Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-28
THE MEDAL.

If the square 10 Wh,ci, stoDd one OF the
largest sbops. he small cab horses, mo
tionless and glisteBigs under the shower.
looked like ti'r painted animals 81 il toy
box. Nevertheless, the bus which runs
from the principal street To the Northern,
railway siatslu had jest turned the cor
ner, the two dappl. gray horses, giving
n good shake Ia their collars as fisy
trotted through the paddles Of water,
and like the jiatoons II II Roman lesion
sheltered by their shields. the passengers
came ont FROM the waiting room and al
vspced to b,siege the heavy coach under
their rain drencbed umbrellas.
Come On. the nOrthr' shouted the
conductor. never suspeetinS the audac-
ity Of his eiiiIsis only three places
left inside. One. two, three; no one an
swers. four, FIVE"
Here. ioar and five said a sweet
voice from tho depth Of the great white
cap Of sister Of charity.
'Tickets
And after having closed their tire
mendously large, old, blue cotton UNI
brellas- such umbrellas arc never seen
anywhere nowadays except on the coun-
Try roa,is--the two nuns climbed up into
the bus.
zone more seat" called the conductor.
''burry mp. six"
And still another woman came out OF
the crowd and gave her number IA
woman Of the lower class, with her linen
cap. She was twenty-five years old. and
was sheItering as well as she could under
an old torn sun1hade n little hollow eyed,
sickiy looking boy. whom she carried on
her arm and who elung tightly ahhit
her neck.
Come now. mamma" said tho con.
drctor. rustliug i'll his rubber coat.
that urchiu is Too old. You must buy
ticket for him"
What. SIR" quickly replied the We
man. seeking to retain her self po-s7
sion, "he is three years aud u half. %
And II little more; we'll. well. it j.
very bad weather; climb up lively
now"
The poor woman, with shame f,a,',.,l
air, took the only vacant seat, near the
bus DOOR aud opposite the two nuns
placing her little boy ON her knees. aud
then. Ting ling. ting ling ~ ling
the full bus went jogging away with an
exasperating noise. Just like iron bar.
Jolting over tho payemenis or hhe
cracking glass.
Although seated side by side and
dressed exactly alike the two sisters ol
charity did not resemble each other
The elder was perhaps fifty, with the
strong physique aud rnddy color Of Il
farmers wife. As soon as she had given
the conductor six great pennies wrapped
mp in bit of paper il was all the money
that the poor nuns had and the mother
superior had but Just given 1t 10 them
as they were setting forth on an errand
TO the hospiial the stouter sister in a
countrlted manner put her big basket
on her kuaes and crossed her hands upon
the handle She WAS a true, good. reli-
gious woman but woman who mus,
assume the lowliest duties and do the
hardest work
Her companion, on the other hand
was still quite young. POSSIBLY twenty
three or twenty four years old, aud her
whole appearance bore the strongest les
timony 10 her refined aud aristocfatie
origin; in word. She came uf a GOOD
family. Only HAT soul painter. Philippe
do Champagne, would have had the
necessary genius capable oi putting on
canvas that pale, distinguished hooking
face. face already einac lated and with
two light shadows under its great hazel
eyes. Worthy of an archduchrsS wer,
those transparent han,is with their taper
ing fingers, which the young sister OF
charity supported upon her old horn
handled umbrella.
Meanwhile this woman of the lower
class-oh. these worthy people, they are
like great children. full Of confidence
and hee,IlessnesS: how excited they he.
come. how badly they are deceived b,
false and foolish fatterN. but then how
good natiuel they are this poor work
Ing woman suddenly entered into con
Sersaiion with the conductor. " ho WIS
little. lean. gray bearded old soldier
wearing upon his vest the faded ribbon
pf tho Crimeau medal. and who hid
found time, while collecting the poor
wonan's far. &, hestuw u smile and a
pleasant word or 50 upon her siekly boy
Yes. it il true enough" she sand; "h,
has been quite sick. poor little fellow
and have been to bring him away from
the hospital. where he has remained foi
the last six weeks. He has still his it'll,
Dapier mache imagc. for he Went to ia,
Hospital of the inf,tut Jesus The old
doctor, who speaks to yon As if YOU wert
n dog, but has good heart all the sa,ue
has just tins minute said To me. SIS
months of cod liver oil and he will IL
well. Is it not So. Popol: His name i,
leopold. And YOU will not make mp !
face when YOU have 10 take il. will yo,i
And you will swallow your cod liver al
you know you promised mother YOU
would Then. quickly altering her tone
thetic manner, You have no children
have your
''oh. ycs. three" replied the old sol
tlier. ''hut they are much larger thar
your boy. have three daughters NJ
rldest has been married about "a year
and the Youngest has just entered upon
her apprenticeship"
"Then you know just how it is, Wlsel
we began ,o he worried about our boy
health il WAS at the worst season of tl'
year. in July. when So many Young chill
iren die. Ny husband Is book binder
II You please; he makes book covers. ii,
works at home and has customers amons
the middle class, but during the summer
every one goes away either 10 the coun
try or to the seashore.
"Oh, yes. YOU see know all about it
That was when our boy became sick
the night before the celebration on til,
18th. He was first feverish and then h,
had chill: then he began TO cry and I,
complain of choking. and his crazy fa
Their all the time was entertaining him
self by putting up his iiasss his little rex
balloons and his plaster images On on
windows; il quite set my teeth on edge,
Oh, these men. they must always b,
thinking of politics. il Is their play
thing, or whatever YOU have mind Il
call it.
But the next day can tell YOU. b.
thought no more of his decorations o
his illuminaiions. The doctor came
looked alarmed and put .sn the poo
child's back a plas,er rs large as M,
hand. Pleurisy. Do you understan.
how child no older than he is coul,
have such sickness We We're il
straitened circumstances | am no
ashamed TO acknowledge it, My hus
hand went ,f,f IN fry IN COLLECT two :,
three bills, but it was of no use: ever.
one had gone away And then it almos
seemed AS If we could not make our bo