Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-01-02

'She is coming TO, poor little thing"
These were the first words that Milly
heard. "Where am II" she asked,
family.
Her own voice sounded further off
than the other voice. She was in pain,
all over pain that would have been
fierce had it not been so stunningly dull,
and. above all, SO universal. Even her
little finger ached, She thought and
that thought made her half inclined to
laugh. She could not see, she knew not
why; she could not move. but that was
no wonder, for she was so tightly strap
ped and bound up. On a bed, too.
Where, where" she repeated, gasping
I'm the hospital, dear child, answered
the nurse. No, do not talk. We are
going to take great care of you"
Milly sighed, and shut her eyes for
what seemed to her but a few minutes
When she was conscious again, she saw
that something lay between her fingers
lit was her own precious bunch of flow
ers. How quickly it had withered,
though. She tried to lift her hand, but
could not. She was afraid she had done
wrong even to try. But no one was
needing her. Two shadowy figures
were talking near her bed.
''She was so lame, poor dear, she could
not run And the great dray-horse
knocked her down, and the wheel ran
over her"
GLOW terrible!r
'"The little humpback boy did his best
to save her, but he ran up too late-it
was plucky thing anyhow"
HE seems very fond of her-he will
break his heart if she dies"
Hush! lest she should hear you"
Milly had heard it all. 1t scarcely
affected her, nevertheless scarcely
seemed to concern her, in fact.
Was this MANNED motionless thing on
the hospital bed herself, Milly, the
clever little needlewoman? Was it she
who had dwelt opposite the florists win
dow? She opened her eyes yet wider;
it seemed a little lighter now. Was
this the hospital2 She had often won
dered what hospital might be like.
There were people hore who sighed and
groaned around her; she had not noticed
them before. 1t tired her to watch them
now; had they all been run over in the
street? she marveled What sad, sad
faces! What room full of painl
Clean it was everywhere, with tidy
white bedcloths and whitewashed walls,
and the sunshine coming in so that her
head ached; she had never been used TO
much light or air. Nor TO strangers,
strange faces, strange voices. All, where
was little jim? And had he really come
to her in danger?
The tears began to trickle slowly
down the child's pale cheeks.
what Is it, dear?" asked the nurse.
Jim" said Milly, with quivering
lips. "Oh, my little jimmy o,cH little
JIM"
'He shall come to presently
yes, very soon. | will give the order
now"
The nurse murmured something to an
other nurse.
"Of course; there is no time to lose,"
was the answer.
But Milly heard not this.
The nurse returned.
''Shall | read TO you?" she ASKED.
Are you in too much pain to listen2"
NO, read;" said Milly. gently. only
let it be about flowers
About flowers, dear?"
"Yes-about flowers returned the
child, dreamily Are there flowers in
Heaven?"
surely And We know that it is
Gods garden. He gamers them there
even the poorest child-iowers Of this
earth"
Then there was cry.
'Oh. Milly, Milly! Oh, you will not
diel Oh, promise me that you'll not
dier'
1t was Jim-Jim who had pressed
close to the bed. who was sobbing as if
his heart must burst He stretched out
his little wan hands. The doctor held
him back and sought to quiet him. The
weary occupants of other beds raised
themselves up and tried to see the two
children.
Milly moved as much as she was able
a gray shadow had passed over her