The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-04-07


attempt at tidiness, in readiness for his
visit for the doctor, none. They LEI
him see everything, and take no trouble
to put themselves in any better state fol
his visit. The constant struggle to in
still any ideas of decency or cleanliness
in those squalid houses is heart-weary-
ing. But to return to Fairy. AS 1 said,
1 used to look forward with pleasure to
the sight of her innocent face, as went
my round, and but seldom failed to see
it. But the end came soon.
The wall which separated the front OF
the row from the river was getting into
a sad state. All the mortar had gone
from between the bricks, and tine cop
ing-stones were quite loose. had sew
eral times seen the children standing on
these stones, and shaking them with
their feet as they did 80, making them
rock on the smooth tops of the bricks,
and had as often warned the mothers
that some accident would happen If they
did not stop it. But nc one took any
notice. They called them off once or
twice, but the reckless youngsters were
on again as soon as the mothers backs
were turned.
Ouc udy tS Il bilO tOlhOl Va buC
houses the children were at this game
again, and among the rest Fairy was
standing on one stone, rocking it with
all her might and laughing for glee. 1
saw with dismay that the stone had
worked quite loose from its neighbors,
and was only about three-quarters way
on the ledge of bricks and overhung the
steep fall to the river in an extremely
dangerous fashion. 1 walked quietly
forward so as not to startle Fairy; but
ere reached her she had seen me.
"Look at me, my DOCTOR" she called,
beginning to dance on the stone. $50
nice look at me II
Even as she said it the stone rocked
off the ledge and ere could grasp her
clothes the child had fallen down to the
rivers brink, the heavy stone on the top
of her. With cry of hsrror and dis
may, leaped over the wall and rushed
to where she lay. The stone was lying
across her body. With great exertion
of strength lifted it off her, and took
up the little body in my arms. She was
quite insensible. Her head had come in
contact with sharp stone, and the fair
hair was all dabbled with blood. I car
ried her into her home, amid the vail.
ings and lamentations of the neighbors,
and, laying her on the bed, proceeded
to examine the extent of the injuries she
had received. Though the blow had
been enough to stun her, the cut in her
head was not deep, and was soon bound
up. 1 could find no other bones broken,
just then, and sat down by the bed I'M
I'll she should come round
In few seconds she opened her eyes,
and, seeing me, smiled family. "My
DOCTOR" she whispered.
"Do you feel pain anywhere, Fairy ?
Does your head hurt you 2" l asked.
GA little" she replied "but oh, l
feel so queer all over !"
"She's like to, )" said one of the women,
CATER that fall. Here, darling, sit up
and drink this drop of water :" bending
over her with cup and putting her arm
under the child's head.
Fairy tried to raise herself.
"Draw your feet up, my DEAR" said
another, "and try to sit up"
Fairy tried once more, but the feet
and body never moved.
ooh, my DOCTOR" she said, turning to
me, her blue eyes full of tears, 81 can't.
feel as if hadn't got no feet. can't
move my legs 2" and her piteous looks
and tones struck my heart with alarm.
/ pushed the woman aside hastily, and
..gain bent over the girl. Fool that 1
was / had never thought of this and
my countenance showed my anxiety, for
all talking ceased, and every one watched
me eagerly. 1t was rs had thought,
when her words suddenly struck on my
ears. There never could be more feeling
in her legs. She would never rise from
that bed again alive. The poor child's
back was broken, and life was but ques-
ton of few hours at the most.
I turned away as made this sad dis
covery, and my eyes were wet with tears.
els it very bad, doctor 2" said one of
the women in an awe-struck whisper.
$50 bad" replied huskily, that
she has not many hours to live."
The words went from mouth to mouth
I'll round the little room, and every eye
was moist.
After staying little while longer, and
giving such directions as 1 thought best
for easing my little patient, left, prom
Using to call again at night. When I re-
Jul ucu luc uclSuOOib Wclc BULL tLClC,
but now on each side of the bed were
the father and mother of the dying
child. Yes, she was dying, dying fast.
could see, as 1 entered, the painful
drawing of the face that betokens disso-
lution-painful to witness, l mean,
though not always painful to the dying
one.
"Here's my doctor, murmured Fairy,
as came up to the bed. cam 80 very
i'll, doctorl They say am dying but
that only means going up among all
those bright angels they tell us about,
up yonder. / don't see why should
cry for that. have no pains at all. 1
only feel sleepy. Let me put my head
on your arm, doctor. Dada, what are
you going for, dada2" she cried, as the
weeping father, overcome by his emo
ton, was leaving the room. "Don't
go, dada want you here to hold my
hand. 1t is getting so dark, and / am
frightened of the dark. Nanny yon
hold my other hand-hold it tight.
That's it." with a sigh of relief, as the
poor parents did as she wished. "Doc-
tor" she went on in minute, cit is up
among those angels that Jesus is They
tell us 80 at school. They saw he loves
little children. Does he love me9 Will
he love me as much as my dada and