The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-23

that it was nonsense, and she was sick and
frightened, that was all and so she died enc
day, crying that the Child was there, and
wouldn't go away.
"What horrible story I said. "Were all
the women in the city hospital as fearful and
inhuman as that one?'
mo indeed. I've known others who were
poor and desolate to show beautiful traits, A
woman IN the wards died that very week pray
ing Tor her child. She was poor sewing wo-
man who came to us a perfect wreck. Her
drunken husband had beaten and abused her
for years and she had lived with him until
she could work no longer. She had cancer,
and though she suffered terribly, never heard
her give one moan. She brought great bun
die OF work with herand sewed all day propped
up IN bed.
When | entered her ward at dawn, I found
her awake and waiting for me. She'd ask me
TO hand her the work and would begin Oh it as
soon as she could see.
you are not able to sew, said to her.
" i will be able to sew until / de- she re-
Piled. This sewing is my childs life. Do
you think I'd put it aside as long as l could
lift up my hands"
1--WE seen great deal OF the dark side of
life" said my nurse, with asigh,. yet there's
many bright spots, too. L found most Of tho
women--eyen the very worst-loved their chill
dren. The most astonishing case of tenderness
ever revealed to me was at the death OF a
misery old woman, who, suspecting all her
friends and relatives Of sinister designs said
she'd be nursed by none OF them
but would come TO the hospital and die there,
if she had to die at all. She was the most
dsagreeable patient lever nursed. She lad
beautiful private room, lay between linen
sheets and covered her yellow old body with
embroidered night-gowns. l had to listen to
the oft repeated tale of how, she, being a
wealthy childless widow, had been plotted
against by her kith and kin. She called them
set OF yultures and all sorts Of impoiite
names. Though she could scarcely move
she'd get out of bed to unlock the brass bound
trunk containing her will and money. She
looked at me with green, sinister eyes of
that she thought stole her keys while she
slept and unlocked that trunk with intent to
steal.
II CHANGED to touch her hand in giving
medicine, it had to be washed, and I had to
put on aprons provided by her every time [
came into the room. She seemed a creature
utterly devoid of sweetness and affection
Nothing pleased her that did, and she spent
her nights IN quarreling complaint. She kept
a locked box under her pillow that was sure
contained her most valuable possessions. NV
curiosity was excited to know whether they
were gold or Jewels.
THE night before she died she called me to
the bed, and casting her mean old eyes towards
my face as though they were spades in search
Of muddy earth, said:
II don't know whether to trust you or not
You've better face than most folks, but Lord
what are faces. My nieces who will laugh at
L
laugh at my funeral, too, still you'll get moth
ing by it, SO I'll trust you. This tin box holds
something want buried with me, and when
I'm dead you must unlock the box, take out
the things in it and put them here" motioning
to her breast, "when l lie in my coffin. Now,
you needn't congratulate yourself on my trust
ing you with this. You won't want tho
things. Don't let my kin see them.
Hide them under my shroud. Here's the
key. Take it, girl, but don't you come in here
any more tonight. You might unlock the box
before I'm dead Go on out and I'll get up
and lock the door,
When / had closed the door behind me and
walked few steps down the hall, heard a
sound OF some one falling, and returned to find
the old woman in conYulsions, and almost dy-
ing She fingered through the day until that
night when sat and saw the breath leave her
body. Then unlocked the box 1t contain
ed baby'S lace cap, rattle and one little
worn sock. AS l laid them on the dead
woman's breast / said to myself: 'She knew
she could take these treasures to heaven"
Did you ever have to nurse kany of the
men? ?" 1 asked.
NO. they had male nurse. Sometimes
I've. given them water when their nurse
was busy. The delrium tremens patients were
always shrieking for water. One night as /
went down stairs for something, / heard low
means IN one OF the cells. j was afraid to go
there, but the cries soundeea 20 piteous could
not resist them, so went n search of the suf-
ferer's whereabouts.
W men 1 reacneu the place TWO wild, red ewes
looked from between the bars. For
Cots sake give me some wa
ter. I'm dying of thirst, said the man
He looked SO gruesome that did not dare to
unlock the door and hand him q pitcher.
but made him hold his pitcher at the bars and
poked Jumps of ice into it through them. He
seemed overcome with gratitude at my kind
ness and, when he left sent for me and gave
me beautiful gold pencil, engraved with
my name.
And he fell in love with you and stopped
drinking?'
"'No, they only do that way in stories. He
was famous wit and one of the best families
in the city, but he died of drink some months
after he left the hospital
" SO this has been your life, your girlhood
and young ladyhood, yet you are bright and
cheerful. l can't understand it,"
lyon would, If YOU were used to
it. 1t is much pleaSanter here than at
the city hospital and I've grown used TO think
ing OF other people. That makes me happier
than If just had TO think OF myself. All of
us have so many personal troubles. If we
didn't have TO work and had time to think of
them we'd lose QUA minds had to do some
kind of work One has to live, you know.
MY little nurse sat and talked with me till
dawn, then, like Il white moonbeam she glid-
ed from the room to take her day time Sleep
| watched the dim stars fade and disappear,
like tears upon tho face of dawn, and as with
the sun, the working world arose to its toll and
care. heard a soft voice saying with sad in
sistence again and again Ono has to live you
know" MAUDE Amulet ANDREWS
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