Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-11-07

NAofO t24t AZ SNo0 SO4AeAelCs " a ~
for sure it's next to being the father
one
Then followed propositions to drir
the health of mother and child, whiC
$ were checked by the doctor, who, aft
continued efforts made himself hear
Pat Moran, equal to the occasion. too
the top of his fayorite table, and yelled
w hist ye devils an sure the Dc
wishes 10 address yees on the topic {
the day.
Then Dr. Holmes said.
Boys, | am sorry, to destroy a
your pleasure, but have seen that te
night down at the Log House whic
has made me, doctor as | am, and use
to sorrow and suffering, shed tear
It's with great pain tell You that Name
Jones aud her baby must-both die
As the doctor said this a low hur
passed around heroom, and one coul
see the grutf and rugged faces of thos
men change color and grow pale, Will
their hands eIenched together to pre-
vent the feelings they wished to con
ceal. Then Jake Morse said, in a loy
voice:
doe, what's the matter? Can yo,
save one of them; can We do anything
j don't think there is man in the
room but would risk his life to do the
poor woman and her child q service
And from many a bearded mouth
came words which il not elegant, were
iorcible, Of their will to do all and
everything to save the mother and heI
child.
The doctor looked around for mo-
ment and then said:
Boys, you know as well as |, that
! Nancy Jones is what is called fallen
woman-that she is beyond the pale
OF respectability; but you will not con-
tradict me when | say that if one OF
! you were sick and needed some one to
watch by your sick bed, she would be
the first to offer her services. You all
remember when Bill ChiIds lay dying
ats 'wpit Flat, how she uursed him for
weeks, and when at last death came,
| she closed his eyes, and wrote to his
friends, telling them of poor Bills
fate"
"You bet she did !" came from many
mouth. Morse stood by the bar.
Not feature moved. His hand trem-
| bled where il rested, but his voice
came law and calm, as he said:
Doc, can We do anything to assist
you?"
Il tell you, boys" said the doctor,
the poor woman is worn ont with
suffering, and her child is dying by her
side, and the mother is unable to
nourish it. If 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:
Il will go, Doc; and if | fail, and
Nancy lives, tell her that Jake Morse
Iisked his life to save her child"
Turning to one of the men, he con-
tinued:
Charlie, will you lend me your
sn0w-shoes ??
In moment all was confusion the
men rushed about as if mad. McKen-
zie busted himself putting up a flask
of his fsvorite 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, dash
ing the falling fakes in 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
Ike fash only for an instant was he
seen. then was lost to sight.
Brave heart. God In his goodness
viii not fail to watch your lonely path.
Ills 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. Their glasses were reflled,
aud silent prayers offered for ,Iake's
return.
The doctor said
If Jake does not return in four
hours, go out and meet him, aud then,
i'll NJ his fla K, started on his way 70
visit the woman and her child.
With his hat pulled over his eyes,
and his face closely muffled, he went
cut into the darkness aud the storm.
Aiter plodding some time liz the drift
ing snow, he said 70 himself: Il shall
have to stop at Abe Stelrns's aad get
warm-I cant be. Gar. from there.
Pushing on, hc reached at length
house, rude and small; out of the single
window shone light In answer TO
his knock man 5 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 dag
zled his eyes. Abe Stearns, greeting
him, said:
Why, Doc, are you out on such
night as this? It's a wonder you're
not dead. | say, Jessie, here's Doc
Holmes and from the other room
came a young woman with fair, calm
face. holding in her arms a bundle OF
clothes from which issued cry, telling
that there was some one beside hus-
band and wife Abe said:
Give me the younster and get the
doctor something warm; he is cold.
Never mind, the doctor replied;
II wi be all right in a moment. |
could not resist the temptation Of your
big fireplace But how is the baby?
Let me see him, Mrs. Stearus."
The young mother, with. proud look
and tender hands, uncovered her sleep
ing babe. The doctor, looking at him
a moment, said:
He is fine boy, Mrs. Stearns, and
worthy 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 one sick?
Who is it !"
The doctor answered in low voice !:
A poor unfortunate woman, Mrs.
Siearns, who is cut off from every one,
and who, in spite of every misfortune,
is a woman, and lies at deaths door
with a baby by her side; and, TO add
still more to her misery, nature has
failed to give the nourishmeat neces-
sary for her child"
For moment the husband and wife
stood speechless, and then, in one
breath, they asked, who is it, doc
tori
He answered. Nancy Jones"
They repeated the words, Nancy
Jones" and the young mother clasped
her child still closer to her heart, and
| looking down on her sleeping babe she
inwardly thanked God even though
her home was small and rude, that her
! chilh was safe frnm snch q inistoItune