The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-04-18

II cIambering mp over the hillside like
/ a growing vine. So many blossoms
of new white houses had sprung up
amidst the greenness every month of
j late that the widow and her children
; were living upon a paved street, with
: neighbors and sympathy plentiful on
: every side. But some of the children
brought them scarlet fever, and before
q week had passed dear, loving Nab
was laid beside her grandfather under
the willow by the rivulet.
Allie, who had not strength now
even to play with her precious beads,
us she lay helpless upon her pillow,
believed that her sister had gone for
only few days, and would return SO
, soon as she herself was well again
} The broken hearted mother had borne
all this and lived. She was needed to
minister to her stricken child but her
! own life henceforth must pass in deep
shadow and desolation. She shrank
even from her friends, and jealousiy
secluded both herself and her child
Poor little woman! if she had ever
been too light-hearted, she had suf-
tered enough already to condone with
the bitterest prejudice, and move the
most censorious to pity. @
y
q sician became paralYtlc., A new doc.
1 tor, who had established himself in
q the village, came professionally to see
Il Allie The first sound of his voice
II arrested the child's attention. She sat
y up, listening her face flushed her
II eyes beamed with strange light. APP
Il fParentiy she could see farther than
4 lnortals often may. Both hands were
Il Preached ont toward the doctor; and
kEhen he came to her she graspedSe his
with q touching, eager confidence.l 4
IF you say put bIisters on, doctef
II can bear blisters ; but am sure can
get well without ila,f33;A
r. ~ We won't have any blisters, Allie
/ fAnd will you let me sitHp tOzInorl
row evening when Nab comes home
again /? sl - }9sx . ~ :, ,gs-s,sf
81 The doctor thought for moment,
looking anxiously towards he mother.
Then he answered cheerfaHy, Yes,
Allie, will diff you into the old easy
ischair, and you shall sit in the door
kWay. 1t is almost summer now
sfhe sweet little face which seemed
/ to grow more beautiful every year,
smiled eontentealy. herlips whispered
the word ,ts-n1frow, and she went
/ peacefully to sleep a
DR.. Spence, retufAed nsxt day as
he had promised, and e2sF6shed his
little patient in a mass &Shions at
the open door. Her face grew radiff
ant, her arms clasped in, the .. She
was embracing her little tTyK sister,
mununring broken words ofrapturous
welcla Oh Mabby, my Mabbyi
am 81 9lad yon have come home again.
1 NJ, xxr1{5fa41 II rauQl. fr.1 we,
shall be SO happy again. The new
! doctorknows how to comfort mamma.
She cried only half as hard last night
! when shes thought / was asleep; and
to-day heard her singing, just as she
used to-. 1t is all because he is such
beautiful doctor. He is taller than
mamma or miss Ellie. but just as near
like them as the pine trees are alike up
on the hills -, ..,,s M
The mother and the new doctor
looked. Wonderingly into each others
faeessRith bated breath and without a
word-timid,q questioning looks, which
neither could quite forget afterWard
they then both turnedto Allie. The
child, talking eagerly all the time, on
ly shrank more and more away from
them, raising her little arm before her
face as though to ward off all trouble
some interference.
eTo her it is reality 2 said the doc
tor, strongly moved, and his voice
tremulous, She believes that her
sister is here. 1t will be well never
to disturb the impression. / can do
little for her professionally, Mrs. Dam
by, but, if you win allow me should
like to continue my acquaintance with
Allie as a friend
The mothers eyes, dim with tears,
were fixed only on her child, and she
needed nothing except what Allie was
saying to her sister.
The blind girl was soon cropping her
way about the house, busy and happy
but her mind still astray. Nab is
away at school now,' she would say,
cheerfully but at sunset she sat in the
old place, believing that NAB was |
there also conversing with her. The |
tigers and bears nearly always stay
away now, don't they, Mabby?' she
said one evening with great exhilera-
any more. 1t is all the new doctor
didn't you know that? Oh yes, it is,
dear; and DIR. Spencer can make sun
shine, have-seen him make 1t very |
often on rainy days. Once, when |
mamma was nearly dying because she |
was cold and wet, the new doctor |
came and he filled the room up full of |
sunshine
The mother, sitting there with the |
gold and crimson of the early sunset
lighting up her always beautiful face,
smiled and blushed; then the ready
tears fell heavily into her lap; but /
Allie was not disturbed. OF course
Mrs. Dandy jealously guarded this
honr of twilight against all intruders.
At first the little mother tried very
earnestly not to be comforted in her
bereavement and affiiction; but the
sense of pain steadily burned itself
away to dead ashes, and sweet, hope
full thoughts began to start up every
where about her like spring buds
cheerful and beautiful in spite of her.
self. Her little daughter lived now
marvellous life of her own, so full of
peace and contentment that there
seemed to be no occasion for a contin-
ually active sorrow. And this was
woman who was made to smile and to
brighten into all irrepressible new
life, as the birds are made to sing.
Mamma is so happy now that she
PLAYS ndake-believe, Just as we used |
to, Mabby. Isn't that funnv?' said
the child, in loud whisper, which
arrested her mothers attention one
evening. Doctor Spencer plays
make-believe, too, Isn't it so nice p
Mrs. Dandy Redeemed painfully,
then laughed quietly to herself, Won
derfully reassured. She had not been
entirely certain that some things were
only make-believe with this wonder
ful new doctor. But if Allie said so,
Allie was sure to be in the right. Her
hope and courage grew with increas-
ing strength from that date. Her !,