Middletown transcript., 1897-09-25
"Don't make fun of your daughter

| for life-then I shall love her all th
more 10 make up for what she will lose
It's not likely, after all thi time, tha
we shall ever find her relatives"
"But, Helen. you are young still
how can | allow it. She m ghL b3
burden if you should ever have hom
of your own."
Helen raised her Thoughtful eyes tt
his. II am not like other girls, papa
l don't believe l shall eyer have an
other home than this. | AN thirty
three years old and | want to be 4
mother to this poor afflicted little one
She is very bright and loVabla, aad ne
well child has ever crep. Into my hear
as she has"
People will say your are crazy, your.
self, uelen."
"Y0u aud | learned long ago not Ii
care when We are doing gh., papa.1i
Her father bent down and kissed th,
sweet face, saying: "And | learned
long ago that had better submit grace.
fully, when my daughters mind is
made up.
"We'll make partnership affair el
1T and I'll do the adopting.".
'All right, papa, but you mustn't be
jealous, If I claim her, for l mean to
be first with her and have her for my
own"
In less than a week Miss OAkly had
accomplished her purpose and was
"Aunt Helen" to t poor little inva-
lid. The Doctor contented himself with
the title of "Uncle Henry, "and watch
ed hi. daughter with a new interest, as
he saw her food the chilu's |. fe with the
radiant motherhood that too often never
finds an object in lonely maiden's
life.
The people who always criticise,
wagged their heads aud talked, az the
Doctor had decla. ed they woI Id. "If
the Oakley's wanted to adopt a child,
why not take healthy, we'll one at
least; giving her the old aristocratic
name Of Oakly, alsop That would not
make them forget that she was y pau
per-" But Helen went her own sweet
way and the gossip met the fate of all
thine day wonders"
"Half the talk was jsalously," the
Doctor said, ''that Helen should dare
to have care of her own, and occupy
her time otherwise than for the public
benefit" Th. Child became the pet of
the house. The doctor tried all the lat
est remedies and was always ready to
sympathize and spOthe when the little
frame was racked by pain.
Helen taught her in her well NOM
ents, and "mother. d. her in her sick,
and poured out the whole love of her
heart to bring light into the little suf-
ferer's life. She repaid them both with
an absorbing affection. Her parents had
evidently been refined people and she
had been we'll brought up, but, it was
Helen who taught her the source of
help and comfort and was to her an
"Angel Messenger"
The years rolled on aud Amy was
fifteen, slight delicate girl, uut with
no deformity, though the spinal weak
ness not cured. The doctor's hair held
a little more white, bnt he showed no
other trace OF age. Ii there was any
change in Helen's sweet face it was
not visible to the two whom she was
80 dear; but, she often told them laugh
lngly, that she was glad she had look
ing-glass to eo ind them of the base
ness Of their flattery.
That Summer. there was an epido-
mic of diphtheria in New Market. The
doctor was gone from mOraing until
night. Helen was not TO be prevented |
when nurses failed. from bearing her
share of the burdens, and when her
iather saw how much her cool steady
nerves and good judgment were worth
IN many of the afflicted household, be
lid not dare forbid her. Amy was
llone most of the time and she tried in
Ter girlish way to take up HeIen's ne.
elected home cares.
One night, Hannah, the cook, told
Ter that the doctor had eaten almost
'othing for two days pas. He's sick
himself, }" she continued. "His face is
Ill red and his eyes heavy aud two or
hree times tonight he never answer
ID, when spoke to him."
The doctor had refused to allow any
me to see him since the epidemic, and
lad taken his meals alone.
81 wish Aunt Helen was home,"
Amy said. .'But she's way ON the
North side of the ei;y-over a mile.
las Jim put the horses up?"
"Yes, and gone to watch with his
rother's child, the doctor said he'd
1alk tonight. Don't worry Child"
he woman added, seeing Amy's frigh-
ened face. Amy sat up in Holen's
DOM studying priz. essay on diph-.
heria she had found there, till long
fter the doctor ca me in. She puzzled
er brains to grasp the medical terms
nd taxed them to remember the re-
ltdies.
Hannah was the only servant left in
be house, the rest were with sex re-
ltiyes. After awhile she stole softly :
} the Doctors door, She could hear
is heavy breathing: heavy with . /
range choking sound, ami be was
and talking to himself.
81 must take Heleb's part" !" she said
!, herself. Even oher inexperienced
u, he was very sick man. She found
is case and poured out the droFs her ]
ssay had recommended; and though |