Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-11-12
TRUE TO HIS WORK.

days, sky and sun were hidden from
the crew. All around them they could
hear the spouting of whales, without
seeing them, while. far aloft, rustling
through the rigging. went the croaking
sea-gull, without showing even the
shadow of his wing.
On the morning of the seventh day
the ship was still rolling and pitching
in the heavy Atlantic swells when.
slowly emerging from the mist, came a
forlorn-looking boat. containing four
suffering human beings-two of them
sailors. the others girl of nineteen
and her mother, the latter an elderly
woman.
For three dismal days these four had
been adrift, with scarcely anything to
eat or drink, their ship, London YES
sci, having foundered in gale, and
the boats, which had been lowered,
having become separated.
How are the women getting onp"
enquired the mate, an hour after the
party had been picked up. and the la
dies, with their trunk, which they had
saved, were in a comfortable cabin,
next to that of the stewards wife,
Inc person the mate addressed was
the ships doctor, Henry Weldon, a
jolly, rosy-faced man of middle age.
with whom h. was playing cards.
VERY well, sir" was the answer.
"Ihe rescue may be termed a doubly
fortunate one; for it seems that mother
and daughter, after having for years
lived on the scant profits of needle
WORK, have reason to expect something
better Mrs. Harrison, the elder lady,
Is a widow, whose husband, while he
lived. was unwell and subject to catal-
epsy, or trance. rendering him unit
Tor business, SO that he left her very
poor when ne died. When wrecked,
she and her daughter were on their
way 10 New Orleans, where the girl is
to receive two thousand pounds left
there Tor her by IN uncle, who has gone
off to Indiar'
Why, bless my eyes! you don't say
sop
''HO, ho!' cried the doctor. Your
speaking OF your eyes reminds me that
Mrs. Harrison has so injured hers by
hue sowing that she can scarcely see.
4 Think she is incurablc, but | am 90
ing to allow my assistant, Walter Bar
kcr, to take the case in hand. Here
he is nowf' added the speaker, as an
Notwithstanding young man of TWEEN
ty-two entered.
There was Il great difference in the
Characters of these two men. Both
were graduates of good medical col
lege, bat Weldon had no special liking
for his profession, whereas Barker
really loved his calling; aud while the
elder doctor was playing cards, or 9TH
htt,.caIf
true to his work, by course of steady
careful reading, was constantly discov-
ering, not only the truths set before
him, but even some which were never
dreamed OF by the authors he studied.
Devoting himself heart and soul to
the case which Weldon had pronounced
incuraole. the young man finally re-
stored Mrs. Harrison's sight, to the I'M
bounded JOY and gratitude of the old
lady, now able TO look upon her lovely
blooming daughter. Eva, whom, owing
TO her impaired vision, she could say
she had not really seen for years.
The attachment of these two beings
TO each other was beautiful to witness.
They were almost constantly together,
and the care with which Eva watched
over her mothers comfort was enjoyed
and appreciated by the toughest sailor
aboard the ship.
But at length an anxious look came
to the mothers face, for she perceived
that the color was leaving the girls
cheeks-that she was growing pale and
thin. Day by day, in fact, her step
became slower, until at last, in answer
to her mothers enquiries, she confessed
that she did not feel well. What allied
herP She could not tell. She only knew
that her strength seemed to be falling
strangely; that faintness occasionally
came over her. Dr. Weldon tended
her, but the case puzzled him, and his
medicines were useless.
Don't grieye for me so much,n said
Eva to her mother. Il may get we'll,
but 1t Is best to be prepared for the
worst. The letter from uncle, telling
me oil my good fortune, is in my little
blue pocket-book that you made me
present OF mamma. Don't forget that,
for the money will do you ever so much
good, and that is a great comfort to
me. If l GO, don't cry too much, as
that wilt only hurt your eyes again.
The old lady laid both trembling
hands on the speakers arm, and tried
to look composed, but her heart felt as
II it would break.
Next morning there was sad look
on the sailors faces. They went about
on tip-toe, and when a rope was
dropped it fell carefully-almost with
out noise-for the news had reached
them that Eva was deadl
There she lay. cold and still, in the
~. hsn, f,,l 81
her breast by the stewards wife. her
face looking as calm as if she slept, but
as white as the long gown in which she
was ROBBED.
She had died, it was said. with her
hand in that OF her old mother; and
the latter, now gazing in sort of dazed
expectant manner at the still form,
seemed unable TO realise that her child
was really gone from her.
DIR. Weldon and his assistant entered
The former gave 4 brief glance at the
rigid features and withdrew, but the
young man remained. Lower and low
er he knelt, until his clear eyes were
within half foot of the face, when he
steadily watched the closed lids, as if
counting every lash. Then he sought
Weldon, and the two were in their
room for some time. conversing in low
voices.
Next morning the colors were at
half-mast, the maintopsail hauled back,
the ship lying nearly motioness, as
there was hardly breeze. The body
of Eva, with 4 few weights under the
feet as usual in preparations for sea-
burials, was being sewed in canvas,
to be ready for launching overheard.
While the mates were stitching the
canvas about the white-robed form,
Barker entered, and requested them
10 leave an opening over the face.
"WhyP" enquired the mate, when
the afflicted mother, who was near,
cried out in piteous but grateful
voice:
"Thank you! oh. thank you! for hav.
ing this done, SO that can give my
child last kiss before she is put in the
cruel seal"
All was finally ready. The canvas.
shrouded figure was borne to the gang.
way and laid upon the plank frou
which it was to be launched into the
ocean.
Solemn and sad the seamen with un.
covered heads stood in the waist Will,
the funeral-seryice was being read.
When it was finished it seemed as i
the old mother would never permi
the cold form to be dropped into tn,