Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-07-22

!, JULY %, 1875.
left to die or recover as ] saw fit. l have
distinct memory of doctor feeling my
pulse, OF a dreary certainty Of filth and
discomfort all around me, and of burning
thirst Then followed agonizing dreams
of delirium, with pain in every limb, rack
ing headache, loneliness. 1 was fever
racked, with horrible fancies-now being
sawed apart by medical students, now be-
set with wild beasts rending me limb
from limb, now in sea of fire. now in a
desert, craving water I could hear tingling
from near fountain and could not reach
it. ~.,..
Then in my delerium came some angel,
cooled my lips, put water on my head, let
air in upon my sitting agonies. could
not make my tongue utter the words in
my mind; it would babble Of everything
else, but chiefly of Susie, aud the fear
Susie would come to take the horrible
fever.
And in my homo there was enacting q
scene have heard described so often I
can put it here rs if had seen and heard
all. Susie lay white and weak in her own
room, with her first born in her arms, not
two days old, when telegram came to
her. The doctor Of Vaughan Station had
found my address in my notebook and
telegraphed my condition.
"Oh" sobbed Susie, "he will die there
all alone and will meyer know, mother,
what you have done for him"
"He shall not die Alone" Mrs. Gardiner
said, rcsolutely. "Hc shall have good
nurse and loving one as fast as steam
can carry her. Eth, Hannah"
"Yes'm," said Hannah. "You make
your mind easy, ma'am. I'll do my
duty"
'rhere is no train till night. Can we
pack trunk of invalid comforts, Hannal,
wine, jellies, clean linen, bed d-clothes and
frults!"
So while tossed and burned these two
raced about the city gathering up comforts
for me, till the trunk stood packed and
ready, when the carriage came to bring
my nurse to me, and Susie cried over her
baby and sent me tender messages.
From some abyss of horror--some hor.
rible rock ofdclirious agony, I have fain,
memory of being recalled to dim con.
sciousness of realities by low, sweet voice
saying:
s'Drink this!"
Something cool and plcasingly bitter
was put to my parched lips, and over ev
cry sense crept torpor, gentle soothing
to slumber, till all consciousness died IN q
deep, profound sleep. lido not know hc "
long / slept, but I awoke with every sense
clear and the fever fancies all gone.
Hooked about me. Twas perfectly con
scious that had lost my reason in a bare
desolate room, where the sun streamed ir
through dirty windows, and the bares
necessities Of life around me were Of the
poorest description. Hooked at the win
dows, shaded by dark green paper anG
soft muslin curtains; at the floor, scrubbed
and sweetsmelling; at the bed-linnen
,, white, clean and cool; at little table be
side me, with snowy cloth, upon which
lay great white grapes, luscious oranges
tamarinds in goblcts of water Then
feebly turned my head to see, standing be
side me with anxious tenderness in hel
soft blue eyes,-my mother.in-law.
'You must not talk, she said, very gent
ly, her soft, little hand, falling upon my
forehead like snowflake, "but try to keer
very quiet. All is we'll at home I hea,
from Susie every day. She is getting wei
fast and your son is in splendid health"
my son!''
"Now I have given you pleasan
thought to dream upon, try to sleep again
But first take drink ofbeefte Itshoul6
taste of home, for bought the condensed
beef in cans from your Uncle Israeli!
store. He sent the grapes and orange
and a lot Of good things you shall have BY
and BY"
"But you," said wondering still, "ar'
you not afraid of the fever?'
Il have taken all prudent precautions,
was the reply, land my fear was not ST
strong as my love for my son."
"Thank you, mother" whispered, ant
I saw through my own misty eyes her lip
culver as I called her by that name for tn
first time.
Can I ever tell how she nursed me bacl
to health, humoring all my sick fancies
|yet guarding against all hurttul indulger
ces? All the CHEEKY letters Susie wrot
she read to me and answered for me til
my own weak fingers could guide penci
In her thoughtful affection she had pack
ed in the wonderful trunk light reading t
beguile the hours of convalescence Whe
l could sit up, she exerted her ingenuit
to keep me from feeling lonesome, an
would talk unweariedly of that wonderful
|two-days' baby, with eyes blue as a patel
of summer skies and mouth like clea
rosebud. Susie's letters were great CON
fort, and answering them, giving humo1
Gus accounts Of our wretched accommods
tions, occupied many hours.
| But the day came at last when the dot
tor said might start for home withou
fear of carrying the contagion with me-
Carefully we destroyed every article tha
could endanger our dear ones, and starte
for Memphis with the pleasing certaint
that, no accident Detailing, we could ira,
el by easy stages and reach home betor
my boy completed the second month c
his little life.
i. The unwearied tenderness that ha
brought me back from the jaws Of deaf
removed oil discomforts from my journe