Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-05-15

The little golden. haired girl died
died before my eyes on the lap of
her stricken mother.
The woman looked up as if start
led when tear fell on to her hand,
for she had not wept.
"You are crying, doctor? Oh,
you must not do thatl You win
have to stand by so many sick beds
where God sends no relief
She looked earnestly at theslittle
body.
81 loved her so. I did everything
for her that / could, being so poor.
When ! came home from my dirty
work / always found her so pretty,
so loving. For hours she would lie
on the bed or sit on the floor and
play with almost nothing, and then
she would laugh for joy when l came
home. God has taken her; He low
ed her better than but oh, how
lonely it will be for me Y
pressed the poor woman's hand
| could not speak, but | laid some
money on the table and went out
softly. Once at home, laid my
case Of instruments away, and sat
down overwhelmed. l could eat no
supper; | went to bed and hoped to
sleep, but the picture of dismal at
tic room, OF dead child, and an
humble, devout woman would not
let me rest, any more than the tor
turing recollection of my own part
in that scene.
Early the next morning an old
college friend came to see nae as he
was passing through the city. He
dragged me through the crowded
streets, to the museums, to all sorts
of restaurants, and complained OF
my lack Of spirits. l pleaded a
headache, and so escaped going to
see popular play at the theater.
Tired and exhausted, l went at
last alone to my room. As l pass
ed florists brilliantly lighted win
dows, stepped in and bought a
costly white camellia and some fra
grant violets.
l climbed the five flights to the
home Of the poor woman. found
the attic room unlocked it was
dimly lighted small coffin stood
in the middle of the bare room, and
the child lay there in a white shroud,
The ribbon from the hat on. the we'll
had been worked over into two little
bows; myrtle wreath rested on the
fair hair, and the geranium blossoms
were scattered over the body. Or
the table near by was a lamp, and
the open hymn book was beside it.
/ laid the beautiful white blossom
in the stiff little hand and fastened 9
bunch of violets on the breast of the
silent sleeper; then I looked at the
open book. II joy to depart
old hymn that I bad learned al
school and half forgotten
''To my dear ones who grieve,
Do not mourn for me now;
This last message leave,
To Gods will you must bow"
laid the book away with sigh
The words of the old hymn, the SOL
emn stiffness, the peaceful little child
oppressed me. | went home after
inquiring about the hour of the bur
ial.
| retired early. | was weary, and
all my unrest had gone. AS if call.
ed forth by power higher than my
own, the words of an earnest prayer
came to my lips, of the prayer that
God would bless me in my hard pro.
fession, and would change my haugh.
ty self-confdence into an humble
trust in His protection, wherever
| my small knowledge and my faith.
full efforts would not avail, when ]
must stand, as on the day before
helpless to aid.
In the early morning [ awaited
the little coffin at the door Of the
house. A man bore it before him,
| and the mother followed in her poor
black gown.
She pressed my hand with a CRATE.
full look, when she saw | had joined
| the little procession. The way was
not long, the streets were almost
empty, and the air was unusually
mild for November. When the iron
gate of the cemetery opened, tht
weeping woman bowed her head
still lower. A young clergyman
stood beside the grave. Il have un
dertaken, as far as / am able, to pro
nounce last blessing over all tht
sleepers of my congregation" ht
said, softly, as be met my surprised
look.
That evening l went to see my
relatives. l did not find the parents
at home. Only cousin Mary wal
there to receive me. We sat by tn,
window where the moonlight fell OIL
US, and then l told her of ny frs
| patient, and what had learned from
it. Mary said nothing in answer t.
my confession but suddenly I fel
her arms thrown around my neck
She looked at me with wet eyes
"Don't you see, MAXI she said
''now you know yourself what wa