The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-11-10
A TOUCHING HOSPITAL SKETCH.

SnOulQ ole III tue noSpitnA VI vi 'ho o"'
tie field, for the sake of God and human.
ity, will you communicate with my
mother. Mrs. Charles Dodge--town
State.
This, written upon the fly leaf of lit
tie pocket Testament.
am fast getting to be an old woman,
but never shall forget those old hospi-
tai days. And this little book has
brought back the old memories, just as
the sight of old andirons and spinning
wheel will carry one back to grandmosh-
er's time. You see haven't always had
gray hair and crows feet. There was
time long ago when thought that life
meant happiness. But when our neigh
boris boy 10, whom I had played VITA IN
my childhood, came to me and asked me
to make choice for life, had to put it
all away; for father and mother died that
year and left four little brothers in an
elder sisters care. did the best could
for them, but we were poor, and some
times the weight was we'll nigh too heavy
for young shoulders.
Well! my boys grew up and went ont
into the world; all but Jamie, poor little
cripple boy. loved him the more be-
cause so dependent on me. But he took
sick, and one spring day laid him away
in the Westinghouse grave yard and
went back to lonely home. Nobody
knows how my heart ached for something
to love and work for. And then the war
broke out, and hadn't husband or
sons to give to my country l Thought la
90 myself. Not to fight; oh no; but as u
nurse in the hospital. And so that's
how I happened to go. had been there
several months when the battle OF O.
killed and wounded so many OF our
boys you remember. Quite number OF
them we're brought to our hospital. !
saw them carried in and then went
through the wards to do what L could.
As was hurrying from one to another
came to this one in the corner. 1
couldn't help but notice right away now
Young and boyish the face was. Some
how thought of jamie, and my heart
gave great throb. He raised up on ms
elbow as l came near, gave cheerful
nod and said, Good morning, Auntle.
wanted to put my arms around MS
neck and give him good motherly hug,
but, you see, we had to learn to over
come our feelings there. SO l only said
GOOD morning" as quietly as could.
and then went to work to smooth out the
army blanket, and replaced the haver-
sack, doing duty as apillow, by wooden
shawl of my own. You see, l was think.
ing so hard of Jamie, it never occurred
to me that he was wounded upIl he put
his hand over his breast and gave little
short breath. "Whas have they been
doing to your" l asked, taking away his
hand.
used me for target, Auntie. Splen.
did shot, true as you live,' and he
smiled Just as though he was talking
about some sport. .,,
"Did the surgeon take the ball out?"
said 1.
"That old fellow with the saw and
screwdriver? Whew! He bored till
most thought he was the gimiet and l.
was the hole. Guess he didn't find it. "
saw that it wanted dressing, so l set
about it. 1t didn't look very bad. l
ventured to say so, and you ought TO
have seen his face brighten, while he
asked so earnestly: do you think so?
Just what thought. I'll be all right III
n few DAYS. Don't you think l will"
shook my head. didn't want to
disagree with him, but knew it was bet
ter than to give false hope. 'No; not in
n few DAYS. Perhaps in few weeks" l
had dressed the wound by this time, so
he said in his CHEEKY way that he'd take
a little trip into the land of nod, and
then began to snore like miscellaneous
school-boy. l went about my other
duties, but by and by came around just
to see how he was; and sure enough. he
was sleeping just as quietly as baby.
Next morning stopped the surgeon
after he had gone through the wards, for
though he was in a hurry, wanted to
know when my boy was going to getwell
I thought likely as not he'd ask me again
and IL would be so much better to say
1.-THE doctor says So" The way that sur
peon frowned when asked him-and he
answered so sharp, "When? Shot
through the lung, madam; just as surely
dead as though his head was cut of.
It was we'll that l had so many
months of discipline among the suffering
and diving, or I could not have heard it,
and been so calm; for, You see, this boy
was taking Jamie's place; 80 when l
went in with the bowls of porridge
couldn't smile back at him, although
saw him raise up on his elbow the minute
I stepped inside the door.
OF course I expected he would be
worse. but he ate the porridge with a
bows relish, and declared he felt good