The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-10-22

to her misery, nature has failed to give
the hourishment necessary for her
child"
"Who is it, doctor?"
/ He answered: Nancy Jones'"
"Wsyi repeated the words, Nancy
Jones, and the voting mother clasped
her child closer TO her heart, and looking
upon her sleeping babe she inwardly
thanked God, even though her home
was small and rude, that her child was
safe from such misfortune as the doc
tor had related and, turning to him,
her mothers sympathy shining in her
face, she said:
go, doctor, can't something be done
to save the child? No matter what the
mothers sin, the child at least is inno-
cent; it Is too terrible, something must
be done. Abel, can't you think of some
thing we can do2"
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 fit to let him return in safety, then
the child might be savedi but If he
should fail, there is no hope"
"But, Doc" said Abel, show long
will it take Jake to go and return2"
"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,
How long is it, doctor, since the mother
failed to nurse the child?"
"She became unconscious about five
o'clock, and since then IL has been with
out food and by the time Morse returns
1t 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 un-
der 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 covered her face, and
her calm sweet eyes lit up as she looked
at her husband, 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 90 and nurse Nancy Jones'
baby" -.
The doctor looked at her radiant face
for an instant, the tears came to his eyes,
and his voice trembled with emotion.
&C You are an angel, Mrs. Stearns," and
he lifted her hand reverently to his lips,
and kissed it.
Then the wife, with an indescribable
grace, ttirhed to her husband and said:
=" Abel, have 1 your consent to go?"
And the great strong-bearded man
picked her up in his arms, like child,
while the big manly voice shook and
trembled, in reply.
" Yes, Jessie, my wife, God forbid that
| should stand in the way of your angel
mission. Go, my love, and God bless
YOU" ses
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 l shall turn infidel, id if / don't.
Excuse me, Mrs. Stearns, but l could not
help it.o w.: %,
The preparations were soon completed,
Jessie bent over the cradle for moment,
kissed her husband, charged him to be
careful of the q boy" and then started
out into the night. o,,.
The wind had ceased and the moon
sh0ne bright. and clear; the cold, sharp
air cut like knife, but still they laborcd
on; sometimes breaking through the
frozen crust. never stopping until they
reached the "Log House," Jessie here
spoke for the first time.
"Is there anyone with her, doctof?"
eyes, the old negress, Judith" and as
he spoke he opened the door. ls
Jessie for moment stood on the
threshhold-only for moment, how
ever, for the faint cry of child was
heard, and then all the woman came to
her relief, and stepped quickly into the
room. The cry of the child came again,
Going to the bed she took it into her
arms; it moaned, when she seated her.
self in low chair, and the doctor turned
his face away. A feeble cry of content
from the child was soon heard, and then
all was quiet and Nancy Jones' baby
was saved. ~
n xr# ~"
Five years have come and gone since
that night, and time has made many
changes. Abel Stearns and Jessie are no
longer living on Rabbit Creek. One mis-
fortune after another has happened to
them, until starvation stares them in the
face. They have one more mouth to feed
since we saw them last, and Christmas
night, 1858, sees them in San, Francisco
without food. ':s~,. ea rt~
Jessie, unable to see her invalid hus-
band 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 over
work, 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 a mans voice
asks:
"What is the matter?"
"The by-standers reply that woman
had tainted, and then woman's voice,
she hurt?"
"She is in the drugstore" the same
persons reply, "and is insensible."
The soft voice from the carriage speaks
to her companion, saying: n'i -.
"I should like to see her, DEAR"
The door is opened, and passing into
IuC SoOiC, dhu dohihS w oOO phC i~uy wiz
she is shown into the room. She
glides up to the lounge antcasts one look
II the white face, and drops on her knees
and put the poor head to her shoulder
Only for a moment does she remain in
that position; then turning to the clerk,
she said. ocr lgG et 20 80
Garry this lady to my carriage; she
IS an acquaintance of mine, and l will
take care of her." .ss. sis
The unconscious woman is lifted into
the, carriage, and it rollsaway. "a
Abel Stearns waits for his wife, but she
does not return. Fear at last overcomes
him, and he resolves to start out to look
for her, when there is heard knock at
the door. A mans voice asks if Mr..
dtearns lives there, and IL so, he is re-
quested 10 come with him at once, as his
wife has been taken i'll, but is with her
friends. Abel hardly recovers from his
surprise when he finds himself in a fine
aplftsnxnS and in n few moments has his
wife II. his arms, pale, but smiling, in
|Yar nsghf -dreaa There Ia heard n r,,aticfa