The daily gazette., 1879-11-22

had obtained leave to spend Christmas
at home. Poor New bold was very Hen-
sitive land the loud voice and somewhat
demonstrative manner Of the new wO-
man Jared upon his nerves. went 10
the matrOu.
There is young woman sent here
through Florence NightiDgals-a most
respectable, kind-looking person." said
the matron. "She has only been here q
week, but don't doubt for q moment
she will turn out TO be the best nurse In
the hospital. Shall 1 send her to .you?"
Thank you very much, pray do"
said. "0end her up to the ward at once.
The Christmas hells were ringing ,iy ou
could hear the music wandering up and
down the streets, carried thither by the
wind. Visitors had all left: the wards
Tor the night, the patients lay there hs'
tening to the melody the bells, ard think
ing OF other days, the light of the Christ
mas candles fell upon the dark leaves of
the holly, here and there the whise bel
ries OF the mistletoe reflected back the
subdued glimmer. 1t is sad picture, q
OF the place seem to be esignificant--such
tender memories hover aboutthe narrow
beds.
The new nurse came came into the
ward while sat there. It was a sweet
face, az 70 1t with the soft light upon
it-a kind, sad, plying face. Newbold
looked at her curiOusly a. she entered.
Then be raised himself up suddenly, and
before hardly knew what happened.
ho was locked in her arms.
"Lucy, Lucy, my dear, dear sister!' he
was saying his voice nearly drowned
In the sObs OF the woman whose face
was lying upon his shoulder.
The bells appeared to receive new
strength just at that moment, 1t was
the wind which brought the sound close
up to tho windows on Its way down the
river.
"Thank God r' 1 ex claimed and my
heart leaped with a strange Joy. felt
like child ready to weep. 1t was as If
| l Lad been reading some pitiful story. l
walked out into the corridor, opened a
| window, and put my head into the frosty
air. The stars crowded the sky, and the
bell-music seemed to belong to their
purity. l was never fit for a hospital
surgeon my feelings were always too
little under control. When l went back
into the ward she was sitting by his side,
holding his head. His face was full OF
peace and happiness. 1t was as ifan an
gel hal been there.
We buried him on New Years Day.
Her story IS soon told. She lost her
| nubOanu IN tno Crlmta. After th8t she
Joined Florence Nightingale's band
of nurses, and eventually came back to
England. Providence sent her to the
Severnshire Hospital on that Christmas
eve-sent her, that George Newbold's y
last hours might be solaced with her ten
der words and happy memories Of the
Christmas days that were gone.
II II were not next to impious to think
that what befell afterward was anything
but accidental, / could fancy that some
special consideration for the poor hospi-
tai surgeon alse filed up the providential
design.
The Spring came, and the Summer, and
the stars shOne once more above the
bellmusic that the wind carried down to
the river. II we had been young people
and without a chastined sorrow in ouI
hearts, tho bells might have rung afresh
In the Summer that followed for the
house surgeon married the heroine OF
this sad story, and she sits by his side
with her sweet sympathetic smile, while
he tries to tell you, without faltering the
history of those withered l-aves.
And now let us put back the Christ
mas treasure. IfyOu Will rummage ovel
the contents of old cabinets, you must
come upon skeletons. Close the drawer
shut down the ancient lid, look ou
through the western window, and yon
der you may see the sun making "s
golden set" behind the towers of tn,
County Hospital in Sabrina's classic val
ley.