Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-10-17

"Why. Doc, are you out on & nigh
like this:
It's a wonder you are not dead
/ say, Jessie, here's Doc. Holmes, .
and from the other room came &
youngwoman with fair, calm face
holding in her arms a bundle 81
clothes, from which issued 3 cry,
telling that there was some one be-
sides husband and wife. Abe said
"Givo me the youngster and get
the doctor something warm; he is
cold"
''Never mind, ;" the doctor replied.
81 will be all right in q moment.
could not resist the temptation OF
your big fireplace. But how is the
baby? Let me see him Mrs. Stearns"
The young mother, with proud
look and tender hands, uncovered
her sleeping babe. The doctor,
looking at him q moment said, "He
is q fine boy, Mrs. Stearns, and wor-
thy OF his father and mother; how
] comfortable he looks in his warm
nest, and how different from the
poor child am on my way to see."
why, doctor, is there any ono
sick? Who is it 2"
The doctor answered in a low
voice:
ga poor unfortunate woman, Mrs
| Stearns, who is cut of from every
one, and who, in spite of every mis-
fortune, is a woman, and lies at
| deaths door with q baby by her
side; and to add still more to her
misery, nature has failed to give
I the aourishment necessary for her
child.'a
For a moment the husband and
wife stood speechless, and then, in
one breath, they asked:
"Who is ii, doctor 2"
He answered, "Nancy Jones"
They repeated the words Nancy
JONES'" and the young mother
clasped her child still closer to her
heart, and looking upon her sleep
ing babe she inwardly thanked God,
ever though her home was small aud
rude, that her child was safe from
such q misfortune as the doctor
had related and, turning to him,
her mothers sympathy shining in
her face, she said:
80, doctor, cannot something be
done to save the child2 No matter
what the mothers sin, the child at
least is innocent; it is too terrible,
something must be done. Abel,
can't you think something We can
do ?"
The doctor said, "The only COW
for miles around is owned at Port
Wine, and Jake Morse has gone on
snow-shoes, in the midst of the
storm, for milk. If God sees it to
let him return in safety, then the
child might be saved but if he
should fail, there is no hope"
"But Doc" said Abel, show long
will it take Jake to go and return"
"About four hours, If he does his
best and meets with no accident"
Jessie asked in a low voice, as she
clasped her baby closer to her
breast, Chow long is it, doctor,
since the mother failed to nurse the
child?"
"She became unconscious about
five o'clock, and since then it has
been without food and by the time
Morse returns it will be seven hours
Jessie did not speak-she looked
down upon her child, wrapped the
shawl closer around its little body,
and out from under the bed drew
the rude cradle-an old boot-box,
with rockers attached, no doubt
made by Abel's hardy hand, and
with tenderness, placed her baby in
its resting place. A soft flush COW
cred her face, and her calm, sweet
eyes lit up as she looked at her hus-
band-the lover of her youth, the
one for whom she had left her home
- the father of her child and,
drawing her slight form to its full
height, she said: doctor, the child
shall not die, for / myself will go
and nurse Nancy Jones' baby"
The doctor looked at her radiant
face for an instant; the tears came
to his his eyes and his voice trem-
bled with emotion. "You are an
angel, Mrs. Stearns," and he lifted
her hand reverently to his lips and
kissed it.
Then the wife, with an indescriba-
bic grace, turned to her husband
and said, "Abel, have l your con-
sent to go?" And the great, strong,
bearded creature picked her up in
his arms like child, while the big
manly voice shook and trembled in
reply.
ayes, Jessie, my wife, God for
bid that stand in the way of your
angel mission Go, my love, and
God bless you" And the doctor,
after sundry coughs, ostensibly for
the purpose of clearing his throat,
managed at length to say
eff you two young people don't
have luck / shall turn infidel, id
if / don't. Excuse me, Mrs. Stearns,
but could not help it."
The preparations wers soon COM
pleted, Jessie bent over the cradle
for q moment, kissed her husband,
charged him to be careful of the
"boy." and then went out into the
night.
The wind had ceased, and the moon
shone bright and clear; the cold, sharp
air cut like a knife, but still they la
bored on, sometimes breaking through
the frozen crust, never stopping un-
til they reached the Log House, Jes-
sic here spoke for the first time:
''Is there anyone with her. doctOr?'
"Yes, the old negress, Judith, and
as he spoke he opened tbe-dOor.
Jessie for a moment stood on the
Threshold only for a moment, how
ever, for the faint cry of q child was
heard, and then all the women came
to her relief and she stepped quickly
into the room The cry Of the child
came again. Going to the bed she
took it in her arms-it moaned; she
seated herself in low chair, the doc
tor turned his face away feeble cry
of content from the child, and then
all was quiet, and Nancy Jones' baby
was saved.
Five years have come and gone since
that night, and time has made
many changes. Abel StearnS and
Jessie are no longer on Rabbit Greek.
One misfortune after another has hap
pened to them, until starvation stares
them in the face. They have one more
mouth to feed since we saw them last,
and Christmas night, 1853; sees them
in San Francisco without food.
Jessie, unable to see her invalid
husband suffer any longer, has made
up her mind to beg. Out into the
street she goes trying to gain courage
for her task. Faint and tired from
fasting and oyerEork, she reached
the corner Just as a fine carriage Is
dashing past; she tries to avoid it,
but her foot slips and she falls on The
crossing. The carriage stops, the
window is lowered and q mans voice
asks:
"What is the matter?"
ssThe by-standers reply that "a wo-
man had tainted" and then a wo-
mans voice, sis she hurt?'
ssShe is in the drug store, the same
persons reply, "and is insensible.
The soft voice from the carriage
speaks to her companion, saying:
Il should like to see her, dear"
The door Is opened, and passing
into the ttore, and asking TO see the