Jamestown alert., 1878-12-19
,e room contained no trace of provis-

the room contained no trace of provis
a ions. @1fs~ sA~ .,x$s2s s.sssg:sy ..,..s4sss,,.
MI The man soon returned, bringing viii
Ihim brandy and provisions, and:Nhile
fstroveto rouse the sick woman ffpm tht
sIdeathlya, ,lethargys ysinto which she Had afal
len; he, aided by miserable, skinny
child of perhaps thirteen or fourteen
years of age, lit a fire, and set some wa.
ter on to boil in a delapitated tin sauce.
pan. Then he came to the poor bedside
and assisted me to administer the brandy
to his wife, and I saw how thin and
starved he was, with the unmistakable
signs of recent illness written on his wan
features, handsome still in spite of pow
erty and hunger.
At length my patient opened her eyes
and fixed them on her husband. The
tears came into his eyes as he kissed her
tenderly.
''Gerald,'' she murmured, in a faint
voice: 81 thought it was all over. Who is
this5' And she looked at me inquir-
ingly.
cheerfully, "and had the good fortune to
be passing just as l was wanted. Now
you must be good, and do as direct.
Keep quiet, and talk little, and you will
soon get round again. Now let me see tie
little one. All! not much wrong here
| but he is small and q trifle weak. Never
mind; I don't doubt but that he'll grow
| up to be blessing to you. Now,' and
[ turned to the husband, and walked as
far as I could out Of ear-shot Of the inva-
lid--"now, sir, see we'll enough that
you are in trouble. Make a friend of me,
and tell me in what way I can assist
you."
I was hardly prepared for the effect
, my speech would have on him. He look
ed at me for one moment, and then burst
into tears. It Was painful sight, but
sympathy from an outsider, especially
from one in the rank of life to which he
belonged, had or so long been unfamiliar
to him, that the first kind word overcame
him, and he sobbed like child.
"Gerald, Gerald,' cried his wife, terri
fed, from the bed, "what is it, darling?
Come to me- And she strove to raise
herself.
Control yourself, tor your wife's sake,
my friend,' said, In a low, firm voice;
''excitement might be fatal to her.''
So with an effort he controlled himself,
and seating himself on the side of the
bed, with his wife's hand in his, he told
me the pitiful story Of their woes and
sufferings. Shattered health, loss of
work, the ususl gamut of troubles they
had passed through, till at the last gasp
l had rescued them from positive starva.
ton.
,An listened attentiyely, and promising to
return the next morning, 1 left the house,
the man accompany nae as far as the
street.
What could do to help them? They
were evidently people Of education and
refinement. How could aid them tore
gain the position in life for which they
were intended, and which, through a
series of misfortunes, they had lost. This
thought filed my mind as walked quiet
ly home through the crowded streets, and
dwelr there till other patients and other
cares put it out of my head.
Next day press of business forced me
to give up my intention Of visiting my
new friends, and it was not until midday
of the following that I found myself
again, at the entrance of the dingy house.
The squalid girl who mad helped to light
the fire on my first visit spied ne from
afar, and escorted me to my patients, tell
ing me that "Gentlcman Jack had got
half days work somewhere, but would
be back shortly.'
"And the missus, how is she!" asked.
20, she be nicely, and the child, too,"
replied the squalid one. II bided by her
last night, I did," with an air of triumph,
''for Gentleman Jack was like to drop O
Sleep
"And how long have they lived here2"
asked.
Nigh four month";" said he. "She
taught me to sew and knit, she did" ,..
"Is she good to you, then?' asked. i.
Eyes. Good to me and all the kids.
I guess she was a real lady, and wore a
silk gown once" and the girl wnked
contidentially. "Here we are, missus--
here's the DOCTOR
And without further ceremony I was
ushered into my patients room.
She was sitting up, holding the child
on her lap, and saw marked change
tor the better in her appearance. The
large blue eyes were clearer, and the look
Of famine-that look which once seen can
never be forgotten--had left the delicate
face. The rough, disordered hair was
now combed neatly back, and the room
cleaned and reduced to something like
order. She smiled as | entered, and
signed to me to take the only chair the
room contained. #a
$50 your husband has some work?" I
began, seating myself. .~
Eyes; half day i'll the lanyard. They
ere in want Of extra hands. l believe.
We hope he may be taken on regularly: