The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-20
Jacks Lesson.

$50 SAID Or. Dove, bringing ulS
hand down on Jack Burnett's shoulder
$50 you've been frightening your
mother i'll Don't you feel ashamed
Of yourself?'
"I am very sorry, Doctor" said
Jack. "but mothers are so scary. l
wasn't hurt. Ifshe'd stopped min
ute and not tainted, she'd have seen
me pick myself up. You see, the
brewers wagon turned the corner just
as the eNpressman whacked at us fel-
lows that were up behind. We jumped
of, and"
And if the brewer had not had
strong arms, and the brewers horses
more sense than the most boys, you'd
have teen q case for the coroner" said
the Doctor.
"T wasn't hurt" Jack said, laugh
ing But mother was looking from
the window and happened to see 1t,
and went and tainted"
There was pause, then DIR. Dove
said
Jack, would you like to ride out
with me tomorrow"
90, yes, thank you Doctor" cried
Jack.
"Be ready when call, then" said
the doctor. 'Two O'Clock to-morro"
afternoon"
You may be sure that jack was
ready for ride behind that pretty
brown horse, and it was delightful to
90 flying along the street and down
/ the avenue. They never stopped
until they reached large brick
house.
He took Jack by the hand, and they
went softly along the hall and up some
stairs, and entered u room all full OF
little white beds. There was IL child
in each bed, and three nurses, with
white caps and aprons. were walking
about. At some beds the Doctor paused,
gave directions to nurse, aid passed
on. at last he said to Jack:
"Nou may speak tothis little follow.
Tom, have brought young friend
to see you"
Two great hollow eyes turned Jacks
way.
How do you DO ?" asked a weak
! little voice.
"I'm we'll, thank you," said Jack.
"Tm sorry you are SICK" -,
| "I've been sick great While," SAID
Tom. "I'm going to get well now.
! Doctor says. But I've bad lots or
pain, and guess I nearly died. lts
all nv own fault though. I've made
up my mind to tell the boys / see so.
! If I'd minded ma I'd not been here
at ALL She told me never to hang on
| to the ice wagon, hut did, and the
! trolly-car ran into it. It's months ago,
and I've had time to think about it,"
"You won't do it again, will you,
Tom ?" asked the Doctor.
! mo, sir" said Tom.
The Doctor took an orange and lald
on the quilt. Tom said "Thank
you!" and Jack said: II hope you'll
! he we'll soon." They walked on until
they came to bed where little boy
lay asleep. A big laboring man in
his Sunday clothes was just rising
from chair near the cot to go. The
The Doctor held out his hand to
him. :,
ut makes a baby Of me, Doctor"
said the man. Little Pat is our
darlin,' and, barrin' he wouldn't obey
ordhers, the best boy iver you saw.
But the wife couldn't kape him from
the edge of the roof. It's siven stories
high, and over he went one day.
There's bit of hope, isn't there?" =.
"While there is life there is hope,
said the Doctor.
The man nodded and went out into
the corridor.
rs little Pat goirg to die" Jack
whispered. :,
"He may live for years, Jack" said
the Doctor, "but he will never be
able to stand, or to sit up, or even to
feed himself. He will never be any
thing but burden to his poor parents.
But he knew better than mother, you
see, and was quite sure it was safe 10
play on the roof"
Jack looked solemn. Slowly they
walked through the ward. Some OF
the little ones were playing with toys
or looking at pictures. others were cry
ing or moaning, others hot with FEVER
In one corner nurse was supporting
a woman who had nearly tainted
away.
"it came on me sudden" she told
the Doctor-"the news that my little
son had his leg off,"
"To save his life, Mrs. Brennan
said the doctor gently.
"I'm afraid life won't be much use
to him now," said the poor woman
weeping. 80, the times I have tolc
him never to 20 to into that old house
they're tearin' down; but like Sc
MANY boys, he took no heed of my
words. and when the walls fell h'
was under it, All if children Woult
only listen to them that knows bette
than they!'
There was q cot near the door owe
which the nurse was bending. n or!
of pain came from it ut that moment
The doctor fastened to stand beside II
= When he returned he looked grave.
+, THAT little boys father told hin
d never to touch his pistol" he said {!
y" Jack. "But he did, and shot himself
: He is going to die"
y Jack turned very pink. He remem
!. bered another boy who had been tolt
:. not to touch his fathers pistol ant
who had disobeyed. He was glat
& when the Doctor stepped out into tn
Ie corridor again. Over the door through
which they passed was the INSCRIPTION
"Children's Accident Ward" Jaci
looked up and read it aloud.
y. "That is what we call it, Jack" SAT-
Il the Doctor, in Il low tone. But
r believe that if the words were, WAR
ID for little boys who know better thai