Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-05-04

IN n6ment the cahdie shed
sickly light around the little room
Little, indeed, and unfurnished t.
nothinghessi One scantily-coveret
bed was ALL But within, I saw s
sweet face that made me forget al
else. Iapproached it, and laid my
hand on the pulse of the little suf
ferer.
"Who are you?" she asked, draw.
ing back in alarm.
"He is doctor, Bessie, dear; q
dear, good, kind friend" replied bel
sister; and from that moment she
became perfectly passive in my
hands.
1t did not require one learned in
the science of materia medica to see
what was required. 1 made the
proper prescription, saw that it was
tenderly administered. told the eldest
sister that l would be back in a few
minutes, and resisting all attempts
to light me down stairs, groped my
way into the street. / had noticed
all eating house at but little distance,
as we came along. and a statement OF
the case. backed by the all-powerful
king of the world, gold, soon pro-
cured the loan of a disused stove, a
couple of chairs. fuel, light, and
proper food, and IN a brief half hour
the little room wore something like
an air of comfort. Another hour the
eyes of the child were closed in slum-
Der, and / urged her sister to seek
repose, but in vain.
"At least lie down and let me cover
you with my cloak" / urged.
"No, DOCTOR" was the constant re-
ply, 81 cannot, I'm so happy. 1t
must have been God that directed my
footsteps, to you"
And so we sat, with the night wind
roaring without, watching the almost
angelic face of the peacefully slum
bering child-sat and talked of what.
was most anxious to hear. But the
of those long, dark
hours can be condensed into very
brief space.
She wlio would have sold hei body
for the sake of giving little longer
life to her sister, was the daughter of
at least supposed wealth. But few
years previously she could have held
her head as high as the highest.
Both birth and education fitted her
for it. But misfortune came-a Sc
ries of disasters upon land and sea,
against which no human forethought
could guard, combined with treach-
cry and ingratitude of the deepest
dye, swept away all. In their foot
steps followed the death of their
leaving an infant but few
months old. The fond father strug-
gled against the tide manfully, for a
brief time, when his health gave way,
and he followed his wife through the
lark valley, and beyond the shining
river, leaving the elder sister to pro-
vide for the younger.
'.Fora time" continued the poor
girl, 81 was able to live comfortably
by the sale of the furniture and ar
ticles of value | possessed. Then
why should l unbosom myself to a
,tranger?" she asked, stopping sud
lenly, and looking me full in the face.
because" l replied, with smile
ut her earnestness, "because you
have found a true heart, and one that
can feel for you"
eyes, may heaven be thanked! l
feel that it is so. Well, 1 struggled
fought were the better word"
she continued, with the lines about
her mouth suddenly becoming hard.
81 fought for life, sometimes teach
ing, sometimes sewing-in short do
ing anything that my strength per-
until sickness came; still /
did not give way to despair. Truly
was bound to the stake-a sweet
one-my darling sister. OF the in
suits 1 received while seeking for
work, l will never speak. They must
remain forever locked up in my
breast" and the pallid face flushed
to scarlet even at the thought.
"And found no empIoyment?'
"None. Piece by piece 1 parted
with the little furniture that l was
the possessor of, until what you see
was all that remained"
"My poor child"
"It is true"-I saw she was nerving
herself to tell something that was
painful, and would have stopped her,
but she resolutely continued: sit is
true some money was offered me by
more than one man, but ] instantly
and Indignantly hurled it back in my
insulter's face. Then, great heaven!
upon this bitter night, with all my
hope gone, determined to sell my
body to some surgeon.
"What in the name of heaven
could have put such an idea in your
head?'
81 don't know. 1 cannot tell.
/ had either read it or
heard something Of the kind"
"You must have been very desper
ate."
aOn the verge of distraction. !
had but one dream, one desire-to
save my darling even single hour
Of pain"
"Have you no relatives?'
sNot single one that l know of.
Both of my parents were only chill
dren when their parents came from
foreign lands"
She paused and turned to smooth
the hair of the slumbering Bessie,
and imprint kiss on the curl wreath
ed and snowy brow; and I thought