Litchfield enquirer., 1881-11-10
.LOLLAs
A STORY IN TWO lPARTs.
'aPART1,,

l ES adf te t.. STOkt IN TWO lPAkTs- {. s | e ieua@ ei J7o3 3-- a;sS rs3 6as3 Q
 soi'a 7 e-ii''a lPARr'1.' es~ sa
 The position of hospital nurse does not iu all probability look 8 very attractive one ! to most women. From an abstraci point of
 view they regard 1t as singulariy unpleasant. toils0n,e and 'exacting. But if brought face
 to face with it's self-sacriice its high aud l.fty
 mission, its countless opportunities f0r minis tering to suffering humanity, it's engr'ssiDg duties, it's hours of busy completeness, none of which may be wasted or thrown over. am
 certain that they would regard the life with 1 very different feelings to those they have l hitherto experienced. ," F.. 1 The cry of ''dearth of occupation for
 woman'' has long been heard, and it IS well known how few careers are open to them i; l careers which aff6rdOpportunitiesO of independ- euce xnd usefulness to those who have no home ties and little, if any means. sa l E,i Such position was mine when, at the age of five-and-thiriy, found myself alone in the I world. My parents were dead, my sisters married and gone abroad. tAi7o t lFfih ,F'I' za l had little money, but neither home nor I occupation j and my mind was too active, my
 affecti ions too powerful, 10 leave .me content
 with such a state of affairs. 5ii-" ~ ii looked around and about, and took copnr
 sel with myself as to what should do with
 mS life. |" si'tl,'Se@ '1.'. ' i'1 .-is t,Ns ''
 After long deliberation, thought struck me- would be nurse in children 8 hos pital. ii2 7is" s'@'b' .'5-'52 -" ia
 The idea pleased me. should have plenty I of occupation and interest. I should always l have the consciousness that was of use to I others in eveii so small way E+sHit" -a 1 should be treated with considerat ion; my
 associates would be my equals; for I knew
 we'll how many ladies, some even well cf, and I in good positions, were devoting themselves to this life On the whole asked notEing
 better, and set myself diligently to work al 1 the prt lilninary difficulties in my way. Ts@
 will not enter here into the n,inuti8 of training and probation, UT the slow and grad uai steps by which had to mount to the sum- mt of nay desires. ButI will merely recount an episnde that occurred when l was install
 ed as head nurse of the girls ward at the Victoria Hospital, Chelsea. e"r {xg7'- It was in the dusk of a Spring evening that
 a futile child was brought to the ward where Vas on duty She was suffering from , di- ascd hip joint, 1 was told. 2.s~3E
 ld The smother was quite ayoung creatue.
 sith pale pretty face. I saw how her bs
 2reniblec asp advanced to take tic child, Bit ! the little creature clung to her with q rhne lespairing earnestness that seemed at variapss vith her baby years..3 He utOtiier spoke a fey words to her,--aud tried to uuclasp the tiny 1 arns that were 80 tightly pressed arOuhd hef neck.y sfam od aaa .ra!nzuGl 7c ,Ie.,um N t't.She is vesys shy, Madame. 'yshe said apolo- gesieally, i'and we have never been parted ,luce sue was born Please excuse her. She l will % to You preseully.i' 'g71sao s':.Yk
 l ,'Ehs girls vD,Ce, was SO sweet and refined, that inysluH,arily lisoked at her wiihclose | attention. Though poorly and shabbily dress l d, there was that something about her wh ich Iore the stamp of refinement, and s,etfayed il iiuin isAkablys vd a7ia.H ngE lliC9 lulltuoI l Ibi told her io take a seat, andsa waited wllife she spoke in 9i low tender words to the iitlle clinging creature Gradually the child uu-
 claspedher hold aud turned herIface to ine. It, was such 8 beautiful little face lal Clear waxen paiur, aou the, abrow and cBeeks.; great dark | yes, with iflasies long and icirsed a stiny ,uuth of faint red --npt ithe rich ripe hue of nealth and shading the brow and caNtrings the little head mass of pale-gold curls. ,, ] ay IsimOst held my btsath in surprise, had aever seen such beautiful face nwilhin bur' Iyta. How old is she a'' Ilasked the mother. g. "Three and half, Madame. $. II isI a sad. 1 hrurt UreaK to tue to have to part with her. s0ut Il scauuotv .aford,the meeiical advice she needs and Lhaye been told I can not de better lN | am sure" "rsshe conllpued, raising her sad eyes to mine BttShe is all haveton earth.ssI ds ! not think she will be much trouble. She is very patiept."1 asyg.bA t.t3sa ;z .Auial ! s.'l am sure she will esonn bs quite happy 1 lere," said gently. All the chl,drea are y twill Lolla say good night to mother now sn l she asked tte lit:le Ona. ,s{ e.-.., ,f The child looked at her, ,l, Large tears were
 nl her eyes. but neither sob nor cry escaped
 A sight more touching ney.er .aI' withessed command gave way, but not the child's. j. r. I Isaw the ciingiug caress, the tiny qaiverihg r lips; abeD the 1calorless face aud deep dark eyes, were turned to mel Cye qgyfo baa i -ae The mother placed her in my arms A, l faint sob burst from her breast. God bless and keep you, my darling r. she
 npfpsured, and then with low low cartsy to pe.
 H nadtessed the wee mite, noting ug with qever- increasing wonder how beautifully neat and Icfean were all her simple, honiely clothes. r Then I totk her to the .bath-ropul she sup,hitl ing to all my attentions with the same patient mute tranquility. When she was placed in I ner cot, the surgeon came 10 see her, and made note of her case. saw how grave he ! looked, and followed him as he went away. ,o 1 IA bad case pup asked H3"L 's2!li 'sT ,r .'As bad as it can be, he answered She | must be operated m soon. ------~ -sa ! wsnt naclpso tho little cot tandasat down 1 The child lay on her back. her little waken hands folded together, her eyes wide and anx-
 "What is il, dear 2'.I said. s9 ';Mother has not beard my prayers" slIe iisped in her quaint baby fashion, -aI EE "Wiif you say them to lne r" II askefi.
 HYes, it you please" she eianswered twill
 you tell me them & Mother always dues. T
 l 1 began the childish formula we were accus-
 toned to use, and she repeated it after mei fii
 At last she stnpped. AM!hJ fuMk3 -ol
 That is wrong 1" she said grayely. 'Mo11hel
 wo19e5s 1eGs yes pray soF yosF father ?" asked
 .s.Nos Ihave nofasher, mother says"
 Sr'No fsthef?@ Where is he? mean-'' But Ipaused abrhpttY. Perhaps he was lead. had better ask no questions. | re-
 -umed the prayers, and she repeated them
 vii, bout further interruption o
 When she had finished | asked her if she 1 would like me to tell her story.
 -$SPiease, yes, !" she sand simply. Tell nle
 about son.e of those little boys and girls who
 aa;,i I 1l = y s' Y " s'' < ae ~ f' Y q ' T
 '.Yes. But that was long ago." she an-
 swered. as finer baby years stretched far back
 nip to1d sSd Pss hss %hA1 knew 5f the io,A4r sh,
 ren. building up for them. q future far mor..
 right and hopeful than was at all probabIe
 She 1istened silently her eyessupon iny face
 "Shall Trun about too ?" she asked at last
 ..l hope sn, dear, answered -..rhe kind doctors here will do their best to cure you. and sendx you home well xnaJ stFong. .2H How fpleased mother win be then. won't she 2" 7'i sa9I had touched tender chotds r6he sudden ly turned her little face away and sobbed as if her heart would break
 tried 10 pacify her. but it was long ere
 sncceeied. Al. last, weary and exhausted
 she fen asleep .1ast4s .x ARA lauaWith an interest stronger than anyrI had
 hitherto experienced, l. watched by her II S(1eEAc D. iIfiaEsas hsss ncsSs4eg 3Et g5g43 Ts
 If inever sav anvhth;nr ao r,tossac,lv vnrn.e,v