Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-05-09


was silly, and didn't know what he was
talking about. But he says:
'You didn't hear me out, mother.
To-day there was new conductor on
81, auu it was Miss Emma's bcau-Mr.
Thatchcr!'
We'll, did stare, and was sure Jim
was mistaken, but he said he'd know Mr..
Thatcher anywhere, and he was sure
that was him. We talked about it IA long
time, but you see there was nothing we
conld do, and | thought Jim was right,
after ALL and maybe Miss Emma's pa had
sent the poor fellow off, when he lost his
money.
1t was, maybe, two weeks after that or
three, that one day Mr.. Sandcrson came
to the house, all in II iluttcr. Miss Emma
was sick with typhoid fever and they
wanted nurse, and she wanted that
nurse to be me. Dear, dear, but / was
iiustcred; but I sent jim to his Aunt
james to board, and shut up the rooms,
and went off to the grand house.
Poor Miss Emma! We nearly lost her,
though her pa had the best doctors, and
l nurscd her faithful. She took the
fever visiting one of her other Sunday
school scholars, and she was not very
strong any time, so she took it very hard.
One day, when she was very bad, heard
her ask her father:
"Papa, where is TIarry'"
~ don't know" he said.
Then he began to tell her something
in very low voice, and l went down
stairs 10 make lemonade, not to hear
what wasn't meant for me. The poor
young lady was very sad all that day,
and | mistrusted she cried, when no one
was watching her.
1t was none of my business to inter
ferc. but l frettcd morcn little about
what Jim had told me, and wondering if
MIR. Thatcher was Harry. Icouldn't ask
Jim, because would not let him come
near me for fear of the fever. Miss Emma
WAS so weak, too, I didn't dare for her
life say anything to excite her, and so
held my tongue till the fever took a. turn
and she began to get better.
1t was uphill work then with trs, for
she was weak as a baby, and didn't seem
to care TO get we'll. She had to be coaxed
to cat or to try her strength, and was
willing to lie quiet all day, which amt
natural i'll young folks after long sick
ness. Most times they are in too great Il
hurry, and throw themselves back again
The doctor said she wanted .rousing.
So ono day, after she had ,heE;Shit |of toast
and a little bird nieQla;a{li SiHed with
the best cut of sbsSs5 Il cqpia make, l
coaxcd herx d ar arm
chair; whei F asFi 4 es sssS si stpble,
saiu' Msttsif1f3s9} tf f5.S y 81; ;fs ~; sssf
"Miss Emhisss baesb s@zating to tell
you something lhng time, but I was
afraid you'd think' was stepping out OF
my place"
81 should never think anything unkind
OF my dear, good nurse" says she, and
slipped her little, thin hand in mine SC
loving it made the tears come in NY eyes.
"Wcll, Miss" 1 said, 'if you wont
think it is impcrtinence, I'll tell you.
Jim told me that he saw Mr.. Thatcher
in the cars bit before YOU was taken
sick, and-well, Miss, don't feel too bad
about it-hc was conductor"
l was afraid she'd faint, ma am, and
cry. was never so took abacll in my
life AS l was at the way she acted She
sat right up in her chair and clapped
her two little hands together, and Just
laughed like Il child. All the merry
light that was gone so long from hei
eyes came back.
"Oh, you dear, darling nurse" she
said to me, 81 could just kiss you, and
| will"
And she did!
elbow did he look2" she asked me.
''Jim said he looked very grave, and
us if he had some care on hif mind" |
told her, land he had none of his fine
clothes on, but gray suit aid slonch
hat"
She laughed again at this.
"And did he take the farts, Just like
any other conductor, and ring the bell?"
The idea of that tickled icr so much
that she had to laugh again suppose
looked as astonished as was, for
pretty soon she said:
''Now, for your good news, you shall
know all about cit. suppose you
guessed" and she got roy-red, "that
Harry and were lovers"
"Jim suspicioned itT' 1 mid
"Jim has sharp cyesl how you must
know first, dear nurse, thst my father.
though he is very rich nan now, was
as poor boy as Jim is, ard he made all
his money by hard work. So he has a
great contempt for young men who do
nothing. He thinks every man in this
country, rich or poor, shot lid have some
honest work to do, and d it. Money is
} often lost, you know, nrse, and if a
man is too fine to work, IL may starve"
J "Indeed, that's sop laid.
J "Harry-Mr. Thatches nurse, had a
) large fortune left him byhis father, whom
nc was boy, and he neRr did days
! work of any kind in allhis life. did
not know why he stopph coming to see
me, and-well, I will tell you'll felt
; ashamed and sorry, for thought he did
, not care for me as Ihad thought, while I
did love him. OF cour$, nurse, nobody
; knew that, and mob hy ever should
know it, only that iou have told me
I. l. Il TIYf