The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-11-14

too, with her baby. He could not 60 and
carry death to them all.
why, where shall | go?" cried the
poor boy aloud, stopping his horse in the
middle of the road. II he went to old
DIR. Scott he could probably find shelter
for him somewhere, but he as certainly
would tell his parents of his whereabouts.
"And mother shall not know-not If
die without seeing herr" said Andy with
"A sob.
There was ruined old house about
three miles from Warren, Quite out Of
sight of any road. Andy discovered it
one day when nuttin9 with Duff. He
would 90 there He dismounted, and
turned his hors e loose. 1t gallOpped
homeward. Then he climbed the hill to
the thick woods in which was the lonely
house.
Andy intended to see the doctor, but af-
ter entering the house he became too faint
and for two days and nights he lay too i'll
to have energy to revive. Then he woke
from his half stupor, his senses coming
slowly to him. He was on a heap of straw.
The broken roof let in the sunlight, and
the shattered windows let In the fresh,
damp wind But it grew dark to the boy S
eyes.
This is DEATH" he muttered.
He mus. die like dog, here, when they
were all happy at home! Even yet. If he
could creep to the roadside, some passer-
by :,
mo I'll not carry this plague to them, ="
said Andy, stOutly, and then cried out
like baby, 20 mother, mother!
Old Duff had habit, when he was not
asleep, or too lazy, of occasionally prowl-
ing about the woods and lonely places in
the vicinity of the village. It 30 happen
ed that on this day, he was passing the
old house in which Andy lay, and hearing
movement there and voice. he first
looked cautiously into the window, and
notwithstanding the lads swelled face,
knew him by his voice and clothes.
abe Lohd be good to dc chile. Hyah
am ole Duff"
The old black face was close to his own.
Andy threw up his arms with a cry OF de-
light, then he hesitated.
Its the smallpox, Duff.
Duff read what he said, as usual, by
the motion of his lips.
"Yah. smallpox I'm drefful bad.
too, with a grave face.
Aren't YOU afraid?"
| or1ul AFRAID. MISS Amy.
Go away, then, turning his face down.
mo. sab. If de Lohd chucks old Duff
under ground, it's kase He's got no better
| use fob him. Amt much count, nohow.
Now less see what's to be done. Duff was
a fust-rate nuss onst on time.
Duff was first-rate nurse still. In an
hour he brought back bed, food, medl-
cines. and doctor who would keep his
counsel. He mended the roof, the win
dowS, by the help of the doctor got a
cooking-stove, made a fire, cooked, sat up
all night crowded as much work into
every day as had sufficed him for years
| before
THAT is a most faithful, hard-workinp
negro" said the doctor, one day, when
weeks had passed and Andy was sitting
| up for the first time eff it had not been
| for him YOU would have died.
81 know it. When can we go home:
When will it be safe, doctor?"
'In two more weeks. What does yOul
mother think of your absence?"
duff tells me that they are terribly
alarmed, but now that he is gone, they
think that we have run away-to see the
world"
Two weeks later, the doctors carriage
stopped at the door of the old farm house.
Mrs. Seaford caught sight of Andy wan,
changed face. and came out trembling.
She had actually grown gray and old in
| the last two months.
The doctor and Duff carried the boy uI
and put him in her arms.
.'0h, my boy, my boy she cried.
| ''Why did you leave me so?"
Il was fighting Death. mother" he
said. trying to laugh. But it was Duff
that beat him, after all He saved me fol
you The bread east upon the waters die
come back to us.