The Progress. [volume] (White Earth, Minn.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-12
a model to the boys, he was really
more polite than Jack.

open and bow us out, assure you. 1t
was in the laundry, and a cold north
wind made it dangerous for the house.
Will was away, there was only papa,
who had rheumatism, and Tom, who
was dizzy with Il raging headache, to
60 up on that roof and hold the hose.
went up the icy ladder, and was bust
ly drenching the roof of the laundry,
when l felt myself held up by strong
al1ns-and turned resentfully to find
"Jack.'' He took the hose from my
hand, but took the hand, too, and held
me, saying wildly: I've got you at
last, dear, and l mean to keep YOU,
though it is as breezy up here as the
steamers deck.''
And he held me fast and put out the
fire at the same time, ~iliie mamma,
vito dare not mount, kept calling:
WHO 20 up there with you Mary?'
And all this time Bayard the knight,
who was ever ready to anticipate our
slightest wish: sat by the fire in the IL
brary and smoked cigars, for it was
''too cold to venture out w!!c:i there
was SO inuch help. you know"
And mamma didn't say a word. even
when Jack helped me put on my cloak
after our toilets were renovated, and
boldly took me for u long walk. I sup
pose she thought fate too much for her,
taking the trouble to land him on the
roof to find me for once alone.
But Dorothy was angry and so was
Alice. ITO think of yau, who always
said you had a career, and would never
marry. taking mp with a boy like Jack"
said my eldest s;&stci1. VINO gloried in
Eehwick being a dozen years the
senior, and then Dorothy began: eyes,
and after all the study you have done,
to give yourself away like that" but
when l looked into dear Jacks dark
eyes | was amply contented.
l did want to study medicine, and had
pictured to myself the good I would do
in the world when got through college
and put up my single. I had studied
many books, practiced on many cut
fingers, and made bushels of poultices.
And when | washed out the clothes
after some patients linseed poultices,
| used 10 think that would not fall to
my share when became doctor. for
l noticed they were very tastidio.,s
about the actual work. Then / had
p elped mamma pull all The children
through the measles and scarlet fever,
taking both diseases myself after they
were all better, and helping the doctor
set Toms leg and cure Harry's gun
shot wound, when Dick mistook him
for partridge, all made me handler
than most girls for hospital work. For
l had to be married before Alice. and
Jack and l went hack - the sca-and
all through my brain during long
siege Of sea-sickness. ran the refrain:
Sailing, sailing,
Over the stormy MAN,
and then, as u deeper lurch would be
given to the vessel, | would mensanv
repeats
MANY a stormy wind shall blow,
Ere Jack comes home again.
was with Jack now, and home was
afar olive were Gu our way to the
British Honduras for cargo of sugar.
And one day rs l lay in my berth
sea-sick and home-sick in spite Of Jack.
he came in looking very pale. I asked
languidly what was the matter, as a
big green wave dashed against the
port-hole. D.
"Don't be alarmed, DEAR lie said,
'but there is smallpox OF board, and
and l must leave you and keep YOU
isolated, with the other three first cabin
passengers"
And then I s,ese in my might and
asked him what he took me for, to keep
myself like Il baby when he was in dan
ger. And I got out of bed, ana dressed,
and took down all my medical books,
and packing away all unnecessary arti-
Giles. told him I was ready for any thing.
And l put on an old blue silk, for
knew that goods resisted contagion best,
and wound up my hair on the top OF
my head. Where thou goest I will
go, jack" said.
1t is no use to tell what we did then,
for the long days and nights-of death,
and loathsome, slow recoyeries. And
as we reached that summer land, Jack
told me he was in for it, and kissed me
''good-bye" just before he lost con.
seriousness. Over his handsome face
came the fearful scourge, but painted
the sores faithfully, and held his hands
when he would fain tear off the terrible
scars. And when months after we left
home, we were once more purified and
on our way back to civilization, he
asked me if I ever regretted giving
up my career for his sake. you are
q successful failure, dearest" he
said, and I acknowledged that l had
been instrumental in Gods hands OF
doing good and helping the afflicted.
But knew / should have boon q doctor
If | hadn't met Jack, for he was my
only, only lpEe,. and l was willing to
give him. the. first place in my coveted
carecN. IS we'll as in my affections, tic
help him and those he wished to cure,
to be his in sickness and health. But
then | did not want to be thought his
anterior, and when we reached home
| and tha bo1-o ballad y,,n q tsl;ttlo l,,;ol- ),