Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-27
PLAYED 4 DoUBLE ROLE

Among the early autumn weddings was
that OF prominent young physician of
this city. and belle of the West End. The
marriage was a particularly gay one. the
friends of the young couple doing all in
their power to felicitate the wedding Jour
ney With a shower OF rice and slippers.
The carriage in which the bride and groom
made the trip to the railway station had
two enormous spoons tied with ribbons, at
tached to the rear. and as parting COM
pliment one Of the ushers threw into the
window of the carriage miniature trunk.
upon which was fastened two tiny white
doves.
The groom tossed it out. only to have it
returned with q 'fifteen-alr' result. Back
and forth went the little trunk like a tennis
ball, until the small baggage was likely TO
receive literal smashing" Finally it
landed in the crowd of curious spectators
that lined the street to witness the going
away party, and 1t was seen no more.
Two months elapsed, and the incident of
the little trunk was wellnigh forgotten by
the young couple until one night last week
wedding celebration. and which the young
husband will not soon forget.
Though the physicians practice is large
he still attends many charity patients. and
from one OF these the other night there
came a pitiful summons. The poor woman
In question has a large family, and the
baby. little fellow of four years, was ILL.,
1t was a nasty night; the wind blew and
the rain beat down SO fiercely that all who
could remainded indoors. The distance was
great, bat the young physician is tender
of heart, and he went to the relief of the
little sufferer.
"Only cold at first" said the anxious
mother, and a sore throat. But. he has
grown rapidly worse. Oh, doctor, believe
couraged perhaps hardened in some ways
by her long battle with the world. but the
mothers love was there. and the doctor
recognized it In her trembling voice. One
glance at the child told him that he had
come too late Diphtheria was there and
the most that could be done would be to
ease the final struggle of life and death.
The child had intervals Of consciousness,
and during one of these he looked up at the
physician and in hoarse little voice said:
Does 90 want to see my trunk? l has
1t right here, and We little birds is sound
aseep."
One little hand found it's way under the
pillow and drew forth the draggled remains
OF what had been two tiny stuffed birds
AT the same time, the child pointed to an
object held tightly in his other arm, and
which he clasped lovingly to his breast 1t
was little trunk. The mother with a
sob. explained to the doctor that the little
trunk and the birds We're her baby's cher
fshed playthings.
He got them, SIR she said zone day on
the street. The birds were tied to the
trunk; and 1t seems some wedding folks
had them for favor like. At any rate the
bride and the groom threw them from their
carriage and Willie, there, got them, sir
III you could have seen how please he was,
ana he came running home to show me-
Every night he has gone to bed with the
TWO birds under his pillow, hugging the lit
ne toy trunk to his poor little heart. oh,
sir. he was that tender of them, you'd a
thought they was all alive"
The mothers grief prevented further
words, and when she next raised her head
from long paroxism of weeping. the life
spark OF her baby boy had gone out for
ever Alone the young physician had
watched the little traveller start on his
iong journey. Very tenderly be begged the
mother to give him the toy trunk and the
little birds, and the physician and his wife
| have put them reverently away. I say
reverently, because they played a part at
Of death.