The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-31

''There, Isadore Stafford What have
you to say now of unhappiness or
misery, as long as such people exist in
the world? Thirty years! Ten times
thirty are three hundred. If l should
live thirty years longer I could at least
lift three hundred souls from beastli-
ness to humanity, from suffering to COM
fort. I'll try it! The idea is new one
and pleases me. Who knows but life
will be interesting to me after alp How
strange if, after travelling the world over
to find novelty, 1 should find my first
New. Year at home?"
The inspiration took thorough posses
sion of her, and ordering her carriage
she hastily dressed for the street.
''To st. Luke's, john"
One would think she had often been
here to have seen her run up the steps
and ring the bell, but che matron did not
seem to recognize her and stood in an
expectant attitude to hear what her err
rand might be.
care your beds all filledP" asked the
stranger.
1--WE are over-crowded, madam, and
have been forced to decline some pitiful
patients for lack of room"
"And what has been done with themp'
Nothing, fear"
Gould you get nurses for them il
comfortable beds were provided"
80, yes, indeedr'
"And how soon could the children be
movedp''
Tomorrow"
81 have come on a singular mission
tonight, which l trust you can help me
to fulfill. A wealthy lady whom know
has taken the whim into her head OF
opening her house on Christmas to some
suffering children. She does not wish
her name to be known in the matter,
but desired me to see if you could direct
her to half dozen children that are alb
solutely suffering for care and comfort,
or, better still, send nurses and children
to her house tomorrow. She will keep
them until benefited or you can find
room for them here. There will be a
lady in charge to see that nothing will
be needed"
81 should not call it whim but a
most Christ-like act. / wish all who
have wealth would do likewise, and !
can promise you nurses and children to-
morrow
Thanks! She will be delighted.
You will also send your physician?''
"Of course"
Tomorrow, then, at -, Licking
ton Avenue" and bowling, she passed
out into the shadows, jubilant over her
success.
Home, john
AS she rested among the robes she
murmured, II felt guilty to hear that
good woman say, 'Christ-like,' when it
was merely whim for novelty, but al
ready am enjoying the plan immense
ly. Everything works like a charm.
The world is passing away. Already
the new is dawning. What a blessed
inspiration! Who knows but that some
where in the universe shall find, if not
happiness, real blessednessP'
sis she in her right mind, do you
think, MaryP" asked Alice, Mrs. Stat
ford's maid, of the waitress when the
house was electrified by her plans.
"And that's what I've been wonder
ing to myself-since l see the change in
her manner. Don't l remember going
into her room that very day before she
went out into the storm, and seeing her
sitting in her great crimson chair, with
her hands crossed and her eyes having
that far-away look that is never good
for mortals to have. see, of course,
she did not wish anything, and thought
1 would 60 down and have few words
with my cousin about receiving calls,
and when came back she was gone
and you know how we fretted about her
for two mortal hours. At last she came
back, and her face shone as if she had
been talking with angels, and taking me
off by herself she told me to make every
thing ready in all the spare rooms, for
company, and to put up an extra bed in
the largest. Of course 1 supposed she
was going to astonish her friends by
some elegant entertainment, but when
limited at this she said: 80, MOI 1t
is better than that, Mary. Entertain
ments make heart-aches, and this is to
make happiness. l am going to keep
the holidays in new way. Perhaps the
New Year will be really New Year.
You see that sounded very strange.
What could New Years be but New
Years anyhow? When she told me it
was cripples and children from the hos
pital who were coming, l knew for GER
tain she must be little out of her mind,
but she looked so beautiful and bright
had not the heart to oppose her. Some
thing has happened to her, as sure as
I'm sensible girl
Not only were Alice and Mary, but
every domestic in the house was con-
WINGED that their mistress would soon be
an inmate of q lunatic asylum when they
saw not one or two, but half dozen,
pale-faced cripples broughtinto the house
and placed in the elegant rooms that had
hitherto been devoted to the great and
honored among her guests Not thing
was allowed to be changed in these rooms.
Delicate ornaments, statuettes, pictures,
books, all remained as before, and under
the elegant counterpanes and blankets
lay wistful-eyed, suffering children, who
almost forgot their pain in the beautiful
world where they found themselves.
Nurses cared for them, and in and out
moved Isadore Stafford, dressed in plain
black dress and white cap, not unlike a
Sister Of Mercy. Every eye frightened
when she came in sight with her beauti-
full face, and as she passed from room to
room, smoothing pillow here, or patting
cheek there, the little visitors, as she
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