Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-22

did all she could for her before she went
to her work, and Nora hung over her I'M
til the very last moment, almost broken
hearted that she must leave her to suffer
alone. But work begins on Monday
morning, and if she did not go to the
store she would lose her place. Then
what would become Of her friend?
When she came home atnoon she found
her in fever; her eyes looked wild and
strange and she talked incoherently.
WHATEVER shall I do for her ~ said
poor Nora, in despair. It's the favur
she have, sure; and who knows but she'll
! die, the poor thing? I'll niver get over it
if she do die on my hands. P'r'aps jug
of hot water at the fate would draw the
hate from the head, and p'r'aps bit Of
hot tay, if | could make her drink it,
; would make her feel better "Tay- kettle"
: she said, as che stood that useful vessel on
the glowing Goals, ''yOu towld me to take
the little thing in and give her the supper;
now tell me what to do for her if you can.
She is that i'll that it's fit to break ones
heart just to look at her.
But the tea-kettle only looked mildly
contemplative and didn't open its mouth !;
and as Tina was quiet for d few moments
she sat down by the fire to think what she
could do to help the little sufferer.
"Tll not lave her again." she said to
herself; a" | shall lose me place, but the
saints will PROVIDE
Leaning her head on her hands she was
quite lost in thought until that funny
witch-like old tea-kettle started her with
another one Of its sage sayings in rhyme.
The steam was pouring in a flood out of
its crooked nose and it sang along in this
wise:
Steam, steam, steam puff, puff, puff!
The doctor, the DOCTOR it's plain enough
What to do for child!
Nora started to her feet in a moment A
doctor, sure enough. Why did she not
think OF it before? She was so unused to
sickness that with all her thoughtfulness,
the idea of calling doctor never entered
her mind. She hardly knew there were
such sort of people in the world.
"Ill run for one this Instant she said.
Give got two dollars iv me own, that |
was saving for the boots; but it's better to
let me feet go bare than let Tina be moan
ing in illness. Pm much obliged to you,
tay- kettle, and sure I'll always be after
asking advice of you. You're as good as
gould" And she made little courtesy,
that was not mockery, by any means, to
the homely household god; for if there
was a fairy she believed that One haunted
the tea-kettle.
Then, hardly stopping to put on her
things, she rushed out of the house
"Do you know where there be's a doc
tor" she asked Of Mrs. Donahoe, over
the way, who always had sick baby
But no, Mrs. DOnahoe didn't know
where there was doctor who came for
nothing to visit poor people, and she
had no account of any other" And so
Nora rushed away on the wind to find
doctors sign. She found two or three,
but the first one was away attending to a
patient; the second was ill himself and
did not go out the third told her shortly,
without giving any reason, that he could
not go to visit her patient.
as you | may as we'll go home now" said
she to herself as she stood on the sidewalk.
She clasped her two little red hands to-
gether, looking in every direction as if in
search of help.
what did you say about doctor, my
child ?" said a gentleman who was waiting
in an elegant carriage by the street-side
noticing her look of distress.
ooh, if could only find doctor, sir!
The little one at me house is that sick I'm
afraid she'll die
"Indeed Well, I'm a physician my
self, and will go to see the child at once
if you desire it. Your sister, suppose
"No, sir" said she, without stopping to
give any explanation. The number is 10
Canal court, if you please. I'll be at tho
door and show you the way up when you
get there; and thank you kindly, SIR
"He didn't look as if he'd be that good, >"
she thought, as she ran toward home. q
should "a said that he was stern-like and
stuck up, in his fine carriage, and with
his gould-headed cane; but you niver can
tell by looks"
He was rather stern looking man
Nora was half afraid Of him as he came up
the rickety steps into the house. He was
not so very old, but his hair was snow
white, and his features were sharp and
compressed, as if he had known trouble,
and he had a grand air which seemed to
awe the very house. Nora had brushed
Tina's hair back from the little, flushed
face, and she lay quite still, with her
!, wide, fever-bright eyes fixed on the doc
tor.
, He gave one glance at her and then
started back as if in alarm.
"Who is that child?'' he demanded, in
a tone of more severity than the occasion
required, Nora thought.
: Il don't know what her last name be's :;
| couldn't make out by what she said
Her first names Tina"
81 thought SO" he said, in tone half
!, triumphant, half anxious. But where
} did you find her? She's no relation of
| And no ia