Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1882-01-06
By :. ANNIE FROST


opened rny sleepy eyes as the con
ductor's voice rang through the cars,
and. taking my carpet-bag, sprang out
upon the platform of the little station.
My brief holiday was over, and, with
a shrug, | prepared for my 1ort
walk through the morning air, look
ing forward to the good fire and de
licious cup of coffee was sure Mrs.
Watson. was keeping for me
1t was IA very rare event for me 10
leave the little village whose name
heads this story. My father had been
the only resident physician there, from
( the time when was bo;SterouS
! schoolboy, up to the hour when, in
/ his professional rounds, he fell dead
with heart disease in the main street,
/ leaving me, his heretofore assistant.
sole heir to his name, property, aud
7 practice. Ten Years before. they had
carried my dear mother TO the little
churchvard, and installed Mrs. Wat
son house keeper in her place. he
villagers we're willing to le; the young
doctor step into his fathers place
beside their sick beds. and - for ilye
Years | had filled his duties. In al
these five years had taken no hoii-
day, so " hen an invitation came from
nv old college friend and since cor
respondent, Clement PAYNE, to spend
| Christmas with him. at bis father,
place, on the Hudson, | Was surely
tempted to accept, aud liually con
cluded 10 do SO. Il WAS literally
( Christmas spent, leaving home at
midnight on the 2ith, and NV friend
house exactly twenty four hours later.
II had been u pleasant break IN the
mono,ony Of my life. and rs | stood
at sunrise on the llopedaIe station
platform, WAS sure ms recreation
wonld give me new vjsor for MY dai'l
! duties.
rs turned To descend the steps
leading to the road. sou.e impulse, nav.
a Providence, led me to look lu rthr
window Of the room. by cogT:esg Ia
dies Room of the station. II VA
cold and desola;e. NJ ire VAS lighted
and there was no furniture, unless :u,
hard, wooden benches a-a.us. ih-
walls could be 50 Gcu1minatgd. Bar
curled mp on one Of these b. ncacs
sleeping souudlr. lay 4 strange child
Ills dress of rlCn iur-trJmmeI velvet
the warm fur cap, loag CATERS ant
mitteus, spoke OF wealth aud care, a. d
the pale face. round which clus,ss.
sGort curls Of sunny brown. va
round with health aUl wonderful,
beautiful. He was 80 !iaP.,la.c child.
| knew them all. NJ prg..ss.uua
instinct made my heart thrill With Is
sudden SHOCK. a. caught s5GAt o; the
pale face. for well knew the DANCE,
of that deep sleep in the biting WIa'e.
air How long had hc been there -
I Was he already dead were the qges-
tious asked mySefas STROBE aCros.
I the room, aud lifted hIm IN my arms
There Was no breath came from TIA,
white lips. no tbrob at the wrist, ouh
faint, very faint huttrFins under ms
+ ,iugers as / pressed them over tn,
baby heart. Mantling him warmly
in nv heavy cloAk, tore down III.
steps, and raced along the road homie
ward ut pace that would have con.
siderably amazed my patients, hal ans
. OF them been asake II that eariN
hour.
Allowing Mrs. Watsoa no time foi
am.zcmeni, pressed her into service.
+ and IN what she called "utly,' Wr
had the little form uniressed. in nv
bel., aud undergoing the most yIgor.
ous treatment. II vas so long befor,
We were Successful, that my heart
throbs grew stronger; color came to
/ the pale lips and cheeks, aud i pair of
large brown eyes appeared from under
/ the heavily -fringed lids had watched
so anxlousIy.
| Only look of sleepy iuquiry was
visible, rs he stared u moment ~ me.
then obeying my order to drink the
warm food Mrs. Watson held 10 his
| lips, my little patient closed his eyes
again, and turned over to finish his
nap. He was safe now, | knew: SO
leaving him TO Mrs. Watson's care.
who by this time knew rs much abou,
him as | dld, went to sleep myself.
to be ready for the days duties.
/ 1t Was nearly nine o'clock when my
housekeeper reused me TO say that
breakfast was ready, and the child
awake.
Very wide awake found him, the
glorious brown eyes staring round my
room, taking III every detail of its ar
rangemcnt.
who are You: How did get here !:
Am | nearly at Australia?-Who's S
that man in the picture:' were the
questions poured rapidly forth, before
| had time to frame one inquiry. Il
want to getul! Who's gotmy c.othes:"
came next; then, "N no put me to
bed without any night-gowu:'
Not sign of fear OF Il word of home
sickness, | was puzzled.
"What is your name" | asked, sit
ting down beside him.
''Trot. | want to get up
"You shall get up in minute, but
first tell me your name, and how You
came to be asleepiu the station
"My names Trot, and the plaguy
cars started off without Inc when got
out. 1t was dark night, and / could
not catch them, so went into the room
and went to sleep till they came again. "
"Was your mother in the traln-in
the carr
mo; nobody but just me. "i'm
going to Australia"
"Going to Australa?'
eyes; Ellen's there! They have
roses there at Christmas, and We want
ed some for our tree