The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-06-09

ouMlIAtIOu luSpueU Dy her personal
charms. Among those who became
strongly attached to her was an old
woman known as Mother McNavit, who
lived in hovel adjoining. She was
past 70, childless, friendless and dcsti-
tute. She earned meager livelihood
by the labor Of her aged hands. Her
sharp tongue and uncannny behavior
had alienated general sympathy and at
tention, and she dwelt alone, hating the
world which had at last withdrawn what
little kindness it had ever shown to her.
But the poor old heart was not 80 un-
feeling as the world thought il, or as
she herself wished it was. It had SIM
ply been bruised and neglected till Its
soreness made it angry. and defiant
toward all that approached.
All but one. The beauty and gentle
ness Of Annie had come upon it so ten
ierly that its sensitiveness and hostility
we're disarmed, and it chung to the child
with IN unnatural strength as the only
object it loved in all the desolate world.
The forlorn creature had once had chill
dren Of her own, but she had buried
them oil. She fancled that Annie looked
like her daughter Hetty. Ii she had
lived, she said, her poor old mother
might not he so forsaken nov; but the
sweet BARN could not have been kinder
or dearer to her than was her Hetty-
Annie, God bless her for SO she min
gled their two names together.
The devoted love Of the helpless old
woman was returned by as warm an
affection on Annie's part. Her pity was
touched by the forsakenness and desti-
tuition she saw the fondness with which
she was carcssed and idolized awoke the
deepest sympathies III her nature, while
the constant association of her name
with that Of the dead daughter finally
impressed her with the feeling that she
steod in the same relation to the be-
reaved mother. With nature as sim
cere rs Armies, to feel thus was to man.
ifest her sense of tilial love in every pos
sible way. So marked and unremitting
were her attentions to the object Of this
strange affection that her parents and
more intimate acquaintance were wont
to address her sportively ~ Mother
McNavit's child. The epithet did not
offend her. Her love was too earnest
and respectful for her to be ashamed or
annoyed by any allusion to it whatever.
II the nickname produced any effect at
all upon her, it only strengthened the
tie that existed between her and the
desolate old woman.
At the date Of this story the smallpox
was ravaging Edinburgh. The disease
was Of al unusually violent type, and
the greatest CONSERVATION prevailed
throughout the city. One day Mother
McNavit was ailing. The frightened
neighbors summoned physician, who
told them she was stricken with the con-
tagion. They informed her that she
must be removed to the hospital. The
intelligence appeared to inspire her with
mortal terror. She begged and prayed
them to leave her where she was, but
they paid no heed to her supplications.
As last favor she asked that before she
was taken away they would let her see
her Hetty-Annie. When Annie was
told Of this desire, in spite of her natural
timidity and the remonstrances Of hel
friends, she went to the friendless bed.
side. The poor terrified old creature,
upon beholeling her, exclaimed wildly:
"Oh, Hetty-Annie, daughter, If you
ever loved or pitied me, show it now
They're going to take me to the 'spital.
Don't let theml Don't let them /! Fol-
mercy's sake, don't let them 1"
"Woulln't it be better for you,
mother?"
my God do you say that, too, Het.
ty-Annie? And oil this while have
thought Of You as my child: They've
all forsaken me, and you are going Will
them. God will desert me next ther
there can be no more disappointment.
There, there, mother dear, dom
cry" said Annie, fearlessIy and tenderl,
pressing her lips to the burning cheel
in her eagerness to console the poor ole
woman I'm not going to forsake you
merely asked if the hospital was MOI
a better place for you because they al
said SO.
"Yes, they all say it; and they al
think the grave would be still better
place for me. I'm willing to go to m,
grave, but not from the 'spital ! no
from the 'spital l can die here alon.
just as well, and it won't break m,
| heart as it would to be sent to the 'spital
Oh, Hetty-Annie r she cried, wildl,
clasping her withered arms about til,
girls neck, "there is no one but you t
take my part; for sweet Jesus sake
don't let them take me to the 'spital |"
| Annie Quoted her with endearinf
names and caresses, and laid her gently
back upon her pillow.
| "You shall not 60 to the hospital
mother; you shall not die here alone
you shall not die here at all if / can say,
| YOU"
"Her manner was very calm, but he
features were deadly pale. She com
menced quietly arranging the things ii
the little room. as If she had taker
charge Of it. Turning to q neighbor
she said:
I'm not going home again until
Mother McNavit is well. Please ISL
mother to send me the things / shall
need"
When expostulated with by her par.
ents and friends, she only replied:
Here is poor, terrified, friendlest
human being, who clings to me franti
cally as her only hope and comfort OF
earth. / could never be happy if l for
sock her in her agony"
When the influence of her pastor wa
enlisted to point out to her the useless
ness Of her sacrifice, she simply said:
II do it for Christ Himself for III
teaches me in His word that inasmucl
as ] do it unto the least Of these do j
unto Him."
And SO, immovable in her calm pur
pose, she watched by the wretched bed
side !; watched through the fever ant
delirium, and all the horrors of the loath
some disease watched till the dangel
passed from the sufferers pillow, ant
settled upon her own devoted head.
She lived through the terrible ordeal
Health came slowly back to her; bu
her beauty had gone, never to return
A SCARED and repulsive face was all tina
was left her. The polish Of her broy
and the velvet of her cheek, that wa
once SO lovely to look upon, had beel
laid as sacrifice at the feet Of the lionel,
old woman.
"No, Tom; they had been laid up a