The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-18

But Just then their mother appeared at the door
with the physician at her side. They both came
up to the bed and stood silent a moment
81 could not sleep" said the doctor. 81 feared
the crisis would come tonight, and there would
not be strength enough for reaction. What have
you done ,"
Then Bertha told him about it.
''Well done ~ he said, after feeling the patients
pulse. ''You did just the right thing, which if
you had not DONE he could never have rallied. l
meant to be here when it was necessary to work.
l was a little too late, but other hands have done
my work, and your father is saved | think,
thanks to his energetic, wise little girl ~
'No Thanks to the dear Lord i'm Heaven first
of ALL" said Bertha; 'and then to you, good, kind
DR.. Baker"
''You are right in the first clause" said the
doctor. "As for the second, if it had depended
wholly on me, am afraid | should now be in the
situation of the foolish virgins-crying too late
too late ."
The doctor administered something which he
had brought with him to the patient, and then
they all watched and waited quietly awhile, and
were finally rewarded 10y seeing Mr.. Wills open
his eyes and look about him quite intellgenty
1t just SUNRISE and the very flush that lighted
the Eastern sky was reelected to the face of Bertha
as she stood fronting the window that commanded
lovely view Of the silver and the eastern hills and
/ mountains. Her father looked upon the sweet
happy face though it was a feast to his eyes
MY dear little puss has come home to me again.
l shall soon be well now" whispered he, and he
closed his eyes with satisfied smile.
"Dear papa" said Bertha, ''it is so delightful to
hear you speak; but fear it will not do. 1t will
be too much for you"
Her father opened his eyes again, as his wife
took his hand and kissed it, and then he mur-
INJURED:
"GOu have all been good, good 10 me-"
Tears Of JOY stood i'm the eyes Of all the lockers
on, and the sun rose higher and higher on their
dawning day Of hope But the danger was hardly
yet passed by. The old man was so weak and
nerveless that for days il seemed he had not power
to raise his hand. They fed him and tended him
like weak infant and constant watchfulness was
necessary to keep him from slipping entirely away
in his low condition. Bertha was almost always
at his side with her fresh vitality, cheering and
inspiring him, and winning him back to life with
the magnetism Of her smiles.
Only few days after her return, old Mrs
Nimms called.
"An' how's your paw ," she said, as Bertha en-
tered the parlor awe laid out to come an see
him every blessed day sence / come; but here il
is, an I'm not come till to-day. Howsever /
hearn he was past the turn an so ! knowed he
was likely to cit along"
''IIe is a little better" said Bertha; "but he is
very weak and we have to watch him carefully"
Gould We let ole womn like me help ye take
care o. him? I'm fust-rate nuss if do say it
myself an l hain't got nuthin' to hinder as !
knows on. Cathern hcz all the help she wants
She don't need me, an I've nuthn under the sun
to do"
81. 4
you come i'm once i'm a while, as she is pretty
nearly worn out. She cannot leave him to hired
nurses, you know ! stay with him nearly all the
time daytmes and part Of the night, because
mother is tired"
''You poor crectur, you, I reckon you'll git
plum tired out, too, mighty soon. Wal, take me
in to your paw if I'll do. Whatdid hear you
say his name was, honey?"
ellis name is Wills, Burton Wills" said Ber-
tina, who could not restrain smile at the old
lady's way Of asking the name
"Land sakes! is that so? Why, / knowed "A
Burtain Wills in ole Kaintuck, down in Barren
county, when | was gal. wonder, now
''That is where father was FROM" said Bertha
interrupting.
''You don't say Wal, I'll be bound he'll re-
member Cathy Fanny Marshall Why Pve been
with him to storm parties many time"
as it possible ?" said Bertha. "WelI, know
papa will be glad to see YOU but perhaps if you
to tell him about it now it might excite him,
as he is weak"
Claw! now, know bettern to do that, sure"
said the old lady, as she followed Bertha into the
sick mans room
Mr. Wills looked up as the supposed strangers
name was announced, and his wife came and met
her cordially but neither appeared to take more
than passing interest in her
Mrs. Nimms well dressed, and had quite a
pleasant, attractive face, that had at one time
doubtedly been handsome. Her manners, though
old-fashioned were not in the least rude and one
would never have mistrusted she was not a we'll
educated lady until she opened her mouth and be-
gan to talk, unless, perhaps, person of penetra-