The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-08-24

wildly in the snow with his hands. We all |
rush forwarl. Laddie has stopped at what we
suppose to be the foot of stunted tree, and |
after scratching and whining for moment,
sits down and watches, leaving the rest to
us. What is it that appears when we have
shoveled away the snow? A dark object.
Is it bundle of rags Is it--or alas was it
a human being2 We raise it carefully and
tenderly, wrap it in one of the warm blank
cts with which my wife's forethought had
provided us. Bring the lantern" l say
huskily; and John holds it over the PROSTATE
some stalwart shepherd of the hills, but over
that of poor, shriveled, wrinkled, ragged
old woman. l try to pour little brandy
down the poor old throat, but the teeth are
so firmly clenched that cannot.
"Best get her home as quickly as may be,
sir the mistress viii know better what to do
for her nor we do, if so be the poor creature
is not past help" says John, turning in
stinctively,as we all do in sickness or trouble
to woman's aid.
So we improvise a sort of hammock OF the
blankets, and gently and tenderly the men
prepare to carry their poor, helpless burden
over the snow.
81 am afraid your mistress will be in
bed" l say, as we begin to retrace our
steps.
"Never fear, SIR" said Donald with a
triumphant glance at John; "the mistress
will be up and watin' for us. She kens
Laddie didna bring us out in the snaw for
naethng."
''Ill never say nought about believing a
dawg again." says John, gracefully striking
his colors. "You were right and was wrong,
and that's all about it but to think there
should be such sense in a animal passes
me p'
As we reach the avenue gate l dispatch
one of the men for the doctoDwho fortunate
ly lives within a stones throw of us, and
hurry on myself to prepare my wife for what
is coming. She runs out into the hall to
meet me. "Well," she asks, eagerly.
"We have found a poor old woman" !
say "but l do not know whether she i:
alive or dead"
My wife throws her arms round me and
gives me a great hug.
"You will find dry things and jug of ho
toddy in your dressing room, DEAR" she
; says; and this is all the revenge she takes or
me for my skeptcsm. The poor old woman
/, : is carried up stairs and placed in warn
bath, under my wife's directions and be
fore the doctor arrives she has shown som,
faint symptoms of life; so my wife send
| me word DR.. Bruce shakes his head whel
he sees her. "Poor old soul, he says; "hoN
l night? / doubt she has received shoe
/. which, at her age, she will not easily &C
g over"
They manage, however, to force fe
|. spoonfuls of hot brandy and water down he
1t throat and presently faint color flicker
" on her cheek, and the poor old eyelids begi
t TO trembe. My wife raises her head an
makes her swallow some cordial which d
e Bruce has brought with him, and then lay
her head back among the soft warm pillow
| l. lulHh sut VIII hUN, saiu bl III w
: as her breathing becomes more audible an
5 regular. "Nourishment and warmth will
!. the rest but she has received shock fro
o which, fear, she will never recover" an
so saying he takes his leave.
Il BY and by go up to the room and fin
y my wife watching alone by the aged suffere
2. She looks up at me with tears in her eye
6 "Poor old soul" she says, 81 am afraid 81
will not rally from the cold and exposure,
/ go round to the other side of the be
+ and look down upon her. The aged fa'
= looks wan and pinched, and the scanty gra
locks which lie on the pillow are still W
% from thesnow, She is a very little womal
e as far as | can judge of her in her recumbel
'e ed her allotted three score years and tie
r "Who can she be ?" l repeated wondering
Z ly, "She does not belong to any of Il
n villages hereabouts, or we should know h
s face, and cannot imagine what could Drir
6 stranger to the moor on such night"
'e As speak change passes over her fac
the eyes unclose, and she looks inquiring
l. about her. She tries to speak, but is eN
4. IDENTIFY too weak. My wife raises her hei
s. and gives her a spoonful of nourishmer
W while she says, soothingly; "Dont try
speak. You are among friends, and wh
;; you are better you shall tell us all abo
ID yourself. Lie still now and try to sleep"
The gray head drops back wearily up,
n the pillow, and soon we have the satisfacti
of hearing by the regular respiration tn
Us our patient is asleep.
'e "You must come to bed now, Jessie,
e. say. 81 snail ring for Mary, and she can
le up the remainder of the night" But L
ne wife, who is a tender-hearted soul and
y born nurse will not desert her post SO
Us retire to my solitary chamber.
ay When we meet in the morning find th
~ the little old woman has spoken few wor
on and seems stronger. "Come in with
e' now" says my wife, "and let us try to fl
H. out who she is" We find her propped il
"a a reclining posture with pillows, and Mi
N' beside her feeding her.
"How are you ?" asks Jessie, ber
ing over ner.
90 Better, much better, thank you, &c
,r LADY," she says in a voice which tremb
ns from age as well as weakness. "And "
o grateful to you for your goodness"
.u | hear at once by the accent that she
100 English. "Are you strong enough to tell
how you got lost on the moor. and VIII
~. you came from and where you were going
no continues my wife.
ot "Ah was going to my lad, my poor
the and now / doubt | shall never see
old more" says the poor soul, with long $
he of wearness.
Nv "Where is your lad, and how far have
les Gomez"
my "MY lad is a soldier at Fort George