The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-04-03

again, Just as well as he USED 10 ne
1T will be a long time before he will
be, and he may never be, but hope he
may be quite strong, and able TO get
much enjoyment out of life, even If he
must spend the rest of his days as a
cripple"
Marcia WINGED little at that word,
and the tears filled her eyes, but she
bravely forced them back. She did not
intend that the doctor should see her
crying; she was afraid he would think
she was not womanly enough TO help
take care of her father.
ut will be hard for him to be Grip
rle, and hard for us TO see him helpless,
but IL is so much better than for us not
TO have him at all, that1 can't feel any
other way than thankful about it,"
Even as Marcia spoke, her voice trem-
bed with suppressed feeling, but her
lips smiled as PLEASANTLY as usual, and
that was very pleasant
Papa" she said, cheerily, minute
later. "I'yc beaten them all; they just
had TO let me take care of you. They
couldn't hatch up another excuse to pre-
vent It, That's what comes Of persist
ence. The doctor said you mustn't talk,
but he didn't say mustn't; neither did
he forbid my kissing you, just once.
There!"
"She'll do" said the doctor TO himself,
as he started off, He had been playing
eavesdropper, TO find out If ii were real
" safe TO leave a 1G-year-old girl in
charge of his very sick patient. Marcia
had only seen her father once before.
since he had fallen from the high build
ing on which he was helping TO build n
chimney, and she had been hastily SUM
n,cned from school, because they
thought he was dying. The old doctor
had feared that she would make a
scene" when she did see him. But the
wife was tired, the sick man would have
no strange nurse, and he had been call
ing for Marcia. so il had been thought
best to try her.
IF that bright-eyed girl had only
been boy, there would be little
brighter outlook for poor Morris,
unused the doctor, as he rode towards
the next patients house, for then there
would be a prospect Of help az some
future time; but now II certainly looks
very dark for him"
1t surely did look dark, and the sick
man. in spite of the repeated injunction
not TO worry, could not help wondering
over and over again what was TO become
OF them all, and how they were 20 keel
out OF the poorhouse. A workingman
witha family TO feed and clothe and cdu
cate, and who has only his own hands tc
depend on, can generally manage to lay
up but little for the proverbial "rainy
day" But when the rainy day has no
only put in its appearance, but has rem
dercd the head OF the house forever unfi
for labor, the outlook is far from pleas
ant. The Morris family were fortu
nate in having their little home all pale
for, and enough money 10 help then
through the first weeks Of their grea
trouble; but, In the eyes OF their neigh
bors. they were unfortunate In having
no boys in the family. IF Marcia haS
only been boy, and could go 10 work.
had been said in her presence over an'
over again, when sympathetic friend
had dropped In with well-meant advice
and suggestions as to the best way 70
the troubled family TO earn their dali,
bread.
"Why can't work. II I'm not a boy p
demanded Marcia.
"Why, you can, of course" was tn
answer, "but what will a amount to
Girls get so little for their work; bu
with a boy IL is different a boy of 1
IS capable Of earning very good wages,
"Ncver mind. girls" Marcia wouh
shy, turning 20 her three younger sis
tiers. 1--WE won't cry because we're girl
till we're very sure that girls are N
good, will we2 ! believe we can hcl
papa and mamma just as much as II "
were boys"
80 do l." answered each one Of IN
sisters. who always believed everythin
Marcia did.
p Hut let us go back 20 the sick roor
anu see now Marcia n getting along !