Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-11-19

Ana BIDS mo not rpUine,
Then aims u missile at my head,
With phrase that's not divine,
And crOuks II still more dismal song
Tho words, alas! are mine
james r. Fields, IN Harper's Magazine.
-Ss
ZERvIAH HOPE.
TRHLUDE.
! IN the month Of August, in the year 1873,
the steamer Mercy, of the New York and Sa-
vannah line, cast anchor down the channel,
| of little town in South Carolina which
! bore the name OF Calhoun. 1t was not a
regular part OF her "rin" for the Mercy
| to make a landing at this place. She had
departed from her course by special permit
| to leave three passengers, two men and one
! woman, who had business OF grave nature
| in Calhoun.
| A man, himself a passenger for Savan-
| nah, came upon deck as the steamship hove
| TO, to inquire the reason OF the delay. He
| was short man. thin, with nervous hand
and neck. His eyes were black, his hair was
| black, and closely cut. lie had an inscru-
table mouth, and a forehead wel-plowed
rather by experience than years. He was
| not an old man. lie was cleanly dressed in
mented upon as n reticent passenger. He
had no friends on board the Mercy. This
was the Fl st time upon the VOYAGE that he
had been observed TO speak. He came for
ward and stood among the others, and abb
ruptIy said
g What's this forg''
He addressed the Mate, who answered
with sidelong look, and none too cordi-
I'VE land passengers by the Company's
order"
"Those three?"
" Yes, the men and the lady,"
50 Who are thCyT'
" Physicians from New York;
/ . l. 4. II
signing noise between his teeth. "That
means-that means"
"Volunteers to the fever district" said
| the Mate. shortly, - as you might have
| known before now. You're not Of a sociable
| cast, | see.'
81 have made no acquaintance" said the
| short passenger. :" know nothing OF the
news Of the ship. IL the lady nurse!"
"Sbe's she-doctor. Doctors, the whole Of
'em. There amt nurse aboard"
"Plenty to be found, L suppose, in this
| place you speak ofr'
"IIOw should know" replied the Mate,
with another sidelong look.
| One of the physicians, it seemed, over
| heard this last question and reply. 1t was
| the woman. She stepped forward without
hesitation, and, regarding the short passen
| ger closely, said:
| "There are not nurses. This place is per-
ishing. Savannah and the larger towns have
| been looked after first-as is natural and
right" added the physician, in business
Like tone. She had quick and clear-cut,
| but not ungenile voice.
The man nodded at her curtly, as he would
to another man; he made no answer; then
! with slight flush his eye returned to her
dress and figure; he lifted his hat and stood
uncovered till she had passed ard turned
| from him. His face, under the influence of
this tluctuatiOn of color, changed exceeding
| ly, and improved inprOpOrtion as it changed.
Passengers for Calhounn
The three physicians descended into the
dory. The other passengers-what there
we're of ofthenr-glthe to see the little group
depart. DR.. Frank offered DIR. Dare i hand,
which she accepted, like lady, not needing
| It in the least She was a climber, with firm,
1.-THE ankles No one spoke, as these people
got in with the negro, and appeared to drift
down with the scOrching tide. The woman
looked from the steamer to the shore, once,
and back again, nOrthward. The men did
not look at all. There was an oppression in
the scene which no one was ready to run the
risk OF increasing by the wrong word.
LAND me here, too" said low voice,
suddenly. II was the glum passenger. No
one noticed him. except, perhaps, the Mate
docking on with the air of a man who
would feel an individual grievances in any
thing this person would be likely to dol and
the lady.
"There is room for yOu," said DIR. Dare.
The man let himself into the boat at a light
bound, and tbs negro rOwed them away.
The Mercy, heading outward, seemed TO
shrug her shoulders, as il she had thrown
them off. The strip of burning water be-
tween them and the town narrowed rapidly,
and the group set their faces firmly land
ward. They landed in silence. In silence,
and somewhat weakly, the negro pulled the
dory high upon the beach. The four pas
sengers stood for a moment upon the hot, 4,
white sands, moved toward one another, be-
fore they separated, by a blind sense Of hui
man fellowship. Even Rename found him
self touching his hat. DIR. Frank asked DIR.
Dare if he could serve her in any way; but
she thanked him, and, holding out her firm,
white hand, said, "GOOd-by."
This was, perhaps, the first moment when
the consciousness of her sex had made itself
oppressive to her since she yentured upon
this undertaking. She would have minded
presenting herself TO the Relief Committee
of Calhoun, accompanied by gentlemen up
on whom she had no claim. She walked on
alone, in her gray dress and white straw hat,
with her luggage in her own sufficient hand.
The reticent passager had fallen behind
with the negro bOaiman, with whom he
walked slowly, closing the line.
After a few moments, he advanced and
hesitatingly Joined the lady, beginning to
say:
MAY / ask you -"
"Ah," |" interrupted DIR. Dare, cordially, SIT
is YOU"
'' viii you tell me, madam, the best way OF
going To work 10 offer myself as a fever nurse
in this placer want the best way. want
real work"
Yes, yes" she said, nodding; 81 knew
al came from the North for this purpose,
but | meant To 90 on to savannah"
"fes, l know: This is better; they need
sUergthing in this place"
She looked toward the gasping little town
through the relentless noon. Her mereifu
blue eyes filled. but the mans look followed
! with dry, eNultant light
"There is no porter" he said. abruptly
glancing at her heavy bag and shawl-strap.
Would YOU permit me to help yOU,'
"Oh, thank yOu," replied DIR. Dare,
heartily, relinquishing her burden.
Plainly, this poor fellow was not gen.
tleman. The lady could afford to be Kind tC
him.
81 know nothing how we shall lind it,
she chatted, affably. ''but 1 20 TO work TO.
night. presume shall need nurses befor,
morning. iii have your address,"
She took from her gray sacque pocket
PHYSICIANS 5 notebook, and stood, pencil il
hand.
My name" he said, ais HOpe-zerviAR
She wrote without comment, walking a,
she wrote; he made no other attempt 4
converse with her. The two physicians fol
lowed, exchanging now and then a subduet
word. The negro dragged himself weariIy
over the seOFehiRg sand, and thus the littI'
procession Of pity entered the town Of Cal
hOun.
My story does not deal with love and Ia
dies. | have 60 relate no tender passages be
tween the fever physicians, volunteers from
New York, for the afflicted region OF Cal
houn. DIR. Marian Dare came south 10 sl'
brave work, and have no doubt she did I
brayelY, as a woman should. She came Il
pursuit Of science, aud have no doubt sh.
found II, as a woman will. Our chief inter
est in her AT this time lies In the fact tb4
certain missing fragInents In the history q
the person known ZeFViah Hope We on,
10 her. She hOvers over the tale with a dis
tant and beautiful influence. per- ading a
wOmanly compassion and alert As 4 WOmAnh