The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-11-17
EDWARD BROWN, sTOKER

convalescence, anu we were taxing q |
bit of walk in the ehurchyard, saint |
this heavenlyi"
"And you feel betterH" says she,
laying her hand on mine.
"Betterl" / says, taking a long
draught of the soft, sweet-scentej air,
and filing my chest "better, old girl
feel as if l were growing backwards
into boy"
"And you fifty last weekH". she
says.
"Yes," I says, smiling, "and you
forty-seven next week. ."gA
And then we sat thinking for bit.
"Polly," 1 says at last, as l sat
there drinking in that soft breeze, and
feeling it give me stAngth, "it's worth
being i'll to feel as l DO"
For you see I'd been very bad, else
l dare say I'm not the man to 60
hanging about churchyards and watch
ing funerals; I'm stoker, and my
work lies in steamers trading to the
East. I'd come home from my last
voyage bad with fever, caught out in
one Of those nasty, hot, bad smelling
ports-been carried home to die, as
my mates thought and it was being
like this, and getting better, that had
set me thinking SO seriously, and made
me so quiet; not that was ever a
noisy sort of man, as any one who
knows me will say. And now, after
getting better, the doctor had said /
must go into the country to get strong;
80 as there was no more voyaging till
was strong, there was nothing for it
but to leave the youngsters under the
care of the eldest girl and neighbor,
and come and take lodgings out in
this quiet Surrey village.
Polly never thought l should get
better, and one time no more did /;
for about month before this time, as
lay hollow-eyed and yellow on the
bed, knowing, too, how bad 1 looked
for used to make young Dick bring
me the looking-glass every morning
the doctor came as usual, and like a
blunt Englishman / put it to him fiat.
doctor" I says, "you don't think
l shall get better?" and / looked him
straight in the face.
80, come, come, my mani" he says,
smiling, 1--WE never look at the black
side like that"
"None of that, DOCTOR" I says,
"out with it like man. can stand
it; I've been expecting to be drowned
or blown up half my life, so shan't be
scared at what you may say"
"Well, my man." he says, "your
symptoms are Of very grave nature.
You see the fever had undermined
you before you came home, and un-
lcss"-
Gall right, DOCTOR" / says; 81 un-
derstand; you mean that unless you
can get new plate in the boiler, she
won't stand another voyage"
30, come we won't look upon it as
a hopeless case" he says; "there's
always hope )" and after 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 / was bit bet
ter; in fact, I know was drifting
fast, and / saw it in his eyes as well.
waited till he had asked me his
different questions, and then just as he
was getting up to 60, asked him to
sit down again.
"PolIy, my DEAR" 1 says, 81 just
J want few words with the doctor"
and she put her apron up to her eyes
acd went out, closing the door after
her very softly, while the doctor look.
ed at nae very curious like, and waited
for me to speak.
"Doctor," says, "you've about Civ
en- me up. There, don't shake your
bead, for 1 know. Now don't you
think I'm afraid to die, for l don't be-
lieve I am, but look here there's
seven children down stairs, and if
leave my wife a widow with the few
!, pounds I've been able so save, what's
n to become of themi Can't you pull
a me throughf" ..-
= "My dear fellow" he says, honestly
= "Pve done everything l can for youi
r case" -..... .-.
THAT'S what you think, doctor,
says, "but look here; I've been at ses
thirty years, and in seven wrecks. III
been like lodging death with me 4
score Of times. Why, pulled my
= wife there regularly out of the handl
of death, and I'm not going to giv'
up now. I've been"-
y "Stop, stop" he says gently. "YOu'r,
exciting yourself"
"Not Bit" 1 says, though m!
voice was quite a whisper. "Pve haC
this over all night, and I've come t.
think must be up and doing my du
ty."
y "But, my good man"-he began.