger ?" she asked, stopping suddenly
and looking M full in the face.
Because, replied, with smile at her
earnestness, ''le ause you have found true
heart, and one that can feel for you
Yes, may kind heaven be thanked p
she replied, Il feel that it is SO. Well I
struggled on-fought on were the better
word" size continued, the lines about her
mobile mouth suddenly becoming hard. L
| fought for life, souetimes teaching, some
| times obtaining little sewing. in short
doing anything that my strength permitted,
until sickness came. Still, | gave not away
to despair. Truly, | was bound to the
stake-a sweet one-my darling sister OF
the insults received while seeking work,
shall not speak They must remain for
ever locked in my breast, and the paid
face flushed scarlet at the thought
And found 10 employment ?"
''Nonel Piece by piece | parted with
the little furniture was the possessor of
until what you see was all that remained
My poor child
at is true" | saw that she was nerving
herself to tell me something that was pain
full, and would have stopped her, but she
resolutely continued, "lti is true, some mon
ey was offered ME by more than one man,
but Instantly and Indignantly hurled it
back in my insulters face Then. great
Heaven! upon this bitter night, with all
hope gone. determined to sell my body to
sorie surgeon.
NV hat in the name of Heaven could
have put such an idea into your head"
Il do not know, | cannot tell. Some
where. had either heard or read of some
thing of the kind. y
You must have been very desperate p
''On the verge of destruction had but
one dream, one DESIRE to save ny darling
even a single pain"
Have you no relatives -
''Not Il siagle one that know Of Both
of my parents were only children and their
parents came from foreign lands
She paused and turned to smooth the
hair of the slumbering Bessie and imprint
kiss upon the curl wreathed and snowy
brow; and thought what desperate trials
one like her must have passed through in
order to bring her mind 10 look camly upon
giving herself to the knife and the ribald
iestS of the dissecting room And thought
Of the sterling truth of her young heart that
could resist the allurements of gold when so
hedged by want and pain in their terrible
shapes. thought too-but she interrupted
me with
My kind-indeed, might say my only
friend whom God raised up to me in the
hour when all was darkness and misery, and
black death and pauper's grave were star
ing me in the face My kind friend-but
am-have been keeping you from rest.
Me! a physician life is one that is
con- tantly broken in upon and-wi you par
don me? | have never had my heart so
deeply touched or my feelings so much in
terested in all my fife. y
A faint rose blush crept up from the ex-
quisitcly moulded throat and mantled the
soft checks She took my hand and pressed
( il to her lips, leaving a warm kiss lingering
upon it. Did | suddenly build any castles
in Spain
W hen the morning light broke again over
tue gay city the storm had ceased and ma
ture smiled-cold, it is true, but brilliantly
There was plentiful breakfast served in
that little room, but the dinner was taken
in far other quarters.
As / write these lines, with some, at
least, of my dreams of wealth and position
reaized) sit in a cuzy study and listen to
the wrathfal bowling of the storm without.
There is a beautiful brown haired woman
sewing noar-a sprite of girl decorating
snow white kitten with crimson ribbons on
- ,,,.r ~, fr.n, Of tho olowinp CRATE / look