The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-03
A SON of the Plague.

cloak
lIurrying along the street, with these
question passing through my mind, was
stopped by light touch upon my arm.
Upon turning encountered the same tall
form, black dress, and searching eyes.
The fingers stll played with the chain and
locket, and seemed TO hold them forward
for my inspection. Pardon me-" said
the lady. Pardon what must strike you
as impertinence, when | ask you to tell
me your name"
"Sidney Black" answered.
A shade Of disappointment crossed her
face, but the eageraess in her eyes grew
more intense Us she asked, "llavc you
relatives in the southp'
"Not that am aware OF. Can / serve
you further, madam" | continued,
moved to pity by the evident pain my
answer had inflicted.
4 moment passed before she replied,
thoughtiully, "Ycs, you might help me.
| You are strangely like the mental picture
| | have made OF my boy grown TO man
4 hood. lie would be twenty-onc now.
lbh hN HbhlNANlhR bhA'at lNAhdlint bht
surely the same nature stamps your feat
urcs, # the same blood does not flow in
your veins This is my house. II you
| have an hours leisure, and will come in, |
| will tell you the story Ol the nOblcst char
actcr ! have ever known.
She led the way into we'll furnished
| library, and gave me seat near the fire,
| for the day was damp and chilly. Wheel
| Ia. a. la 1ufI H.
chain and lockct upon IT, seated herself
beside II, and entered at once upon her
narrative:
I'm the summer of rs | was yellow
fever nurse IN the plague stricken city Of
Memphis. Six months before death had
| broken what ] then thought the last tie
that bound me to earth, and was desc
late and wrutched. The cry that came up
from the stricken people OF Memphis
reused me from my selfish melancholy,
aud something told me my mission was 10
them. Obeying this impulse, | went 10
Memphis, l placed my means In the
handsof the Howard ASSOCIATION aud joined
its corps of nurses.
Several weeks passed, and | had he.
| come somewhat accustomed 10 the ever
increasing horrors Of the plague. Late one
patient 10 tho headquarters OF tho How.
ards, where the demand for nurses had
grown 50 great that il was impossible 10
meet IL. As entered, in company with
| DR. Moncttc, n lad Of about fourteen years
was asking TO have a doctor aud nurse sent
| TO his home.
eco with this boy, DR.. Moncitc, II YOU
| please, said the superintendent.
| Ntntuaan gsUI f,UF4n f,ianIa1 a.,
] boy. Three Of the children are down,
and know mother is sick, II she would
but own it,
"ln obedience 10 a look followed DR..
| Muncte and the boy out into the cool,
mooulightcd street, ~ quiet now rs u
| country road, aud deserted by all forms oi
life, except here and there the fitting fig
urc Of nurse or doctor hurrying from
believed to bc deadly poison. As the boy
started hOmeward, and "a We walked on
| with him, DIR. MOncttc inquired how long
the children had been sick.
"'Since FRIDAY, he said. 'Wchavc had
Dr. Ayent, but he did not come today and
sister is growing worse; 30 mother said
must bring another doctor
." 1t Is well you did not wait longer ior
"'Oh, / am ~ sorryl Don't let him
| diol' cried the boy, in voice that sounded
| like a prayer. This Is our street We Will
soon Ia home, now
"He conducted US % lowly abode
where q worn and weary mother wns min.
| isicring 60 three prustraie children, th,
eldcs, girl OF twelve. The boy hastcned
| 10 his sisters bedside, called her name and
| a - a..
Stand back, young man. said the doc.
tor pushing him aside. You are too anx
ious to take the fever. Three nj tune
will do Tor this establishment. Violent
type OF the disease he continued, making
hasty examination Of the three children
| lie then turned b the mother. laid his fin,
gers ON her pulse aud said, aulhoritauvcly:
Get 81 bed Immediately, madam, In an
other room, II You have one. This ladN
will take charge Of your family
"Iudeod, I'm not sick, doctor; only
little tired. Don't ask me 10 leave IN,
childrcnl' As she spoke, rigur passeJ
| through her delicate iramO her thin feat
urus contracted. and her teeth chartered.
"'Comc, mother, for baby's sake. como,
said her son, aud, putting his arms about
her he drew her into another room.
1
! doctor 30 me. You know the treatment
DO what YOU can Tor the mother and TIVE
| younger children. the girl Is past help
I'll send the undertaken tomorrow. GooC
night
"whcn | went into the mothers room
the boy was on his knees, taking OF hcl
shoes, aud trying 10 encourage her viii
CHEEKY, hopeful wor,ls. Leaning upon
him, she staggered TO q low bed In ON,
corner Of the small room and lay down q
rise up no more. A faint smile ilittcj
across her wan features ~ q sweet, COO
ing. baby VOICE, aud a haby's gurglinl
laughter, stole In from some mysterious
quarter -.
That's Horace; that's our baby sale
the boy, proudly. He's IN the It'll,
kitchen, shut OIL from the fever. hun.
that blanket over the door TO keep th,
fever from going through the cracks I,
him, hut his Growing and laughing CONT
through 10 uS, and cheer va up more thar
anything. We haven't had peep ut hiu
since Friday
"'Wh< axes care Of him7 asked.
"'Aunt Missy. aud she has her hand
full can tell YOU. Horace is such ~
uproarious rogue. Hear him now Hc'l
all right, mother, or no couldn't crow like
that Now take your medicine and 90 "
sleep
eyes, aid I, DO quite easy In YOU
mind. Tho doctor has given me lii
orders. will do everything Tor the chi
drcn
Robert viii help you, she said. 'll'
Is my brave boy
Never was the adjective more truth