The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-04-22

/ AAe ""S Uuo Vic Sate IN an Instant - A
Meg, her fllhnmor lost in alarm -
quickly to her mothers side "eas
/ Mammal" she called -,
Mamma, are you sickr' But fos . y
first time in her remembranoo we
mother gave no answer t. her al, aet
lay moaning, her face white and d.. Out
with pain. Meg was tempted to th.s
herself beside her and cry out All INV "
anxiety and sorrow, but ;n IN y,
brought cool water, aud tenS dsaa
bathed the burning forehead a
hands, gently smoothing bach tn e, saa
hair which fell over the pillow - 'o ~
tears fell fast now. for she kno,, ~ IS
mother was unconscious, and NV ~
thought wofully "what if she na ass
speaks to me again, and was ~ 1 os.s
this afternoonP Did she make bs S.oss
sick sewing on my dress, and / diae'.
want to help her daru STOCKINGS i.
tie while? Oh mamma. forgive nam ",
and poor Meg fell on her Mees by Il.
bed. kissing the hot hands. AZ n.y.
moment Mr.. French and the doss as
entered; the latter sat down br ~
bed, and Mr.. French Whispered ~
Meg, Med has gone for Aunt AHos:
don't be frightened Meg, you lnust =
mother to the little boys,d and hea,,as
their voices in the hall. he motioasS
her away. She went out to them ts,,
ing them quietly that mamma va.
sick, but she would read s.Robnsos
Crusoe" to them on the hammock ~
perhaps she would soon be well. TSs
doctor told them before long that Il.
dear, loving mother had typhoid Il
yer, that it must have been some dsrs
in coming on as the fever was a,reads
very high, and he feared the w,,ri
Ned flew up to his room with ouiysr.
ing lips, and was seen no more 4,
hours, when he appeared in simmer,
and gown, saying he should sleep N NAV a.
lounge by the bedroom door and
there weren't men enough in townn
hinder"
VIII, who was two years younoe,
than Meg, and Frank and Philip. iSe
nine-year-old twins, mothers ..bonus
bairns,'' with many tears, and anxious
questions, went softly. up to bed, each
trying to be the quieter, for their room
was directly over "her's," and she
started at the slightest sound, Msp
thought she never could go to sleep thsi
night. ALI her discomfort and freYu.
ness came wildly to her mind, and i
was late before her tired, fearful eve
closed to sleep. Thus began "a
weary and long fight with the fever.
Meg was busy day times with keeping
the house in order, caring for the boy1
who came to her with their troubles
and joys, relieving Martha of some
duties, like putting away clean cIothsA
setting the table, and best Of all, con.
forting her father as well as any one
could. The piano must be closed now,
and oh! how Meg longed for the hspw
time to come, if it ever did, when ss
could again sit down and play to bet
mother, or better yet with her. The
/" boys DEM was vacated, for try y
they might. and did, they could nm
move so quietly but the poor head below
was panied; and Meg prayed for tie
day to come, when She could put n
order once more the full, funny pIscs
which she called "curiosity shop
Mary and Ella Blake rode often to H.
quire "How is Mrs. French to-dyr
and sometimes Meg would ride . little
with them, never once noticing whist
they wore, or realizing that some
times she did not look her .best = 10
her great delight the doctor gave inta
her careful little hands, 10
called them--the responsibility Of Pre-.
pairing the beef-tea, wine jelly, and
other strengthening dainties he prt
scribed. How Insignificant and useles
everything seemed in comparison with
her mothers life! ''Give me this der
Lord" she prayed day after day, and
mine shall be yours. How she ~
solved to be patient, helpful, loving IND
unselfsh! How she determined to Do
all, and ten times more than she BED
ever done, to relieve her mother. She
took down her French grammar and
tried to conjugate new verb to Mf-
prise her when she got well, but To
thought that perhaps she had takenhd
asst lesson from her gentle teacher
trove all others from her mind, md
books were put away till happier times
At last, after days and nights Of vssr
.iness and suspense, the dear Life w.
declared out Of danger, and geH
thanksgiving and praise went up nom
he hearts of father and children.
From that day, Meg French loTea
irst and best her home and the deM
'nes in it;while content and unselfshneS
made her sweet face more lovely, and
Ter life blessing to all.-JennN Dstt
7lsOn. in N. Y Irihune.