Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-04-09

and with q heightened color and q sud
den change of manner he turned quick.
ly to me and said, my childis ill.," I
felt positively guilty. I had been angry
with that baby for making my wise
friend foolish, for not beinRa boy, for
being called "noble woman. Was
it not shameful that q great hulking
brute should sneer at weak thing that
could not answer with taunt? We're
not my clumsy sarcasms enough to
crush 60 delicate a plant? The poor
little "noble woman" was in danger,
and I could do nothing to help her:
There we're tears in the eyes which had
looked into mine for comfort, but I had
nothing ready to say.
81. could not stand being alone" he
muttered, after short silence; "the
doctor is with her now, andin q moment
I may hear that my little daughter must
i'm fact may hear the worst"
While he was speaking, I seemed to
have fifty consoling remarks to offer ;
but when he stopped, no one sentence
would disengage itself from the rest.
What I blurted out at last seems almost
ridiculous as 1 look back on it.
"You must hope for the best" I
s:ad s;%a ), lyon know she has youth on her
These words were scarcely out of my
mouth when heard a measured step
upon the stairs presently the door was
opened by the noiseless footman, and
the most famous of London physicians
entered the room. My friend leaned
heavily on my arm, but looked ct the
man of science with seeming calm.
II am happy to say" said the physi-
clan, cheeri1y, :" that our little frtendis
going on as we'll as possible"
And she is out Of danger?"
"She never was in it.
Never in danger?" cried I, almost
di::RReirtsd. .gRe ted no.s;nn -. ,n.+t.. 80,
her" he replied, '.but slight feverish
cold. I have seldom seen q finer OF
more healthy child. Good morning.
1 never was more annoyed. Here was
waste Of my finest feelings. Here
was stirred to the depth, we'll nigh
moved to tears by . baby's feverish
cold. OF course I was very glad that
it was no worse but my friend was too
absurd, and I could not spare him.
won't you resume your studies ?" !
asked, sarcastically, pointing to the
disturbed book, which was lying on the
ground at our feet. His humility might
have disarmed me; II am afraid I've
been a FOOL" he said "but If you had
seen her all flushed and breathing hard
and then she was SO small and fragile. u
Yes, for noble woman" re-
m rloA III rooos~o1 %1,< 1o~k nooL1r
Philosopher" said I, suddenly deter
mined to rouse him at any cost, "when
I entered this room you were engaged
in prayer" His color certainly deep
ened. {" May ask I inquired, with
an appearance of Difference, "whethe1
you were addressing yourself to the
Personal First Cause or to the Unknow.
able-but per rhaps you were merely
bowling to the rational order of the
Universe ?"
He made a gesture of impatience,
but answered, still with studied moder
alton, II was alone and in trouble.
"And the efficacy of prayer"
asked.
"For heavens sake" cried he
bursting into excitement, "stop YOU
jargon Nothing shows such ignoranct
Of subj ject as havingallits cantphrase!
on the top of your tongue. Can't
speak to God without expecting to b<
paid for it?''
This was turning the tables. If h,
was going to take to questions, I knew
should end by admitting myself fool
So to avoid a Socratio dialogue pu
my hand on my friends shoulder ani
said: Youarea agoodman, philosopher
may you and the noble woman i've .
thousand years."
"Thank you" he said, simply; "ant
now you must let me go and sing q p@a1
with the nobler woman, my patien
Penelope, my sweet wife" )"
So he went with long strides over tn,
asphodel meadow, and I betook mysel
to- my tent full of pleasant thoughts.