The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-18

he said:
doc, can we do anything to assistyou%'
y will tell you, boys" said the doctor,
1.-THE poor thing Is worn out with suffering,
and her child lies dying by her side. and the
her is unable to nourish it. Ii there is
one of you who dare for their sakes go to
Port Wine and get some milk, we may save
the life of Nancy Jones' baby
Morse said at once
81 will go, Doc; and if fail, and Nancy
lives, tell her that Jake Morse risked his life
to save her child"
Turning to one of the men, he said:
"Charlie, will you lend me your snow
shoes?'
In moment all was confusion; the men
rushed about as if mad. Mckenzie busted
himself putting up a flask of his favorite
brandy, for use should Morse require it.
The arrangements were completed, and
out into the street went the crowd. The
houses were white with snow; the wind came
tearing down the hill, dashing the falling
flakes into their faces, cutting and binding
them. Morse strapped on the huge shoes,
then stood erect, saying:
''Boys, if / don't get back, send my things
to my mother; Mckenzie knows her address
and now, here goes" and at the word, off he
went into the night like a flash; only for an
instant was he seen, then was lost TO sight.
fail to watch your lonely path. His eye is on
you; so breast on and fear not.
The men went back to the saloon, glad to
return to its shelter and warmth. TheiI
glasses were refilled and silent prayers were
offered for Jakes return.
The doctor said ''If Jake does not return
| in four hours, go out and meet him." and
then, filling his flask, started on his way to
| visit the wo nan and her child. With his bat
| pulled over his eyes, aud his face closely muf'
| fled, he went out into the darkness and the
stor 4. After plodding some time in tAe
drifting snow, ne said TO himself: Il shall
have to stop at Abe Stearns' and get warm
l can't be far from there Pushing on, he
| reached at length house, rude and small
out of the single window shone light In
| answer to his knock, a mans voice said
| "Come in!' He pushed open the door and
| stood within, white with snow. For a mo-
| ment the light from the large fire daZzled his
| eyes. Abe Stearns, greeting him. said:
why, Doc, are you out on night like
| this? It's wonder you're not dead. | say
| Jessie, here's Doctor Holmes, and from The
other room came young woman wi h fair
| calm face, holding in her arms a bundle o
clothes, from which issued a cry, telling that
there was some one beside husband and wife
| Abe said
"Give me the youngster and get the doc
| tor something warm; he is cold.'
"Never mind,' the doctor replied; 81 viii
| be all right in a moment. l could not resis
| the temptation of your big fireplace. Bu
| how is the baby? Let me see him, Mrs
| Stearns."
The young mother, with proud look ant
| tender hands, uncovered her sleeping babe
| The doctor, looking at him moment said
HE is fine boy, Mrs. Stearns, and worth,
| Of e, tI,or and ,rfo
| he looks in his warm nest, and how different
from the poor child l am on my way to see.'
''Why, doctor, is tn re any one sick
who is it ?''
| Int doctor answered in low voice:
ga poor unfortunate woman, Mrs. Stearns
| who is cut off from everyone. and who, in
| spite of every misfortune, is a woman, aDt
| lies at deaths door with a ba6y by her side
| and to add still more to her misery, natur.
! has failed to give the nourishment necessal,
| for her child"
| speeches., and then, in one breath, the,
asked, who is it, doctor?'
He ansN cred, "Nancy Jones'"
They repeated the words, "Nancy Jones,
and the young mother clasped her child sti.
! clos r to her heart, and looking Down On be
| sleeping babe she inwardly thanke God
| even though her home was small and rude
that her child was safe from such mistor
| tune as the doctor related; and turning t.
him, her mothers sympathy shining in he
| face. she said:
"Oh, Doctor, cannot something be done tx
| save the cnild? No matter what the moth
| er's sin, the child at least is innocent; it i
| too Notwithstanding must be done. ABE
can't you think OF something we can dol?
The doctor said: 1.-THE only COW for mile
around is owned at Port Wine, and Jak,
Morse has gone on snow-shoes, in the mids
OF the storm, for milk. If God sees fit to lie
him return in safety, then the child might be
savei but if he should fail, there is no hope
But Doc" said Abel, show long will i
take Jake to go and return?'
about four hours if he does h is best ant
meets with no accident"
Jessie asked in low voice, as she claspet
her baby close to her breast, Chow long i
it, doctor, since the mother failed to nurse
tie child?''
''She became unconscious about 5 o'clock
and scince then it has been without food
and by the time Morse returns it will b,
seven hours"
Jessie did not speak-she looked down
upon her child, wrapped the shawl clesel
around IT'S little body, and out from un
der the bed drew the rude cradle-an OLE
DO )t-boX, with rockers attached, no doub
made by AbePs hardy hanus-and, with ten
derness 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 hus
band-the lover of her youth, the one fo
whom she had left her home-the father O
her child-and, drawing her slight firm t,
its full height, she said:
Doctor, the Child shall not die, for 1 my
selfwil go and nurse Nancy Jones' baby.''
The doctor looked at her radiant face fol
q N no fnn To-, 70 i
his voice trembled with emotion. .'You
are an angel, Mrs. Stearns," aud he lifted
her hand reverently 10 his lips and kissed it
Then the wife, with an indescribable grace.
turned to her husband and said: "Abei
have your consent to go?' And the great
bearded creature picked her up in his arm
ike Child, while the big manly voice SHOOT
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." And tn,
doctor, after sundry coughs, ostensihly fo
the purpose of clearing his throat, manage,
at length to say:
IF you two young people don't have lucl
shall turn infdel, ID il l don't. Ex
cuse me, Mrs. Stearns, but 1 could no
help it."
The preparations were soon completed
Jessie bent over the cradle for a moment
kissed her husband, charging him to be
careful of the ''boy," then went out into
the night
The wind had ceased, ard the noon shon,
bright and clear; the cold, sharp air cut Xix,
knife, but still they labored on, sometimes
breaking through the f.ozen crust, neye
stopping until they reached the clog House,
Jessie bere spoke for the first time:
us there anyone with her, Doctor?"
eyes, the old negress, JUDITH and as h,
spoke he opened the boor.
Jessie for moment stood on the Threshold
only for moment, however, for the faint cry
OF child was heard, and then all the womaI
came to her relief and she stepped quickly
into the room. The cry of the child cam,
again. Going to the bed she took it in he
arms-it moaned; she seated herself in q
low chair the doctor turned his face away
feeble cry of content from the child, ant
hen al was quiet, and Nancy Jones' bab,
was saved.
Five years have come and gone since thai
night, and time has made MANY changes.
Abel S.earns and Jessie are no longer in
Rabbit Creek. One misfortune after anothe,
has happened to them; until starvation stares
them in the fac. They have one more
mouth to iced since We saw them last, and