The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-03-10

The woman kissed the little gitl's hand
and then, before could prevent 1t, mine
and hurried away.
I looked around the room for seat.
A broken down chair, rough chest, an
old table, q worn out kettle on the little
cold stove that answered the purpose Of
FIRE place; hanging on the wall In cor
ner thread-bAre black shawl, beside 1t q
childs dreas and g little hat, with finger
breadth OF blue band wound about 1t;
Iupon broken shelf beside the small win
dow q training ivy, blooming red ger.
Rnium, and Q hymn book with bright
yellow border-thst was all that the
dwelling contained.
drew up the chair and sat down be-
side my little patient. The child was sp-
psrentiy well attended 10, the limbs were
plump and pretty, the golden hair was
soft and curly. The little one was serious
" Ill, she was unconscious, and the blue
eyes stared as II they looked into the wide,
unbroken distance. 1t was cold in the
room, and went to the stove but found
only 9 single stick Of wood, whose small
ness prevented ma from attempting to
kindls q FIRE; 90 sat and waited on the
mother and the medicine. Ny glance
Kept wandering Though the poorly fur
nished dwelling. Hero lived a poor, hard
working woman, who carried coal in the
street, while her child lay in want and
sickness, and yet she certainly loved her
little one tenderly.
Suddenly the thought shot through me
that would not be able 10 save the
child; that ]. had been called too late; that
probably would not be determined
enough to make the last justi6able attempt
to snatch the child from death. Ny heart
beat violently, / sprang to the door and
listened eagerly for the mother's footstep.
Finally che came; aubmiasively che an
sWered my reproachful look; There were
60 many people in the drug store, poor
woman, like me, could not push forward"
An hour the painful Bceue continued.
Little Marie was not helped, for she could
not swolow the prescribed medicine.
Neither could save her when, with cad
heart but a steady hand, l applied the
knife to her little helpless neck; the fair
child died, died before my eyes, on the
bosom OF the heart broken mother.
The woman finally started up, tear
had falien on her hand, and yet she had
not wept. "You are crying, Doctor" abe
said softly; "oh, do not cry, you will stand
beside many siCk beds like this one, where
our God may not help" She gaEsd
earnestly ct the little corpse. II loved
her 30 much, did all for the child that l
could do in my poverty. When l came
home from my dirty work, would find
her 30 clean, so pretty; for hours at time
she would sit on the bed or on the floor
playing with some tribe, and then she
| gyoT,lA lannh fop {ou IN hon 7 mama houna IN
the evening. God has taken her
from me he loves her more than /, but
oh, 1t will be SO lonesome for me now"
pressed the mothers hand, for could
not speak. l laid soms money on the
table, and quietly lsft. When l reached
my rooms 1 laid my instrument case
away and sat down, sick at heart. l could
not cot my supper, lay down on the bed
and hoped that could sleep. The images
Of the dark attic room, the dead child,
the enduring and submiesive mother, al.
lowed me az little sleep Es the tormenting
seltIeproGch and my share in the terrible
experience which overehsdowed every
thing else. My fret patisntl could only
GroRu; and then occurred to my mind
again tho words Of the Door woman, "Do
not cry, doctor, you will often stand be.
aide sick beds like this one, where our
God may not help you"
l had been called too late to tho child
that had not been abs to save. "You
will stand beeide many siCk beds liks
this one, where our God may not help
you." ! buried my face in The pillow.
It wss a terrible night; the tormenting
thoughts which made me restless, had
nothing in common with the sweet
dreams which formerly l had fondIy
cherished In waking and sleeping.
Early the next day there came an old
University friend who hsd hunted me up
in passing through the city. Hedrsgged
me through the crowded atrests, to the
Museum, into several restaurants, and
complained Of my poor companion
ship. l pleaded the headache when l
was forced 10 make an excuse; finally We
went to tho theatre to gee sensational
play. At last, tired and worn out, |
started home alone. AS passed the win
dow Of q flower store stepped in and
bought costly white camelia and some
sweet, fragrant violeta. l went up the
fvs stories 10 the dwelling OF the poor
woman, and found the attic room open
1t was dlnly lighted, and in the middle OF
the bare room stood little bier, on which
lay the child in simple white gown.
been worked into two little knots around
the myrtle wreath which lsy on the
blonde hair; tho geTanium leaves were
streWn over the child; on the table near
by stood lamp, and the old, battered
hymn'hook lay beside it,
Iplacsd the beautiful white flower In
the little stif hand, laid the fragrant
bunch Of Violets on the breast OF the
quiet sleeper, then looked into the open
book. I felt melancholy pleasure at
seeing the cid verse that had learned OF
school, and had nearly forgotten:
"But you, our dearest loved one,
Have reached LIES iestiul end
With sad hearts We resign thee
To God, our trueSt friend"
Signing, l laid down ths book; the
words had read, the solemn stiffness,
the peaceful, reStiDg child, all served to
oppress my heart. went home, after l
had Ascertained the hour Of the funeral.
went early to bed, was weary, and
soon my trouble was quieted. Taen, az II
called forth By q arrange power, came
pressing TO nay lips the words Of an or.
dent prayer, the prayer that God would
bless to mo my hard duty; that He, by
His almighty power, would turn my con.
ceited reliance on my own skill into a.
humble acceptance Of Coda protection;
that | EiGht Recognizes my own lack OF
knowledge and depend entirely on Coda
will, Us at the sick.bsd, where l must 80
often stand, as hopeless Snd helpless as
yesterday.
In the early morning l waited in the
court yard Of the tenement house Tor the
appearance OF the little coffin. A man
came carrying II, and behind him followed
the poor mother in her black clothes. She
recognized me by thankful motion OF
her hand, as she saw that l joined the
little procession. The way was not far,
the streets were almost empty, the air was
mild and pleasant for November.