Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-01

wen, we were coming INTO the city,
little tired, bur satisfied with our day. We
We're on the evening express, and it was
always a scene Of confusion when the
train got in; two tracks on either side
had their trains, bells were ringing, steam
escaping with that hiss and swish-sh that
is so deafening. 1t was quite dark, save
as the headlights of the engines glared
on US like huge evil eyes; the crowd was
great, and one was almost bewildered in
the glare and noise. We had found our
way out. Jack and I-poor Jack bu !
had carelessly left my bag on our seat. 1t
was Jacks present. and he rushed back
after it. The rest is blank, but learned
afterward that our train was late Jack
was coming toward me, a smile on his
handsome face, when there was a rush, q
roar, glancing lights, and when l looked
again Jack was down at my feet, white
limp, and senseless, but, thank God, not
dead. By some mistake the western ex-
press had passed without warning he was
past the rails, but the baggage-ca car had
struck him and hurled him, fortunately,
away from the train. The bag was in his
clenched hand, but I thought he had left
me forever. The crowd sUrged in, physi-
clan appeared, and he was borne into the
depot. He revived little, then went off
in swoon that seemed like death itself.
1icS Sct mn uOliie Oh u iildltTtSS, anu the
worst was known; he had a compound
fracture of the limb; the bones were set,
and | was left alone. Not until the kind
doctor had gone and the unknown friends,
did l realize a little how our holiday had
ended.
There was the kitchen with our table
pushed against the wall, but had prepared
no tea, for Jack lay there so deathly pale,
save red spot on each cheek, and he did
not know me. Oh, Jack VIII you die
and leave your little Jill all alone? And
then the tears came and had a refreshing
cry. After that saw my work before me
and prepared for it. praying that the good
Lord would not leave me quite alone.
This was the case: Here was Jack con-
| fined to his bed perhaps for three months,
possibly cripple for life; he could earn
nothing for the present; we had saved one
hundred and twenty dollars; our rent was
ten dollars a month; Jack had tumbled
down and broken not his crown, but his
! leg-would Jill come tumbling alter? |
thought so for those first few hours. and
then it came 10 me. What if he Law there
in the last long sleep and ! could not wait
! on him any more? And | fell on my
knees with sobs of thankfulness, ashamed
| of repining.
How quickly we adjust ourselves 10
high fever, and much of the time he talked
of that bag and how sorry he was he
could not get it. Every day he seemed to
be sinking lower and lower, and the old
doctor eyed me wistfully as he went out
| knew what he was thinking of-how
young she is TO be left alone. One night,
after two weeks of almost ceaseless
watching, fell asleep by his side, my
head buried IN his arms. | was utterly
wearied in that dead stupor that comes
from long wakefulness. After midnight
something reused me, the moon was
looking in upon US, and the light made
Jacks face look deathiy enough. His
hand about my hair had reused me- | felt
his pulse, it was going down rapidly. God
was good to me, had l slept on it would
have been too late to have helped him.
remembered what the doctor said When
the fever turns give him more brandy, or
he will sink away All night fed him
every half hour, the brandy and water.
praying that l might be kept awake With
the morning sun he looked up. JILL he
said-the first rational word he had uttered
since he left me TO rush into the car for
that miserable bag-and then, goose as
was, / tainted dead away. When I came to
myself Jack was in natural sleep; he
had reused but moment, and then in
uttSie NNahhSSS AA OppSNt o4l " oiSSIi
Bat the worst was passed, he began 10
mend rapidly. The Lord has remem-
bered you" said the doctor, solemnly.
The next day a friend took the burden
from me little and | hardly knew what
was passing for several days. But il was
long way out of the woods yet How
slowly it was, after all, although DR.. Low
said he gained wonderfully. Two months
passed and he could sit up but a short
time in day, but Jack had been working
beyond his strength for months, and his
recovery required time.
Hall Of our money was gone and the
future looked dark, but Jack was hopeful
and cheerful, and ] sat and read to him
hour after hour, and we discussed the old
familiar subjects again, all the time was
racking my brains to devise some means
to exc out our fast diminishing purse.
When four months had gone Jack could
limp about q little, but how thin and pale
he was. We had just twenty dollars left,
and that only by the strictest economy.
and because the doctor would take nothing
as a fee
had my hair down in the old way one
evening; our landlord had Just been in for
the rent there was bur ten dollars left I
! had venIured 20 breach our condition to
Jack ! had tried not to trouble him with
our financial matters. Your bair Is worth
more to me than gold, he said, as he let il
fall through his white hands. And then ii
! flashed over me-the old jolIe-that would
sell my hair If worst came to worst. The
next day q neighb0r stayed with Jack for a
while, and went out on business went
into several hair stores, and when | came
out of the last one I had forty dollars. but
my golden hair, yard il length, was
gone. cried little all the way home,
/ but " for jack l said. How he stared
when l took Off my bonnet Jill. Jill -
he cried, and his voice broke. Il had to
do IT, Jack; We must live and ! got $40
! for it.. But he turned to the wall and did
not speak. only the sobs shocks his frame.
and he a man, bat he loved the golden
/ hair.
Jack, I whispered half hour latter.
don't you love me a little without the
/ hair? %
Oh, Jill, he cried, to think you were
! obliged to do il -
/ On the way home I had passed an art
/ store, and some paintings in oil had at
/ tracted my attention. had taken lessons
/ my father had been an artist-why could
I not | revive my skill and earn something
now? grudged the money for the mate
/ rial, but nothing venture nothing have.
Z and so l began. | had some talent. /
hASf tAAANA tAASAA JAIN iidlN ldCt is an
J Spirauon. IL was at the time when rich
| people were crazy 10 have their china
/ decorated by hand. Ny fathers pa
/ tient lessons were not forgotten
necessity gave me Skill and / sur
| passed myself DR.. Low, on hearing
! OF my desire and seeing some Of
4 my work, got an order from one of his
rich patients. l succeeded SO well with
that that other orders followed; we would
not suffer after all. The good God was
piuful-He cared a little for Jack and me.
/ did not tumble after Jack, as the nur-
sery jingle has it: my crown was safe, al
though bereft Of its wealth ct hair. Jack
was well at last, with only little hitch in
! his gait. lie got 8 position in the iron
works and We bridged the chasm of pain
and were started up the hill again He
limped little, and looked like a bow
with my shorn head, but love had lasted.
we had each other and were thankful.
Ar bravo ITff - no coi1 " Irar, az s-.