The Republican journal., 1881-11-17

was assumed.
at is under my left shoulder blade, .
her sister replied, "and haven't breath
ed long breath since last November
Sometimes it is worse than others, and
am conscious of it every minute"
The doctor drew a chair to her sisters
side, and took her hand in hers
''Dear me, Mary, my pulse is all right,
said the invalid, doing her best to make
light OF the situation.
'lIoW many men does your husband
hire this summer, Anna ?" the doctor in
quired, as she prepared some medicine.
"Only SIX this year"
"And you cook and wash for them, |
suppose?"
GLOW many COWS have you?.'
"Fourteen."
"And you make butter for market ?"
Sister Anna smiled us She answered
this question.
a average about sixty pounds per
week"
"What time do you get up in the
morning ,"
"Four o'clock"
't.What time do you go TO bed 2n
"Anywhere from ten to twelve = and
then with a glance in my direction, ''you
see, farmers have to keep ahead of time
Il they didn't manage to do this, they
couldn't lay up anything to save their
ives"
"Anna," said the doctor, taking no no
tce of the above remark, II intend to
stay in Vermont a month"; unless | am
needed in New York. Would YOU like
me to take charge Of your case during
that time ,"
My case" her sister repeated in great
perpleXity, II don't suppose | shall need
anything more than that medicine'
II will gladly do all | can for yon
Anna" the doctor resumed, "and when |
am compelled to 90 back ! will leave you
/ in good hands but it must be on condi-
ton OF the most perfect obedience on your
part. You have hard coughing spells
every morning, do You not ?"
~ es Mary, but how in the world did
| YOU know that ?"
''No matter how | know it. That do
know it is sufficient To begin with,
Anna, your husband must find other
! places Tor his WOrkmen, aud some one
must be found Immediately to DO your
houscwork You must go to bed every
night at eight o'clock, and remain in bed
till after breakfast You must have all
sorts of nourishing food, and pork and
Goldfish must be eliminated from your bill
Of fare
"Mary, what do you mean ?"
There was look of terror in the poor
Womans eyes, and her lips quiyercd pain
fully.
II mean, if YOU 10 exactly as tell you,
YOU may get we'll if not it IS impossible"
replied the doctor. "lf you think | am
eNaggerating, or don't know what am
talking about, send for any reputable
physician you please, and ask him to tell
you the truth"
"Oh, Mary. There isn't any way of
doing the things you speak OF. Clarke
feels awfuNy poor this summer, and /
nave been trying harder than ever to
make the ends lap over"
"Where is Clarke p the doctor inquired
"lle's down at the creek, haling"
II viii drive down and have a talk
with him right away" said my friend
making ready to leave.
"Oh, Mary, Don't you think there is
any other way :"
The poor woman had broken down
completely now, and the doctor held her
for moment IN her strong arms and
caressel her tondlv.
'4No other way, sis, . she replied, 'but
we will do the best we can. There's no
telling what a good rest and careful nurs-
ms viii DO for your poor tired body, my
dear"
II was going to take YOU to some other
places, the doctor remarked, as We drove
away, "but it would have been the old
story work, work, work, without rest
or change, from years end to years end
My mother killed herself by her at
tcmpts to get ahead of time. Two sis
ters have travelled the same road that
Anna has started on one Of them abso-
lutely dropped dead in her kitchen, in the
midst Of her work. This is the kind Of
thing | could not endure to see 90 on.
knew it was all wrong as soon as knew
anything, and as soon as | became old
enough to have a voice in my own educa-
ton | persisted in taking different
course. Ny sister Anna has tried so hard
to get ahead of time and make things 'lap
over that she has abused and probably
killed herself, besides criminally neglect
ngand mismanaging her children. don't
suppose she has averaged over five hours
sleep out of the twenty four during the
five years; and think of that amount of
rest for woman whose brain and mus
Gle are forever in use, Every year
come up here and fine things going from
bad to worse among my relatives and
most OF my friends, and the horrible part
OF 1t Is nothing one can say or do will
have The slightest effect"
"Don't you think your very natural
anxiety about your sister may have col
ored your diagnosis a little ~ inquired.
mot in the least" my companion an
sWered. "Anna's pulse was one hundred
and twelve. The respiration was labor
ed and ominously frequent. There is no
mistaking such signs"
GLOW could she keep at work with sucn
a pulse as that | asked.
"By the exercise Of will power, said
the doctor 'In our family will power is
direct inheritance. If it could only
have been put to a good use how much
might have been accomplished My dear,
this will power eats salt pork when good
beef and the most nutritious food are alb
soute necessities. 1t makes all it's cream
llltO pulter tndt tne cash may zap over
1t drinks skim-milk, and works nineteen
hours out OF tWenty-tour.
Soon after this the doctor dropped me
at my boarding house.
"Nowyo know all about it, she remark
ed in parting, "and if any one ever asks
you why Mary Stedman did not remain
among her relatives, you can say she de-
cIined to live among criminals and sui
cides"
Five months after the above incident
sister Anna died and one year from that
date the Widower married again. The
second wife is duplicate of the first,
working night and day and ''laying up"
for future which it is more than likely
she never will enjoy. Christian Union.
Iaof l,,r,o