Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-12-17
A CASUALTY.

street, City Hospital.
Only one short, sharp cry, followed
by the hoarse shouts of several men,
that was all. They carried him to the
sidewalk, and as the crowd gathered
round him some one coming by stopped
and asked:
What is it?''
''Onlv another boot black hurt" was
the careless response, and the ques-
toner passed on.
The ambulance came. The crowd
made way, then separated, and the in
cident was forgotten. Nobody knew,
nobody cared.
The hospital slept, all but one silent
watcher, who kept her vigil beside one
little cot, rising at intervals to scan
the little pale face that lay on the pill
low. No sound but the breathing of
the patients and the lnonotonous tick
tick of the great clock broke the still
ness. Sleep had granted a respite from
suffering and care
Presently there was movement.
and the little white face turned its ewes
toward the watcher, and a feeble voice
asked:
Say, where be II
You are'in good place, child"
1t was still again for moment. and
then
Say, Missus, where's my box?H
L don't know. IeXpect it was lost. :"
Lost? Oh yes, | know | was run
over. wasn't II
Yes. What is your name?>
Tommy"
Tommy what?''
Jest Tommy
But you must have another name
Nom, | amt
We'll, what is your mothers name?"
Il amt got no mother. | had oncet,
but she's dead
The kind face bent down to kiss him.
and he murmured,
She used to do that. Say, I'd like to
see her agin.'
We'll perhaps you will. But there,
don't talk any more"
\ short silence followed but pres
emily he inquired:
kin she come back?''
"Who?n
My mother
NO, she can't do that, but maybe
will JNo o1, Il 10 J,o
''When?"
Pretty soon
He dozed again, and the hands of the
great clock dragged themselves YEARLY
on. In his sleep he was again with his
mates. Now he was calling Shine"
now he was counting his money, laugh
ing with his comrades, and eagerly
plying his trade, happy in his humble
box as lordly princes on their jeweled
thrones. o Sleep, truly it is you who
lifts from us our cares and sorrows
The hands of the clock had barely
passed the hour Of two when he again
awoke.
''Missusn'
Yes. dear
won't you kiss me agin? 1t seems
as though my mother was close to Inc
when you do that
She kissed him, and he dropped off
to sleep, but not for long. The min
ute-hand had not reached the half
hour when he woke with cry and
start.
Say, what makes me feel so queer?
feel, and the words came with more
difficulty, ''as-though-somethin'-
heavy-was-rest estin'-on-me.
The lights were turned up, and noise
less feet hurried to and fro, while will
ing hands raised the little form from
the pillow Brighter grew the eyes, as
they seemed to gaze at something to-
ward which the little yearning arms
were outstretched. Fainter and fainter
came the breath, feebler and feebler
grew the voice.
'You-w -was-right, ,-Missus."
They raised him higher, and he whis-
pered:
'1ou-was-right. Ikin-I kin-go."
Where, dear?n
'You-said-I could, and-I-kin-
gO-to-."
The little outstretched arms fell, and
that last loving word was spoken on
the other side of the great river-TRe
Home Visitor.
The value of holning pigeonsin coun-
try medical practice has lately been
described by an English doctor. He
starts upon his daily rounds with a
basket of the birds. Upon leaving the
house of a patient who needed imme-
date attention, he would start off a
pigeon with the required prescription,
and the assistant in the doctors surgery
would forward the medicine to the
patient long before the doctors arrival