Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-07-17

huu W ot0 AOSoNOA 1o = DOW AVs
have distinct memory of q doctor
feeling my pulse, of dreary certainty
of filth and discomfort all around me,
and of burning thirst. Then followed
agonizing dreams of delirium, with
pain in every limb, racking headache,
loneliness, madness. I was fever
racked, with horrible faneies--now be-
ing sawed apart by medical students,
new beset by wild beasts rsnding me
limb from limb, now in sea of FIRE,
now in a desert, craving water ! could
hear tinkling from a near fountain and
could not reach it.
Then in my delirium came some angel
who cooled my lips. put water to my
head, let air in upon my sitting agon-
les. could not make my tongue utter
the words in my mind; it would babble
of everything else, but chiefly of Susie,
and the fear Susie would come to take
the horrible fever. 4-9 ssl4 &c stg..a
And in my home there was enacting
scene have heard described 80 often
I can put it here as il ! had seen and
heard all. Susie lay white and weak in
her own room, with our first-born in
her arms not two days old, when tel
gram came to her. The doctor at
Vaughen Station had found my address
in my notebook, and telegraphed my
condition. 1853. -"C '-'. l;.i.s - e..a
"Oh," sobbed Susie, " he will die
there all alone, and will never know,
mother, what you have done for him."
He shall not die alone" Mrs. Gar
diner said, resolutely. He shall have
good nurse and a loving one as fast
as steam can carry her. Eh, Han
nah ?"
+" Yes m, said Hannah. " You make
your mind easy, ma'am, TIL do my
duty" ~ ....m ..... :.5-. ia
sFThere is no train, till night. Can
we pack a trunk Of invalid comforts,
Hannah, - wine, jellies, clean linen,
bed-clothes and fruits p -Gc D., 70 Il.
i" Yes M" said Hannah, again. sisi d
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 hriug my nurse to me, and Su-
sic cried out over her baby and sent me
tender messages. .,,a...., aLt sf.t...
From some abyss Of horror some
horrible rock of delirious agony, /
have faint memory of being recalled
to dim consciousness of realities by a
low, sweet voice saying; ~,
Drink thisp'
Something cool and pleasantly bitter
was put to my parched lips, and over
every sense crept torpor, gentle
soothing to slumber, till all conscious
ness died in deep, profound sleep. I
do not know how long / slept, but l
awoke with every sense clear and the
fever fancies all gone. =.
l looked about me. was perfectly
conscious that I had lost my reason in
bare, desolate room, where the sun
streamed in through dirty windows, and
the barsst necessities VI life around ns
were of the poorest description. j
looked at the windows shaded by dark
green paper and soft muslin curtains;
at the floor, scrubbed and sweet smell
ing; at the bed-linen, white, clean and
cool; at the little table beside me, with
snowy cloth, upon which Jay great
white grapes, luscious oranges, tama-
rinds in goblets of water. Then I fee
bly, turned my head to see, standing be-
side me with anxious tenderness In her
soft blue eyes, nay-mother-in-law,
o" You must not talk," she said, very
gently, her soft, little hand falling
upon my forehead like snowflake, "bnt
try to keep very quiet. q All is well at
home. I hear from Susie every day.
She is getting we'll fast, aud your son Is
in splendid health. ~ ''' ''s''- -'' 'i''''
"My son!' ;-.e,
"Now ! have given you pleasant
thought to dream upon, try to sleep
again. But frst take drink Of beef
tea. It should taste of home, for /
bought the condensed beef in cans
from your Uncle Israel's store, He
sent the grapes and oranges, and q lot
Of good things you shall have by-and.
BY" ,"'' a''' a' -" ' 80
s's Bnt YOU p I said, wondering still,
"are you not afraid of the fever?"
81 have taken all prudent precau-
tions," was the reply, ''and my fear
was not so strong as my love for my
SON." '"'' ~ t.-''' - ~ ''''' W
"Thank you, mother" 1 whispered,
and I saw through my own misty eyes
her lips quiver as called her by that
name for the first time, i:.. ..f .f..
Can ] ever tell how she nursed me
back to health, humoring all my sick
fancies, yet guarding against all hurt
full indulgencess All the CHEEKY letters
Susie wrote she read TO me and answered
for me, till my own weak fingers could
guide pencil. In her thoughtful affec-
tions she had packed in the wonderful
trunk light reading to beguile the hours
of convalescence. When I could sit
up, she exerted her ingenuity to keep
me from feeling lonesome, and would
talk ,unwearielly Of that wonderful two
days baby. with eyes blue as a patch Of
summer skies and a. mouth Iike clear
rosebud. Susis's letters we're great
comfort. and answering them, giving