Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-05-09
BROWN LITTLE HETTY.

She mad opened the door the least lit
tie bit in the world, to see if there was
any prospect of its clearing up. but the
rush Of wind and rain that swept In at
the crevice compelled her to close it
again almost instantaneously.
1t was little brown house, on the
edge of the lonely Western forest-a
brown house, with sloping caves and Il
bay window, and a dooryard full of
roses, whose crimson clusters cleaned
family in the late autumn twilight.
Doctor Wallis lived here-Doctor Wal
lis, who had come West, with his two
daughters, scarcely six months ago, and
who was the only physician in radius
of thirty good miles around.
Hetty stood by the fire, one foot on
the fender, her dark, dreamy eyes fixed
on the red glow of the burning logs
Sibyl, the other sister, lay luxuriously
back in a cushioned easy chair, waiting
for the lamps to be lighted before she
went on with bit Of Berlin woodwork
in her lap.
Sibyl Wallis was rosecheeked, scar
let-lipped beauty-one of those fair
human flowers, which, like the lilies of
Solomon, are destined neither to toll
nor to spin.
Doctor Wallis was poor man. and
kept no servants: but no one ever ex-
peGted Sibyl to do any of the rough and
disagreeable offices consequent upon
housekeeping.
Sibyl busted the parlors, kept the
vases full of flowers, washed the tea
china, and did up her own pretty laces
and pocket handkerchiefs; and Hetty,
the second daughter-a brown little elf,
with jetty hair growing low on her fore
head, and colorless olive slkin-cheer-
fully undertook the prOsaic part of life,
as If it were her natural inheritance.
To think OF poor papa out in all
this tempest?' said Hetty, mourn
fully.
Gentlemen don't mind such things"
said Sibyl, sereneiy. "And, of course,
it's just what doctor might expect"
HushI" said Hetty, suddenly turn
ing her head in a quick, bird-like fashion
Some one is knocking at the back
door,"
Perhaps you'd bettergo and see who
it IS, remarked Sibyl, serenely.
1t was a man all wrapped up in oil
skin, until nothing more than the tip of
very RED nose was Visible.
ooh, say, miss" said the dripping
yisitant. where's the doctor?"
He isn't in," said Hetty.
Where's Doctor Wallis ?" reiterated
the man.
Hes outw answered Hetty, speak
ing loud and distinctly, under the i'm
preston that the inquirer was deaf.
cts Dakin's boy" said the man
"hes choking to DEATH"
"Oh said Hetty. "Croup, | sup
pose?"
"Don't know what it is" said the
messenger. "Ain't no doctor myself.
All | know is that | must bring back
Doctor Wallis" said he, with a nod at
his lumber wagon at the gate.
But you can't, if he is OUT" said
Hetty.
The man stood moment, shifting
a quandary.
"Pm blamed if [ know what to do, -
said he. "Well, I'll tell-ee VIII at, miss
You just send the doctor on to Dakins
just as quick as he comes back. If
Dakin's boy chokes to death, it amt no
fault of mine"
And away rambled the wagon into the
mist and twilight.
1t had hardly disappeared when a
little lad arrived with a note for Hetty.
" It's from papa" said Hetty, hurri-
eddy opening it, and reading aloud the
following brief message:
"DEAR GIRIs:-Old Eldwood is very
tad, and / shall be detained all night.
Lock up the house as usual and don't
expect me until l come. Affectionately,
III. W."
"Oh, DEAR" said Hetty, blankly;
and what is to become of Dakin's
child?"
q never saw such a girl as you.
Hetty," said lovely Sibyl, with a pettish
contraction of the brows. you're al
ways shouldering other peoples trou-
bles. What is Dakin's child to us, I'd
like to know"
but only think of it, Sibyl." said
Hetty, clasping her hands; "a dear
little baby suffocating to death, all for
want of the simplest remedies"
We can't help it," said Sibyl, set
Ting back composediy among her
cushions
But 1 am not so sure of that" said
Hetty, briskly. a know the remedies
papa uses for a case of Group and how
to use them. I'll go myself"
Hetty," cried the elder sister, are
you crazY?"
Crazy" said Hetty. "No, I'm only
ordinarily human. The child shan;t
die if can help it"
She went to her fathers drug closet
opened it, and took out several little
walls.
Syrup, ipecac," said Hetty, with a
little nod of her nand to each. Asa
fetida, hive syrup. Simple remedies,
but very effectual if taken in time"
But, Hetty," pleaded Sibyl, "you re
never going to walk, nobody knows how
far in all the rain |"
Yes, | am" said Hetty, buttoning
on a capacious waterproof cloak, and
pulling the hood over her head.
"And you don't even know where
these Dakins live"
Yes. | do. It's big red-brick
house, just beyond the woods by the
church. Papa showed it to me the
the other day"
Full two miles away"
:" can't help that" said Hetty.
And me all alonei'
can't help that, either" returned
Hetty, a little impaitiently. " But don't
fret, Sib-I'll not be long"
And out the brave little girl walked
INTO the temptestuous twilight, with her
pockets full of medicine and the water
proof cloak buttoned snug around her.
Not until she had left the friendly
lights of home far behind, was lost in
the black, rustling depths of the forest.
where the dark boughs met over her