The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-10-05

for the grand doctor thSESs bAS oAA pNt-
fsh man was good enough for the poor.
ANYHOW, not all the doctors in creation
could he Of any use to the dear young
master. There was but the one thing fol
hini-his doom was sealed. And now the
question was. how 1t was to be done.
Three WAYS were spoken Of. To smother
him between two feather-bcds; or else
carry him down TO the river and drown
hinI: or to opcn . vein and let him bleed
away 10 death.
r emothcr wouldn't hear OF the smoth-
ering. When it was proposed ohcr you'd
think she'd g4out Of Ler senses. indeed,
for the matter Of that. It was much the
same whatever plan was talked OF; they
couldn't drag consent out OF Ler to any OF
them. God help Ter, twas = cruel strait
to be in. At long last, and after much
detsite. it was settled that a vein should
be opened: and when 1t WIS done, the
poor fellow-Iail upon Il bed Of straw in
an clubhouse in the yard-was left TO die.
Oh. but that was the day OF woe. Tie
misery Of it, and the despair OF the dis
tr;.c:ed mother, if / was talking till
doorssdav | couldn't describe. Her neigh
bers and cousins and the lads uncles
nockel in and were all gathered round
her in the best pIrlor, striving TO comfort
her.
They made strong tea. in hopes to get
her to swallow some. They tried to raise
her heart, telling her of the grand funeral
led havc-hundreds and hundreds COM
ing to it from far and near-the hand
soonest coffin they could buy, real oak,
with brass ornaments, 4 such a wake
Is was never seen in the country before;
no expense spared but you might rs well
talk to the dead in the clay
She didn't hear u word, but sat there
without tear or moan-only her mouth
working with the agony within-iust a
froze-up, stony image Of Despair! and
you'd hardly know her, she was 50
changed. The bright, smooth, comely
face all drawn and wrinkled like an old
c~rone's. and CHASTITY pale. Sure it was
no wonder, when ali she loved upon earth
was dripping out his young life within a
stones throw of her.
When they saw it was of no use they left
the poor woman alone. a gloomy silence
fell upon the sorrowful company as they
sat there waiting-waiting for the end.
The minutes seemed like hours. There
was nc stir except when now and then
some one would whisper under his breath
about the dying boy; how pleasant he
was and gay. how generous and OPEN
handed he'd been.
But nc matter how sorrowful the house,
or what woe and misery are within the
walls, the business of life outside must
go on. When milking time came, Kitty
Meade, the dairy woman-though the
heart in her was breaking-slipped out to
call the milk-girls and see TO the cows.
Coming pack through the yard when
the milking was done, she had to pass by
the clubhouse where they hadlaid the boy;
and for the life of her, she couldn't help
STOPPING totry and listen how it was with
him, and whether he was in heaven yet.
There was no sound.
Strict orders were given hat no one WAS
to go in; but the door was not locked,
and she thought she'd just give it a small
shove and take one look. 1t was an old
crazy door, contrary and ill-fitting. and
at the first push, it gave a great shrek,
and made SO sharp a noise that Il was
frightened and tried to pull it ~backagain.
The sight of the blood trickling upon the
floor made her giddy and sick.
rs that you, Kitty M'Cabe:" came il
a weak faint whisper from the far end
Her heart leaped up at the voice she
never thought to hearagain.
Gay is it, my life my darlin',. jewel o.
the world!" and she pushed in, never
needing the orders against it, or the
trouble and disgrace she was bringing
on herself.
80 Kitty, Pm lost with the thirst,
Have you any milk"
gs1fn la I1,.n I hO va dap1in% -1p=f=rHH-
and she ran and filled a jugful. he
drained it every drop, and then he called
for more.
Pm better now, but weak as water.
Unite me, Kitty, and I'll try to sit up.
Don't be afraid. Some more milk now;
it is doing me good"
He struggled up, and leaned the poor
white face against her shoulder, while
she put the jugto his lips.
They were pale as a corpSe's; asst every
drop of his blood had run out. The milk
seemed to revive him. She thought he'd
never stop drinking. After a while he
said:
go now, Kitty, and tell my mother
Pm well-quite well. Something has
cured me. Or stop! III try and 20 N.Y.
self if Pm able. She won't be enlightened,
will she, and think it's my ghost:"
''Heart's dariin'-'tis clean wild with
joy she'll lie! But stay, jewel, till I've
BOUNDING handkerchief tight oyeragainst
the cruel u There now naStherdear."
Reach me over that big stick in tho
corner, and III lean down upon you,
Kitty, and make shift somehow TO creep
along" and supported by the woman, he
began with feeble footsteps to totter
across the yard.
Reused by q cry from one of the COM
pany, his mother looked up, and caught
sight of the boy helped past the window.
Staggering blindly in, he fell into her
outstretched arms; and rs they closed
convulsiyely round his na~lf-fainting form,
and she held him folded in her breast
fast locked and strained to her-all who
were present and looked on knew that She
would never part him more.
And she never did. From that dayout,
sign or symptom of the madness never
appeared; though he was long in recover
ing his strength, and had to be nursed
and tended like au infant. He had, you
see, bled such a power, that it was the
worlds work to bring him to. When the
doctor fixed up the cut, he was almost
gone. a minute more, and 'twould have
been too late.
The doctor said that all the poison of
the dogs bite had flowed away out oflim
with the blood; but what did he know?
Anyhow, there wasn't IA healthier or n
handsomer or Il finer man than himself in
thewhole barony when lie came to his
full age; over six feet in his stocking
vainps, and broad-shouldered in proper
ton.
But it was remarked by every one that
his mother was never the samc after that
terrible day UAtr, h': was laid in the out
house to dIL.
a CONGREGATION IMPRISONED.