Smyrna times., 1875-04-07

things to my mother Mckenzie knows
her address, And now, here goesr'
And at the word, off he went into the
night like flash. Only for an instant was
he seen, then he was lost to sight
Brave heart! God, in His goodness, will
not 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. Their
glasses were reflled, and silent prayers
were offered for Jake's return. The
Doctor said: "If Jake does not return in
four hours, go out and meet him y and then,
filling his flask, started on his way to visit
the woman and her child. With his hat
pulled over his eyes, and with his face
closely muffied, he went out into the dark
ness and the storm. After plodding some
time in the drifting snow, he said to him
self: 81 shall have to stop at Abe Stearns',
and get warm. / can't be far from there"
Pushing on, he reached at length house,
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 moment 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 Doc IIolmes!" And
! from the other room came Il young woman,
with a fair, calm face, holding i'll her arms
a bundle of clothes, from which issued a
cry, telling that there was some one beside
husband and wife
"Give me the youngster," said Abe,
'and get the Doctor something warm; he
is cold"
"Never mind!" the Doctor replied. ~
will be all right in moment. ! could not
resist the temptation of your big fireplace.
But how is the baby? Let me see him.
Mrs. Stearns."
The young mother, with proud look and
tender hands, uncovered her sleeping babe
The Doctor, looking at him moment
said:
"He is fine boy, Mrs. Stearns, and
worthy of his father and mother! How
comfortable he looks in his warm nest, anC
how different from the poor child am OF
my way to sect
"Why, Doctorl is there any one sick
Who is it p
The Doctor answered, in low voice:
"A poor unfortunate woman, Mrs Stearns
who is cut off from every one, and who il
spite of every misfortune, is a woman, anc
lies at deaths door with baby by her side
And, to add still more to her misery, Natur
has failed to give the nourishment necessar
for her child"
For a moment the husband and wifi
stood speechless, and then in one breatl
they asked:
"Who is it Doctor?''
lie answered.
"Nancy Jones -
, They repeated the words "Nancy Jones!
, and the young mother clasped her chill
5 still closer to her heart; and, looking dow
j on her sleeping babe, she inwardly thanke
q God, even though her home uaS small an
rude, that her child was safe from such
L misfortune as the Doctor had related; an
? turning to him, her mothers sympath
a shining in her face, she said:
n "Oh, Doctor! Cannot something be don
to save the child? No matter what tn
@ mothers sin, the child at least is innocen
:. 1t is too terrible! Something must
o done! Abe! can't you think of somethin
we can DOR
t. The Doctor said "The only COW for mil,
around is owned at Port Wine, and JaE
t Morse has gone on snOw-shoes, in the mid
n of the storm, for milk. If God sees fit
q let him return in safety, then the chi
# might be saved but if he should fall the
:. is no hope!'
k "But, DOc!' said Abe, chow long will
r take Jake to 90 and return
Is "About four hours-if he does his be
d and meets with no accident"
n Jessie asked in low voice, as she clasp,
is her baby close to her breast "HOw long
it, Doctor, since the mother failed to nur
n the child?'
"Sbe became unconscious about fl
re- o'clock, and since then it has been witho
It. food and by the time Morse returns
ne will be seven hours"
Jessie did not speak. She looked doy
st upon her child, wrapped the shawl clos
around its little body, and out from und
,r. the bed drew the rude cradle-an old boz
ar. box, with rocker attached no doubt ma
lie. by Abe's hardy hands-and with tendern'
If placed her baby in its resting-place. A 81
es, flush covered her face, and her calm, swt
we eyes lit up as she looked at her husband
the lover of her youth the one for whC
she had left he home, the father of |
cy ohild--and drawing her slight form to
his full height, she said "poctor, the ch
of shall not die-for | myself will go a
nd nurse Nancy Jones baby y
The Doctor looked at her radiant face
he an instant; the tears cams to his eyes, a
zie his voice trembled with emotion.
his "YOu are an angel, Mrs. Stearnsr' a