San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-10-10

but she was a Spartan mother, with clear
seeing eyes, and she knew it was best to
let Sybil draw on her own native
strength.
Ruby Armstrong had come in to watch
that night with Mr.. Rand, after the
good neighborly custom not yet extinct
in the questionable part of Littlefeld,
where trained nurses were unknown.
Hannah had set out little supper for
Ruby of cake and crackers, with the tea
pot on the back of the stove ready at
hand, for she knew that watchers are al
ways hungry in the middle of the night,
when hollow craving is induced by the
long vigil. The two women were sitting
with low chairs drawn close togethe,
and talking in whispers. The lamp was
turned low in the sick room where the
old man lay, and a little round stand
stood at the beds head, covered with
white cloth and neat array OF medicine
bottles, spoons and glasses.
There amt nothing to do but to give
him the drops al two hours intervals ac.
cording to the doctors orders" said
Hannah. as she leaned forward in her
chair. Poor woman, she was so worn
with work and watching and worry il
she sat down to rest for a moment she
dropped fast asleep Nature had at last
asserted itself over her indomitable en-.
ergy.
You see, I've been KEEP up three
nights running" she said apologize.
ally, as she began to nod in Ruby's face,
and I'm just starvin' for sleep. 1t was
good of you to come and offer to sit up,
| hope Jane is quiet"
Yes, she's gone to bed like lamb,
with one of them senseless logs of wood
she calls her babies, and singing to her
self little old tunes she used to know
when Il child. There amt no fire any.
where round the premises, and I've
locked up the matches. You think he's
goin' to git along, Hannah" and she
glanced toward the sick mans room.
Yes, the doctor says he's sure he'll
get up, though it may be slow, and per.
haps he'll never have his speech again
quite perfect, but his mind and memory
are clearin' every day."
well" said Ruby after moment Of
reflection, Il know Jest how You feel,
but if the Lord in his providential deal,
ms should see fit to take the old mar
away-to let him down easy, you know
it might be a great mercy to you"
Hannah had caught herself nodding
again, but these i'll advised words reused
her like strong shake on the shoulder.
81 don't know what you mean," said
she, about its bein' a mercy to Inc
to have him took away. He's blessing
and comfort and daily example in
goodness and patience; but of course
you can't know look on it as privilege
to wait on him; and as for his making 8
mite of trouble, he never does. don't
wonder you care more for cats than you
do for folks
Ru0y, in spite of her adipose tissue,
felt quite flattened by this outburst Of
Hannah'S wrath, and took II moment to
catch her breath. You needn't fly up
in that way as if you meant to scratch
my eyes out" she said pathetiCally. Il
didn't mean Il mite O harm. / was
thinkin' of all your burdens, Hannah,
and that if in the Lords mercy he was
took away
Don't Jay that again" said Hannah,
half soObing. IL can't bear to think OF
it; but I'm sorry spoke up quick to you
rs I did. Ruby, il w,,s my bad temper,
and my nerves all tangled and out Of tune
with watchin and worry. know you
mean well, Ruby; you always do"
Ruby was left alone at her post swathed
in some sort of bagging, formless gar
ment called double gown, with her
three shawls about her and the worsted
fascinator tied over her ears. She sat
in rocking chair in the shaded sick
room with her feet in wooden slippers,
supported on Il cricket. The old man on
his bed scarcely stirred, and his breath
ing was slow and noiselesS. A lamp
burned on the table in the kitchen and
a soft purring sound came from the fire
in the stove. The house was buried in
silence, and the slow ticking Of the clock
made itself heard as it beat off the meas
ure of the night hours.
After midnight Ruby had given the
old man his first toaspOonful Of the doc
tors mixture, and he had sunk away in
a more profound state Of rest. She
heard the clock strike two: then slight
mist came over Rubys eyes, and though
she always said she had not been asleep
more than five minutes when it happen
ed. it is probable that two good hours
sped away, when. with her chin on her
breast, she was sunk in gentle somno-
lence. Suddenly at las; she was reused
by feeling Il cold draft Of air on her
back. In a fright Sc reused herself,
turned toward the old man and saw his