The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-01-09
NUMBER 40.

''Seems to me l wouldn't discharge her,
then. 1t would be rather hard, unless she
is guilty of some fault
Mrs. Arnott bit her lip.
Gentlemen understand nothing about
the management of a household, p" said she,
tartly. "These girls haven't our sensitive
natures, either They are quite used 20
knocking around the world. Are you going
down town now ?''
yes
Il wish you'd stop and ask DR. Hart to
stop here this morning little Clarence is
feverish''
Anything serious?''
Il hope not,'' the mother answered.
''but I always like to take these things in
time
DR.. Hart leaned over Clarence's little
crib he involuntarily uttered the name of
malignant type of fever just then raging
in the city.
Il wish that you had sent for ME be-
fore. l fear that it is too late to secure
the exemption of your two other little
ones. But with constant care I think we
may save the little fellow. You have q
good nurse -
''An excellent one. I can trust Natalia
IS W, u d trust myself"
You are Fortunate said the doctor.
He had scarcely closed the door, when Ma
talia came to her mistress.
My month expires to morrow, madam;
will you pay me my wages and let me take
my departure at once ?''
''But, Natalia, the baby is sick
Cones first duty is to ones self would
not risk the infection for twice what you
pay me-"
And Natalia packed her trunk and de
parted, without even coming into the nurse
ry to bid little Clarence good bye.
The cook was the next to give warning.
Matilda, the laundress, took herself off
without any such preliminary ceremony.
4 am going, too, " said the seamstress.
''AIrs. Arnott wouldn't have lifted her fin
ger if we'd all been dying, and I believe
in doing to others as they do to me.
And almost before she knew it, the strick-
en- mother was left alone by the bedside of
her suffering babe. Neighbors crossed on
the other side of the street like the priests
and lovites of old friends coutented them
selves by sending in to inquire even hired
nurses avoided the malignant fever.
is there no one to help me ?'' she
moaned, wringing her white jeweled hands
together. ''Have all pity and wonanly
sympathy died out of the world ?''
4 slight noise caused her to turn, and
Kathleen O'Neil was at her side, busy in
arranging tho table.
q thought you, too, had gone, Kath-
leen - she cried.
Sure, ma am, what should I be going
for?' asked Kathleen, simply, ''and tho
bits of children sick, and you in sore trou-
BILE? l nursed the little brothers and sis
ters at home, and l know just what needs
to be DONE
And she took little Clarence in her arms
with a soft tenderness that went to the
mothers heart.
/ care you not afraid, Kathlecn?''
"What should l be afraid Of Ina'am
Isn't the Gods sky over US all, whether
it's the green banks OF Ireland, er the
church steeple of this great confusing city?
Oh, ma am, He'll not take the bonny baby
from u.s.
All Mrs. Arnott's children had the fever
last of all she was prostrated by it-and
Kathleen watched over every one, faithful,
true and tender.
'Kathleen," Mrs. Arnott said, the first
day she sat up, with the Irish girl arrang-
ing the pillows about her wasted form,
''Ob, Kathleen, l don't deserve this
''Sure, ma'am, if we all had our deserts
in this world, it's sorry place it would
be, I'm thinking" laughed Kathleen.
''But, Kathleen, I was cruel to you-so
perfectly hoartless -
1--WE won't talk of it, ma am dear,'' said
Kathleen, evasiyely.
.'But say just once that you forgive mer'
pleaded the lady, once so naughty.
Il forgive you, ma am, as free as the
sunshine, Kathleen answered softly.
''And you'll stay with me always, and
be my friend, Kathleen
'If God wills it, ma am"
And Mrs. Arnott put up her lips to kiss
the fresh, cool cheek Of Irish Kathleen.
The years that have passed since then
have made men and women of the little
people that Kathleen nurSed through the
fever; and strangers who visit Mrs Ar
mott scarcely know what TO make OF the
plump, comeIy, middle-aged woman who
moves about the house apparently as much
at home in it as the mistress herself-wbo
is always consulted about everything, and
trusted with all secrets.
''Is she housekeepcr, or a servant, OF
a relation?' some one once asked.
Mrs. Arnott replied '.She is my true
and trusted friend, Kathleen O'Nen, -
\ MACON negro who went into a trance
at q revival the other mint -..,s- -...,,.,a,r,r