The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-11-30
Hal and His Sister Alice.
Well Spring.

|
Well Spring.
well, my man, what can / do for
you to-,lay p
T The question was asked in q kindly
tone by an old gentleman looking
through pair Of ,goid.rimmed specta-
cles at = young hoy on 4 narrow cot
bedstead in a hospital ward
The boy looked up, saying sadly,s.I
reckon there ain't nothin' to be done
NOW" ~ -,
SIS it so bad a. that fv. AZ e,s'iss
eDoctor says can't get welt.' s
4.sWouldn't you like me to send for
some of your friends ? tsJ
s"There amt no one hut mp sister
Alice, aud reckon she don't want 70
come" 81
why. don't she cars for son r
"Yes; but struck her yesterday - -
"Struck her! lam very sorry to hear
that"
"Yes. and / was sorry after l did it,
Tor / never did that before; but / didn't
tell her so. And when went out and
got my papers, I jumped for Car, and
s'ipped-and here am and the doctor
says I'm going to die. reckon I've
always been pretty. bad, and that I'll
never see Alice when she dies; for she's
good and kind, and she won't 90 where
I'm going. You see smoke and swear,
and 60 with bad boys; and she don t.
You don't happen to be minister, do
your
mo Would you like to see and talk
to one ?"
II reckon It's too late for that. Blu!
/ want some one to be kind to Alice,
aud some one that's good. / reckon
you look SO. Would you mind going
and telling her all about it after I'm
gomez And tell her I'm sorry hit her,
and Id never hit her again, if wasn't
going to die"
"Suppose go and find her now,"
said the old gentleman. "She may be
wondering where you are. Wouldn't
you like 10 see herf''
Reckon would! and you may 60
| il you like"
After receiving directions for finding
Alice. the old gentleman left; and the
invalid boy closed his eyes wearily, only
TO open them suddenly on feeling light
touch on his cheek. 1t was The kiss Of
a little girl
"You see l brought her sooner than
you thought WOULD" said the old gen..
tlenan with smile shut l found her
just outside your door,"
"aTom Brady told me all about it."
said the girl, "and came last night, but
they wouldn't let me in, Wont you
snon he well enough to come home
again2 1t was awful lonesome last
night; and Mrs Brady was cross be-
cause you had got hurt, and she was
afraid she would lose her rent Don't
you believe they'd let me stay here with
you till you get well7 I've got whole
dollar that I've saved, and won't eat
much"
Tue poor boy, failing sto swsliowsal
sob, turned his head, that his sister
might not see his distress; but she put
down the basket she had brought on her
arm; and leaning over him, with the
tears in her eyes, said kindly, "Does it
hurt very much, Hall"
ut don't seem to hurt at ALL" said
the boy; "but the doctor says I'm going
to die"
Alice sprang up, and looked wildly at
the old gentleman. as il in hopes he
might contradict the boy, but he only
answered her bv rubbing his spectscles,
and lowering his eyes. 20 Halw she
cried, throwing her arms around the
boy, 81 love you so!' Then she wept
convulsively for moment, when she
controlled herself sufficiently to ask the
old gentleman if he did not think the
doctor could do something to make him
we'll.
81 am afraid not, my dear. But he
is in the hands OF good God, and you
may ask him to let him stay as long as
possible"
"Hal," said the child, "won't you let
me 60 and ask the minister to come and
pray to God to let you live little lon
GER
s"I reckon if you pray like you do
some nights when I'm in bed, and you
think I'm asleep, it'll do"
"But don't know much except SNOW
lay me- aud "Our Father"
"Say Our Father like you do at
home, with something else at the end.
With fearful face the child kneeled
down, regardless of her surroundings,
and with folded hands and closed eyes,
repeated simply and touchinsly that
beautiful prayer first used by our Sa-
vior, then she added sweetly: "Dear.
good Lord, I don't know how to ask
you hard and strong like minister; but
l want you to let my dear brother live
It's so lonely when he's away; and |
guess, if he dies, I'd like you to let me
die too for there won't be any one to
take care of me and no one to love me
when he's gone. Amen"
The old gentleman had occasion to
put his handkerchief to his eyes more
than once during the child's prayer;
but he kept close watch of the boy, Who,
when it was over, turned sadly to his
sister. and said:
"Reckon you don't know that l am
sorry for what did yesterday ?"
"Oh Hall" said the girl, coloring, 81
know you were sorry for that right af-
tervsrd. But" lifting up tine basket IS
il to rn his thoughts from herself,
"see what brought you! took some
money had saved, and brought it oil
cooked, because knew you would like
1t 80 much"
"Bully for you," said Hal, raising
himself suddenly, but as suddenly did
he fall back again, while the expression
OF his face changed to one of intense
suffering, and became deadly pale.
| As soon as he was able to speak, the
old gentleman questioned him closely
as to the nature of his sufferings; an1
when he had described then, he said,
with faint smile: .'If I'D been Q girl,
II reckon I'd have screamed when it
struck me quickly; but you see
couldn't do it we'll, because I'm boy
"Humph!' murmured the old gentle
man as he turned away II think be
has the right kind OF stuff in him il b,
,,rld ha ,.aoncad .all unn~ :t,s al