Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-10-08

ings out in this quiet Surrey village.
Polly never thought should get BETTER
and one time no more did for about
month before this time, as Tlay holow-eyed
and yellow on the bed, knowing too how
bad / oked-for 1 used to make young
Dick bring the lookinggla every morn
morning-the doctor came as usual, and
like blunt Englshman l put ii to him
fiat.
Doctor" l says, "you don't think l
shall get better2" and looked him straight
in the face.
"Oh, come, come, my mani" he says
smiling, 1--WE never look at the black side
like that"
"None Of that DOCTOR" says; "out with
II like a man. l can stand it. I've been
expecting to be drowned or blown up half
my life, so 1 shan't be scared at what you
say"
"Well, my man." he says, "your symp-
toms are of very grave nature. You see
the fever had undermined you before YOU
come home, and unless
"All right DOCTOR" l says "I under
stand; you mean that unless you can get
new plate in the boiler, she won't stand an
other voyage"
"Oh, comet we won't look upon 1t as a
hopeless case" he says; There is always
hope !" and afler little more talk he shook
hands and went away.
Next day when he came, had been
thinking it all over. and was ready for him.
don't believe l was a bit better; in fact,
| knew / was drifting fast, and l saw ii in
his eyes as well.
waited till he had asked me his differ
ent questions, and then just as he was get
ting up to go, 1 asked him 10 sit down
again.
"Polly, my DEAR" says, Il just want
few words with the docior;" and she put
her apron up TO her eyes and went out clos
ing the door alter her very softly, while
the doctor looked at me curious-like, and
waited for me to speak.
doctor" l says, you've about given
me up. ri ere, don't shake your head, for
know. Now don't you think I'm afraid
to die, for 1 don't believe am, but look
here: there's seven children down stairs,
and if 1 leave my wife a widow with the
few pounds I've been able 10 save, what's
to become of them? Can't you pull me
through"
my dear fellow" he says honestly,
1--WE done everything I can for your
case"
That's what you think, DOCTOR" l says,
"bnt look here I've been at sea thirty
years, and in seven wrecks. It's been like
dodging death with me a score of times.
| Whu I pnl1aA p,u 70 Ihara lu ON
of the hands of death, and I'm not going
TO give up now. I've been"
"Stop, stop" he says gently. You're
exciting yourself"
"Not a bit," says, though my voice was
| quite lik e a whisper. "Fve had this over
all night, and I've come TO think must be
up and doing my duty"
-Lisienfd me, Gocior," says. "A score
OF times l might have given up and
been drowned, but / made fight for It,
and was saved. Now 1 mean to make a
fight for it here, for The sake of the wife
and bairns. don't mean TO die, doctor,
without a struggle. l believe this here,
that life's given to us all as treasure to
keep; we might throw it away by our own
iolig ~ "hy AlhiNy Ouh . VI
times when we may preserve it, and we
never know whether we can save ii Till we
try. Give me a drink OF that water"
He held the glass TO my lips, and l took
big draught and went on, he seeming all
the time to be stopping to humor my mad
ness.
That's better DOCTOR" I says. "Now
look here, sir, speaking as one who has
sailed the sea, IT'S a terrible stormy time
with me there's lee shore close at hand,
the fires are drowned ont, and unless we can
get up a bit of sail, there's no chance for
me. Now then, doctor, can you get up
bit Of sallf"
"I'll go and send you something that will
quiet you" he said rising.
"Tbankey, DOCTOR" says smiling to my
SELF "And now look here" l says, "Pm
not going TO give up till the last; and when
that last comes, and the ships going down,
why, shall have a try if can't swim TO
safety. II that fails, and / can really feel
that ii is TO he, why, hope that shall go
down into the great deep calmly, like
hopeful man, praying that Somebody above
will forgive me all I've done amiss, and
stretch out his falherly hand to my little
ones"
He went away, and l dropped asleep,
worn out with my exertion.
When woke, Polly was standing by the
bedside watching me, with a bottle and
glass on the little table.
As soon as she saw my eyes open, she
shook up the stuff and poured it into
wine-glass.
SIS that what the doctor sent % says.
"Yes, dear; you were TO take it direct
ly."
"Then l shan't take it," l says. "He's
give me up, and that stuff s only TO keep
me quiet. "Polly you go and make me
some beel-tea, and make it strong"
She looked Mortified, poor old girl, and
was about 10 beg of me TO take hold of the
rotten life belt he'd sent me, when 1 held
out my shaking hand for it, took the glass
and let II tilt over-there was only about a
couple of teaspoonfuls in it, and the stuff
fell on the carpet.
1 saw the tears come in her eyes, but she
said nolhing-only put down the glass and
ran out to make the beef-tea.
The doctor didn't come till next day, and
was lying still and drowsy, half asleep
like, but was awake enough to hear him
whisper to POLLY, "Slnking FAST" and 1
heard her give such a heart broken sob,
that as the next great wave came on the sea
where l was floating l struck out with all
my might, rose over 1t, and aoated gently
down the other side.
For the next four days-putting it as a
drowning man striving for his life like a
true-hearted fellow-it was like great foam