Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-08

managed very we'll until lately, when
ill luck seemed to single us out for it's
victims"
They chatted pleasantly for some
time, and then DR.. Baker went home.
Many visits followed this one. The
child was i'll for long time, and many
night, when the great city was wrap
ped in the silence of sleep, did DR.. Baker
watch beside the bed of that little child,
stealing his own rest and health that
the little one might not suffer. l don't
know why it is, but sickness seems to
bring human hearts closer together. II
may be that anguish born OF common
cause finds sympathy and balm in the
heart of another who suffers. 1t may be
that God transmits to them silent
speech which is only heard in the still
watches of the night, when the tongue
is dumb and fancy has its sway. Be the
cause what it may, sickness lights in
the breast Of those who watch the flick
ering fame Of affection, and the oil of
sympathy steadies the fame into love,
and when all the outside world is dark
and drear this little flame disperses the
shadows of depression and warns the
soul with its tender heat, making on
the dreary shore Of life beacon which
the winds Of adversely cannot destroy,
but brighten by their wrath-a beacon
which shall live when all others fade
to guide the troubled heart into the safe
harbor Of its double.
Night after night as the doctor and
the girl watched that beautiful child
they felt that the Pickering fame had
been kindled, and well it was, for soon
the oil of sympathy would be needed to
steady the fame and keep warmth in
the breast Of the girl.
When Gods children are too pure for
this world, he calls them home, that
their purity may never be contaminated.
And so he called little Mabel Robinson.
It was just at dawn, that dreamy
hour of INDIGESTION, when the world
seems to mediate between the night and
day. The shades were up, and the first
shafts Of the newborn day orept silently
through the windows and melted the
shadows Of the room. The doctor held
the child's little hand, and the girl,
with tear dimmed eyes, watched the lit
tie form whose life was slowly ebbing
away. A bar of sunlight struggled
through the morning mist and shone on
the face of the child, bathing her hair
in golden light and whispering some
message in her ear. for she smiled and
looked to heaven.
The doctor folded the little arms
across her breast and kissed her smiling
lips, while the sister stood staring, but
seeming not to see. Dr.. Baker led her
to chair and gave her some stimulant.
This revived her, and she asked for
Mabel.
"Mabel has gone away" he answered.
"God called her home by the first shaft
of sunlight"
"And now am alonep' sobbed the
girl.
"Nay, not Alone" replied the doctor
softly, taking her hand. Though my
skill could not save Mabel, my heart
may save you from some Of the dreari-
ness and loneliness of the future. Let us
bear together this sorrow, and let me
share in all these coming years the joys
and sorrows Of your life, that 1 may try
and comfort you"
my dear doctor, the tender care you
took Of Mabel won my heart, and under
that same care my life can know no sor-
row."
The little child was laid away. and
nothing but her memory remained, but
the lamp that was lighted in two breasts
during the midnight watches Of the long
sickness burned steadily and bright like
true beacon through the remainder Of
two lives. Brooklyn Citizen.