San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-27
A BIT OF RIBBON.

n LII l. NJ
Outside, the keen, sharp winds of
cold winter day, the particles of snow
and ice cleaning like diamonds in the
bright rays Of the sun, which possessed
no power to melt them. Inside, in the
light, clean ward of the H Hospital,
warmth and brightness and comfort;
rows of neat white cots on either side,
and nurses in white caps and aprons
fitting to and fro. in constant attend
snce upon the sufferers lying there.
At the farther extremity of the long
ward, where the sunshine fell softly
over the white-draped cot, lay little
girl OF eight years, but so small, so frail
and delicate. she seemed scarcely more
than half that age An accident on the
street, several weeks before, had serious
ly injured her, and as no one seemed to
claim or care for her, she had been
brought to the hospital.
The skill of the ablest physicians and
the constant care of skilled nurses had,
however. been able to do little more
than to give temporary relief from the
severe pain she constantly suffered, but
her gentleness and patience had won
the hearts OF all about her
To-day she lay quietly upon her cot,
twisting in and out over her slender
fingers a strip of bright tinsel paper,
which she now and then held in the sun
light turning it to and fro to catch the
lustre upon its shining surface. Then,
folding it softly, she tried to fashion a
tiny bow, but the stiff, brittle paper
parted in her hands, and fell in shining
bits over the white coverlid. With a
patient sigh, she dropped her hands
and turned YEARLY upon her pillow.
DR.. jay, one of the visiting physi-
clans, was making his morning tour of
the hospital, and had stopped for a mo-
ment to watch the child's patient endea-
yors to amuse herself. The case had
been one which had interested him deep
ly. Poor little Maggie! Her patience
and gentleness had won his sympathies.
She seems to have apecular love for
everything bright and pretty" the
nurse said. in answer to low-toned re-
mark from DIR. Jay. she will amuse
herself for hours with some bit of paper
or string"
you should petition for a supply of
dolls" was the doctors humorous re-
ioinder. II think in this case they
would be more beneficial than medi-
cine," and with smile and pleasant
word to the child, and few directions
to the nurse, he passed on.
The next day, in making his morn
ing round of calls, he was delayed few
moments by passing procession. His
carriage had stopped just in front of
the windows of millinery store, and
piece of bright brocaded ribbon caught
his eye.
In an instant there rose before him
the pale face Of his little hospital patient,
and her piece of tinscl paper, and the
next moment he had put tive-dollar
bill in the hand of his colored coach
man, as no took the reins from him.
Run in there, Jim, and buy me two
yards of that lowered ribbon" he said;
and five minutes later the procession
had passed, and he was driving down
the street, with the package Of ribbon
slowed away in his capacious pockets.
He seemed perfectly Indifferent to the
fact that Jim had returned but two dol
lars of the five, and to the apparent abb
surdity of paying three dollars for
gift to q child vino, doubtless, could not
have told the difference between this
elegant fabric and piece of ten-cent
| ribbon.
But If any one had dared to hint that
he had committed a piece Of folly, he
would simply have shrugged his Shout
ders indifferently. DR.. jays kindnesses
were never done by halves.
There. Maggie, you can make bow
out of that to suit you." he said, pleas
antly, as, an hour later, he stood by the
little ones cot. and unrolling the rib
bon, let it fall in lovely shimmering
waves over the white coverld.
The child's large dark eyes opened
wide in surprise and delight; there was
a quick indrawing of the breath, clasp
ing Of the thin white hands in an ecstasy
Of rapture too deep for words.
At last she stretched out her hands,
touched lightly the shining folds, drew
them softly through her fingers, and
laid them against her cheek with loving
tenderness, as if the ribbon had been
some animate creature.