The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-20

had [.
One memorable summer John proposed
taking me to the mountains for months
delightful tarry. OF course he could not
remain with me all the time, but thought
nothing could exceed the completeness
of the arrangements, if he must return
to business a part of the time, when I
found that Mrs. Sumlnerton and Mrs.
Prince were expecting to be guests at the
same hotel as ourselves, for perhaps the
same length of time.
The first week Of my stay was perfectly
delightful; then John went back to the
city for week or ten days stay, and the
very day he went away Mrs. Prince came
to me, shade of vexation on her fair
face, as shs said:
"Who do you think has arrived?"
AS 1 could not guess, che said, quoting
Mrs. Sammerton's expression:
"Why, that common Mrs. Brownr'
"Too bad,' said, "but, then, we need
not have SO very much to say to her, per-
haps."
"Oh, yes, she'll be sure to force herself
upon us" replied the lady; "and as we are
of the same church, suppose we must
treat her civilly."
But despite quite infrequent obliga-
ton to face Mrs. Brown, the time passed
very pleasantly, and found the increas-
ing intimacy Of My fashionable new
friends exceedingly agreeable. Two or
three days, however, after Johns de-
parture, 1 awoke one morning with a
strange pain in my side, and curious
structure about the breathing organs
entirely new to me. At noon a doctor
was summoned and John telegraphed
for. There was nothing at all contagious
in my case, but the suffering was great
and protracted. John came promptly as
possible, and for week watched me
almost necessarily, day and night. Then
my kind husband fell i'll through sheer
exhaustion, and the doctor grew desperate
in unavailing efforts to find some one to
sit with me, particularly at night.
Two nurses whom John sent for TO the
city were unable to come, and at last the
doctor, at Johns suggestion-I would
never have permitted it had been con-
sulted-begged first Mrs. Summerton,
then Mrs. Prince to share one nights
watch with me. But Mrs. Summerton
declared herself unable to endure the air
of sick room one hour at time, and
Mrs. Prince said it made her so distress
ed and nervous to think of my lying there
SO i'll that she was preparing to go away
the next day.
"There's no danger of infection" said
the doctor, bluntly, "Shat you need fear
to see your friend, or fly away from
the very house she is in but excuses in
abundance were at their soft tongues
end, perfectly plausible at least to them
selves.
But the doctor told John afterward
that, passing through the hall little
later, he heard one OF those low-voiced
women say TO the DINER:
"The Richly hands we're never formed
for nursing nor handling the sick"
sand to save my life," added the brusque
doctor, II couldn't help hurting out,
'Then God pity you, madam, if no hands
formed for nursing or handling the sick
can be found when comes your time of
need!"
Something of the dearth of aid in my
hour of extremity reached me, despite
the efforts made to conceal it, and in my
weakness and pain L wondered If was to
die for want of proper care and watching,
with a houseful of people about me.
/ did not know nor care how it came
about, but just at nightfall of that day,
Mrs. Brown glided into the room exactly
as if she belonged there; and with every
nerve unstrung and on the qIi vive, l
watched her every movement.
What subtle transformation was this
She wore a soft gray wrapper, very CRATE
full to my straining eyes, In walking she
made no effort to tip-toe about, remind
ing me of my critical condition, yet her
slippered feet made no sound as she
crossed and recrossed the room. At first
she avoided looking at me; then she came
to the side of the bed and-it wasn't "cul-
ture" nor affectation, but it was the sister
ly sympathy and loving kindness OF the
Christian that made her voice beautifully
low and sweet as she said cheerily:
"Why, you don't look so very sick, after
all; imagine, however, there will be no
harm in a little rubbing"
The soothing power Of those great, soft
hands! Shall L ever forget how tire
lessly they administered to my needs, how
gently they eased the cruel pain, as night
after night their welcome touch brought
gradual relief? And my vanished &C.
quaintances of summers day had called
that woman common" while it was my
lips had said, ave need not have much to
say to herP'
Convalescence came tardily; many of
the guests had left the house since my
illness began, but still Mrs Brown fingered.
One night, when a peremptory call from
the city had taken John away for day
or two, 1 took one of those great, tender
hands in both my little wasted ones, ana
trying to control my penitent, fearful
voice, asked:
allow did you learn to know a suffer
er's needs so completely? And why did